Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the Elko Nevada Temple on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Elder Stevenson said one of the primary purposes of temples is to bless families and testified that those who make covenants in temples and do temple work will draw closer to their families.
“Temples are blessing the lives of millions of Heavenly Father’s children on both sides of the veil,” he said.
Elder Stevenson said that in the midst of violence, tragedy and commotion in the world, he has “witnessed the divine process of the passing of keys.”
“Following protocol, we look forward to sustaining a new prophet, seer and revelator for the 18th time in this dispensation, who will be the only person on earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys,” he said.
The last time a temple was dedicated during an apostolic interregnum, the transition of prophetic leadership from one prophet to another, was in 1888, when President Wilford Woodruff was president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the dedication of the Manti Utah Temple.
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The Elko Nevada Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the day of its dedication, Sunday, October 12, 2025.2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
Elder Stevenson said he had recently had an opportunity to visit with President Dallin H. Oaks, who currently leads the Church as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“These proceedings all take place under his direction,” Elder Stevenson said. “How reassuring it was to see this in real time as I was able to discuss the Elko Nevada Temple dedication with him and receive presiding direction.”
Elder Stevenson pointed to President Oaks’ teachings on the covenants made and blessings promised to those who worship and serve in the house of the Lord.
In the April 2022 general conference, President Oaks taught, “God desires all of us to strive for His highest possible blessings by keeping His highest commandments, covenants and ordinances, all of which culminate in His holy temples being built throughout the world.”
Elder Stevenson said this temple dedication serves as a testament to the Saints living in the remote region of Nevada. For years, many in the newly formed temple district have traveled long distances — to temples in Idaho, Nevada, California and Utah — to worship in the house of the Lord.
“The small group of Latter-day Saints who participated in the organization of the first branch in Elko likely never imagined 100 years later a temple would be announced and dedicated,” he said.
The Elko temple district now includes towns and communities in six large counties, covering nearly half of the state of Nevada. The temple will serve almost 12,000 members and 36 wards in the Elko area.
Elko Nevada East Stake President Mathew N. Spieth said, “We are especially excited that the rising generation will be able to make the house of the Lord their own personal sanctuary,” he said. “It already feels like home.”
Elko Nevada West Stake President Alberto Jimenez said, “The influence felt by the presence of the house of the Lord has already produced and will continue to generate profound and inspiring experiences.”
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(From left) Elder Michael A. Dunn, First Counselor in the United States Southwest Area Presidency, and his wife, Linda; Elder James R. Rasband, Assistant Executive Director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Mary; Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Lesa; and Bishop L. Todd Budge of the Presiding Bishopric and his wife, Lori, at the dedication of the Elko Nevada Temple on Sunday, October 12, 2025.2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
Elder Stevenson was accompanied at the dedication by his wife, Lesa; Elder Michael A. Dunn, a General Authority Seventy and First Counselor in the United States Southwest Area Presidency, and his wife, Linda; Elder James R. Rasband, a General Authority Seventy and Assistant Executive Director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Mary; and Bishop L. Todd Budge of the Presiding Bishopric and his wife, Lori.
The late President Russell M. Nelson announced a house of the Lord for Elko, Nevada, on April 4, 2021, during the April 2021 general conference. It was one of 20 temples announced at the conference. The open house ran Saturday, August 30, through Saturday, September 13 (excluding Sundays).
The Elko Nevada Temple is one of the Church’s 382 temples around the world that are operating, announced or under construction. It is Nevada’s third operating temple, following the Las Vegas Nevada Temple, which was dedicated in December 1989. The Reno Nevada Temple was dedicated in April 2000. A fourth temple, the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple, was announced in October 2022, and ground was broken on September 25.
