Temple Locale

The Seattle Washington Temple is located off I-90 on a gently rising hill across from Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington. The captivating landscaping that surrounds the temple features a cascading water feature, family-themed statues, and numerous brightly colored flowers, hedges, and trees. The site is surrounded by a grove of beautiful Washington evergreens.

Temple History

The Seattle Washington Temple was the first temple built in the Pacific Northwest (and in the state of Washington).

The Seattle Washington Temple was originally named the Seattle Temple.

The Seattle Washington Temple is one of only five temples featuring an angel Moroni statue holding the gold plates. (The other four temples are the Los Angeles California Temple, the Washington D.C. Temple, the Jordan River Utah Temple, and the Mexico City Mexico Temple.)

Because the Seattle Washington Temple would be situated near the Bellevue Airfield, the proposed height of the spire was reduced, and a red strobe warning light was installed at the base of the angel Moroni statue. When the airfield closed in 1983, the light was permanently shut off and later removed.

During the dedication of the Seattle Washington Temple, a group of women chained themselves to the front gates as a demonstration of their opposition to the Church's position on the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Seattle Washington Temple was the last temple dedicated by President Spencer W. Kimball, whose ailing health prompted him to call Elder Gordon B. Hinckley as a third counselor in the First Presidency in July 1981. Seventeen more temples would be dedicated under Pres. Kimball's presidency before his death in November 1985.