By Diana Lee
Newport Beach city officials are in the process of approving a new temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We believe the city officials are going to approve it because it is a smaller size, and therefore won”t be the traffic generator that a larger temple would be,” said retired city manager of Newport Beach and current temple committee member, Bob Wynn.
If the temple is approved, members of The Church of Jesus Christ will soon celebrate the dedication of this temple in Orange County.
“We are very excited,” said Joseph Bentley, church spokesman. “If all goes well, construction could start later this year. It may take as little as a year to build.”
Local members who have had to trek to San Diego or Los Angeles to attend a temple, will soon have their own temple.
“The members of the church in Orange County are very pleased because the temple will be so accessible,” Wynn said.
Plans have been in progress since the official announcement in April.
“We will soon have an accessible site plan showing the temple location, landscaping, and height of it, but for now it is unreleased because they are still modifying and fine tuning the plans,” Wynn said.
At 17,500 square feet, it will be one of a new generation of small temples. Next to the future temple stands the 28,500 square-foot stake center. The San Diego temple is 82,000 square feet; Los Angeles temple, 190,614 square feet.
The temple will have two endowment rooms, three sealing rooms and be operated by appointment only. Attendees are required to bring their own temple clothing because there will be no laundry facility.
The Newport temple is part of President Hinckley”s vision to house the Church of Jesus Christ”s population increase around the world.
