Rome Italy Temple: See Photos of the Construction from Start to Finish

“The sacred ordinances performed in this holy temple will unite families for eternity," President Russell M. Nelson said of the Rome Italy Temple. "God loves all His children equally and has provided a way for them to be linked in love, generation to generation. We are thrilled to be able to dedicate a temple in this city replete with historical importance throughout the ages.”

Rome has been the heart and historical center of Christianity for centuries, and now the "Eternal City" will see the dawning of a new significant event—the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple. Set to take place this March, the dedication of the Rome temple is a story over a decade in the making. Here is a quick visual history of all that went into building this sacred house of the Lord.

Image a screenshot from YouTube.

During his opening remarks in October 2008 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced the location of five new temples: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Córdoba, Argentina; the greater Kansas City area; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Rome, Italy.

Images from Newsroom.

"I cannot adequately convey to you the joy I feel on this historic occasion," President Monson said during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rome Italy Temple. "Let this day be a day of rededication in our lives as it is a day of dedication for this ground."

"We just shouted for joy," a Church member said of the impending construction of the temple. "It was a dream realized."

Images from Newsroom.

In 2010, the Church released the first artistic renderings of the Rome Italy Temple, showing the temple, meetinghouse, visitors’ center, family history center, and patron housing, which now created a beautiful piazza filled with powerfully symbolic gardens, olive trees, and a fountain that runs from the temple to the Christus statue in the visitors' center.

Images from Newsroom.

In March 2017, an angel Moroni soared over 150 feet in the air to the top of the Rome Italy Temple, a significant milestone in the temple's completion. Elder Larry Wilson said of this historic event, “The eternal city is known for its history, its beauty and as a place of worship and faith. We are so pleased to add our sacred temple to this Christian tradition.”

Image of the completed visitors' center by Kristin Murphy, Deseret News.

Image by Nathan Smith, retrieved from churchofjesuschristtemples.org.

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In March 2017, the temple reached another benchmark as a marble statue of the resurrected Christ and His 12 apostles were placed in the visitors' center, replicas crafted from marble taken from the original Michelangelo cave in Carrara, Italy. “One of the things that was important to us was to do something that would make this part of the country but more importantly for recognizing the Savior, Jesus Christ,” said Mark Lusvardi, director of public programs for the Church’s Missionary Department.

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From spring 2017 to spring 2018, the Rome Italy Temple and its grounds began truly taking shape amidst heavy snowstorms and visits from apostles.

March 2017, photo by Simon D. Jones from the Deseret News.

March 2017, photo by Scott Taylor from the Deseret News.

October 8, 2017, photo by Jaime Verrillo Curren retrieved from LDS Church Temples.

Mid-January 2018, photo retrieved from LDS Church Temples.

February 12, 2018, photos by of Joe Mount retrieved via LDS Church Temples

Late February 2018, photo retrieved from LDS Church Temples.

February 26, 2018, photo by Daniele Salerno retrieved from LDS Church Temples.

March 2018, images from Newsroom.

March 2018, images from Newsroom.

Latter-day Saints from around the world and around the world celebrated the construction progress of the Rome Italy Temple by posting stunning images of this house of the Lord on social media.

Photo by Heather Evertsen from the LDS Italy/ Rome Temple Visitors Facebook page.

Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Ronald A. Rasband led the first tours through the Rome Italy Temple on January 14, 2019. “It is beautiful,” Elder Bednar said of the temple. “The temple is an expression of our love and devotion to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing is too good for the Lord.”

Guests on these tours included political and religious leaders from around the world in addition to members of news and media outlets. The public open house for the Rome temple, the Church’s 162nd temple, began on January 28. 

“In our holy temples, available are the most sacred and important sacrament or ordinances that we receive as members of our Church,” taught Elder Bednar. “And those ordinances bring peace. They bring purpose. They’re a source of remarkable joy.”

► You'll also like: At Rome Italy Temple, Apostles Lead Rome's President and Other Visitors Through Temple

 The Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center. 

Rome Italy Temple courtyard.

Decorative lighting in the Rome Italy Temple.

A stained-glass New Testament story of Jesus Christ ministering to those in need. The glass is located in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center. 

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The Christus and the apostles in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center. 

Statues of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center.

An interactive exhibit is located in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center.

An instruction room in the Rome Italy Temple.

A sealing room in the Rome Italy Temple. 

This is another view of the celestial room in the Rome Italy Temple. Latter-day Saints go to the temple and feel it is heaven on earth.

The baptistry of the Rome Italy Temple.  

The recommend desk in the Rome Italy Temple.  

Grand staircase in the Rome Italy Temple.  

The grand staircase chandelier in the Rome Italy Temple was inspired by Chihuly. It incorporates the Venetian leaf pattern.

The Rome Italy Temple has various light fixtures. 

Artistic glass window in the Rome Italy Temple.  

Celestial room in the Rome Italy Temple.  

Artistic glass window in the Rome Italy Temple.

Stained-glass windows enhance the artistry of the doors in the Rome Italy Temple.

The artistic furnishings contribute to the beauty and feelings of reverence in the Rome Italy Temple.  

The bride’s room in the Rome Italy Temple.

Artwork on the exterior of the Rome Italy Temple. 

The celestial room chandelier contains rectangular prisms in the Rome Italy Temple.

Grand staircase in the Rome Italy Temple. 

Olive trees are located in the Rome Italy Temple courtyard.  

The Rome Italy Temple.  

Entry into the Rome Italy Temple.  

More

A decade's worth of excitement built prior to the dedication and opening of the Rome Italy Temple in early 2019. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from around the world and all others will be welcomed at the Rome Temple visitors' center, where the first thing they see is a stunning 20' x 7' art-glass window created by Tom Holdman and his associates at Holdman Studios.

This beautiful masterpiece, entitled "Come unto Me," was created to boldly testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior, Redeemer, and ultimate Healer. In this powerful five-panel window, viewers discover the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the woman reaching out to touch the Savior's robe, and many symbolic representations of Christ's life and teachings.

Like light through that stained-glass window, this book seeks to illuminate the mission, parable, and miracles of Christ. The authors, a team of respected gospel teachers, share stunning insights and new perspectives that allow for deeper understanding and, more important, greater application of Christ's teachings in our lives today. open the pages and see the beautiful depictions of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the loaves and fishes. Then read the passages and find yourself in each parable and miracle. This book will help us all listen for—and respond to—Christ's eternal plea: "Come unto me."