The Palmyra New York Temple

The Palmyra New York Temple holds a deeply unique place among all Latter-day Saint temples. Dedicated in April 2000 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, it was the 77th operating temple of the Church and is the only temple built on the same parcel of land where Joseph Smith's family lived. Situated on a ridge overlooking the original Smith family farm, the temple's magnificent stained glass windows look out directly toward the Sacred Grove—the dense patch of forest where Joseph Smith received his First Vision in 1820.

Because of its unparalleled historical significance, the April 6, 2000 dedication of the Palmyra Temple actually coincided with the 170th anniversary of the organization of the Church. Over 1.5 million church members participated in the dedication via closed-circuit broadcast, representing the largest gathering of Latter-day Saints to ever participate in a single event up to that point. The temple’s design is noted for its beautiful stained glass windows depicting trees and light, seamlessly weaving the sacred history of the grove into the very walls of the building.