Latter-day Saints detail site plans and size for newest temple in Charlotte area

Gordon Rago
·1 min read
The Mormon temple in Apex, North Carolina has been the only temple in the state. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will build its second temple in the state in Weddington, about 30 minutes south of Charlotte.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ new Charlotte temple will be located, well, not quite technically in Charlotte.

In April, church leadership announced it would be building its second temple in North Carolina — the first in the Charlotte region. It comes as membership of the Mormon faith across the state has been increasing.

Located on about six acres, the new temple will be built at 345 South Providence Rd., in Weddington, about 30 minutes south of uptown, the church announced this week. The one-story Union County temple will be about 30,000 square feet.

Neither a cost or a project rendering were available.

The church purchased a 5.9-acre site at that address in February for $1.25 million according to the Union County Tax Assessor’s office.

More background on the church

Temples represent significant sites for the church members. They are considered “houses of the Lord,” or sacred places where couples get married and only members who are in good standing may enter, according to the church.

Members who live near Charlotte have to travel to Columbia, about an hour and a half drive, for the nearest temple. Another temple is located in Apex — outside Raleigh.

There are roughly 94,000 members in North Carolina across nearly 180 congregations. In the Charlotte region, there are 45 congregations with about 16,300 members in total as of last year, according to the church.

Charlotte was among a list of 15 new locations for temples announced April 2 by church president and prophet Russell M. Nelson. The other locations span the globe, from Germany, Brazil, Guatemala and Bakersfield, Calif.