Paris France Temple

The Paris France Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Le Chesnay, a suburb of Paris, France, and is located near Versailles.^[4][5] On July 15, 2011, the church released a statement declaring the intent to build a temple in Paris. The temple was officially announced on October 1, 2011, by church president Thomas S. Monson during general conference. The Paris France Temple is the first to be built in Metropolitan France, and the second in France, after the Papeete Tahiti Temple.^[6][7]

Paris France Temple
Number	156
Dedication	21 May 2017, by Henry B. Eyring
Site	2.26 acres (0.91 ha)
Floor area	44,175 sq ft (4,104.0 m2)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
← Hartford Connecticut Temple Paris France Temple → Tucson Arizona Temple
Additional information
Announced	15 July 2011, by Thomas S. Monson
Groundbreaking	No formal groundbreaking[1]
Open house	22 April - 13 May 2017
Current president	Dominique Maurice Lucas
Location	Le Chesnay, France
Geographic coordinates	48°49′4.41″N 2°7′23.42″E
Exterior finish	Warm-toned limestone with character reflective of limestone used in the Le Chesnay and Versailles regions
Baptistries	1
Ordinance rooms	2 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms	3
Clothing rental	Yes
Visitors' center	Yes
Notes	Thomas S. Monson confirmed on 15 July 2011 that the church "hope[d] to build [a] temple in France" near Paris,[2] and on 1 October 2011 announced that the plans were "moving forward."[3] In 2014, a news story from the church noted that work had commenced on the temple, though no formal groundbreaking had taken place.[1]
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The temple’s design was inspired by French architecture.^[8] Ground was broken for the temple on August 24, 2012, but a traditional groundbreaking ceremony was not held.^[8][9]

History

The LDS Church in France

The church's missionaries first arrived in France in 1849.^[10] While they had some success in the first years, especially among “political dissenters and cultural outsiders,”^[10] growth was stymied by the French government’s policies, which included limitations on the distribution of printed material and restrictions on how many people could gather at one time. After over a decade of little to no progress, the mission was closed in 1864.^[10]

Missionaries did not return to France until 1908, and when they did it was to cities near the borders of Belgium and Switzerland. The French Mission was reorganized in 1912,^[11] “but world wars and economic hardship limited the church’s presence for the next four decades.”^[10] Missionaries were withdrawn from Europe during the world wars, and did not return until after World War II. Progress in rebuilding the church in France was slow, but began to pick up in 1960; almost 1,000 people were converted over the course of that year,^[11] and growth continued. The first stake in France was organized in 1975.^[10] Around that time, church leadership began to promise French members that there would one day be a temple in their country.^[12]

A temple in Paris

One of the first mentions of a temple in France was in 1976, when church president Spencer W. Kimball told members that one day a temple would be built in their country.^[12] In 1998, French church members were again assured that they would one day have a temple in their country by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, who said in a meeting that the church would begin looking for a site to build a temple.^[13]

On 15 July 2011, church president Monson announced that a temple would be constructed in France. New temples are generally announced during a church general conference. However, French newspapers reported the church's plans to build the temple at Le Chesnay, which prompted the early announcement, three months prior to the October 2011 general conference.^[4]

Local opposition included Mayor Philippe Brillault who opposed the temple—planned on a site for an abandoned, asbestos-choked power plant—and proclaimed, "We weren’t overjoyed, because Mormons have an image that’s pretty much negative."^[14]

After construction was completed, a public open house was held from 22 April to 13 May 2017, excluding Sundays.^[15] The temple was dedicated on 21 May 2017 by Henry B. Eyring.^[16]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Paris France Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[17]

Design and architecture

The building’s architectural design uses surrounding French monuments and the nearby Palace of Versailles, as well as traditional Latter-day Saint temple design.^[18] The temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Paris region and its spiritual significance to the church.

The temple is on a 2.26-acre plot, with surrounding landscaping of gardens and courtyards, along with a visitors' center.^[18][8] The gardens include a reproduction of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue.^[19]

The structure is 390 feet tall, constructed with limestone which is similar to the stone used for other buildings in the area, including Versailles.^[8] The exterior has flat roof, which is an uncommon for the church's temples. At the time of its construction, it was one of only four temples without a steeple or an angel Moroni statue. The other three were the Cardston Alberta, Laie Hawaii, and Mesa Arizona temples.^[18]

The interior has art-glass windows with floral patterns, including a large stained-glass skylight that sits above the baptistry.^[18][8] The temple’s furnishings are in French Classical and Art Nouveau styles, with artwork throughout the temple.^[18][19] In addition to the baptistry, the temple also has two ordinance rooms and three sealing rooms.^[18]

The design uses symbolic elements representing French art and culture. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the floral motifs in the art-glass windows, which “are reflective of plants native to France and are based on the floral designs of artist Claude Monet’s gardens such as lilies, cornflower, lilacs and hollyhocks.”^[19] The temple’s decorative motifs were also inspired by the fleur-de-lis, which is France’s national symbol and represents purity and virtue.^[19]

In 2017, a cultural celebration was held to commemorate the completion and dedication of the temple. The program had 950 youth from France, Belgium, and Switzerland, and celebrated the reformation and the restoration in addition to the temple.^[20]

The adjacent visitors' center has interactive displays and a 3D cut-out model of the temple, providing information for both members and non-members on the role temples play in the lives of church members.^[20]

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.^[21]

Serving from 2017 to 2019, Gérard S. Giraud-Carrier was the first president, with Annie Giraud-Carrier serving as matron.^[21] As of 2024, Dominique M. Lucas is the president, with Josiane M. Lucas serving as matron.^[18]

Admittance

Following the completion of the temple, the church held a public open house from April 22 to May 13, 2017 (excluding Sundays).^[18] After the open house, the temple was dedicated by Henry B. Eyring on May 21, 2017.^[18] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.^[22] The visitors’ center is available to the public.^[23]

Gallery

• 
  Exterior of the temple
• 
  Temple courtyard

See also

• LDS Church portal

• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France