LDS Church to open Mason temple
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A rendering of the future Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Mason. Image: Courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to break ground Nov. 7 on only its third Ohio temple, this one in Mason.
Why it matters: The temple will serve about 20,000 members across the Cincinnati and Dayton areas who have had to travel at least two hours to participate in the ceremonies that will take place inside.
The big picture: The Utah-based faith, widely known to many as the Mormon church, has had a presence in Ohio since the 1830s.
- It now counts more than 65,000 members in more than 130 congregations, called wards, according to the church.
Jared Mattingley, president of the Cincinnati North Stake, says the church continues to see local growth.
- The Mason temple alone will serve roughly 50 to 55 wards across Southwest Ohio.
Zoom in: Temples, the faith's most sacred spaces, aren't used for regular Sunday services.
- Cincinnati has never had one, and Columbus and Cleveland each has one.
Why Mason: The church considered several northern Cincinnati locations, including Liberty Township, Mattingley says, before choosing 35 acres at Mason-Montgomery Road and Cedar Village Drive.
- Mattingley estimates 150 to 200 Latter-day Saint families live in Mason.
- The former farmland was previously owned by the area's Jewish community, Mattingley says.
- Mason's diversity, location and the rare availability of such a large parcel also made the city a fit, he says.
Between the lines: The temple could bring members together beyond their individual wards — and could make Mason a bigger center of the regional church community.
- Mattingley estimates 600 to 700 members could volunteer at the temple over the course of a month.
- He expects some church members could eventually choose to live closer to Mason because of the temple.
What's next: There's no formal completion date. Mattingley says the timeline remains in flux because the temple's sacred role requires particular care in its construction and finishing details.
- The church plans an open house to invite nonmembers and the broader community to tour the temple. However, it will be closed to nonmembers after the dedication.
- "There is certainly a representation of a lot of different cultures here in Mason," Mattingley says, "and that makes (the temple) a perfect fit."