New Jersey's First-Ever Mormon Temple Coming To Summit

The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints announced it is building its first temple in the Garden State.

The temple will be built in Summit (Union County), the church announced this month. The temple is one of 17 new temples the Mormon Church plans to build.

“Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace?” President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said.

"Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord!”

The church did not say where in Summit the temple will be built. The church said it has 35,000 Latter-day Saints in 60 congregations in New Jersey, with the first missionaries arriving in 1832. The closest temples to church members in New Jersey are in Manhattan and Philadelphia.

A spokesperson for the City of Summit said the city has not received any information or plans for this project.

While there are several chapels in New Jersey, temples are not open on Sabbath and are considered  special places of worship where members learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and participate in sacred ceremonies.

Temples are not open on the Sabbath, so that members may attend their local congregations. When a temple is first built, it is briefly open for public tours though once dedicated, attendance is reserved for faithful members of the church who are ready to participate in additional gospel ordinance.