Visitor Insights
Visiting Pocatello Idaho Temple
Perched at nearly 5,000 feet elevation on Butte Street, the Pocatello Idaho Temple offers sweeping views of the Snake River Plain. The surrounding grounds are open to all visitors, providing a peaceful environment filled with native trees, flowering shrubs, and quiet plaza walkways.
Highlights
- Panoramic vistas of the Pocatello valley and surrounding mountain peaks
- Exterior cladding crafted from high-grade polished white granite
- Custom leaded art glass displaying native Idaho flora and Red Hill sunset hues
- Beautifully maintained formal planting beds with native syringa and sagebrush
Things to Know
- Interior rooms are reserved strictly for Church members holding a current temple recommend
- Public parking is accessible directly from Butte Street with designated accessible spaces
- The elevated site experiences strong wind conditions during spring and winter seasons
Location
3100 Butte Street, Pocatello, Idaho 83201, United States
Hours: Grounds open daily from dawn to dusk; temple ordinances operate Tuesday through Saturday
Getting There: Located in the Highland area of eastern Pocatello, easily accessible via Interstate 15 at Exit 71 (Pocatello Creek Road).
Get DirectionsTips for Your Visit
Best Exterior Viewing
Visit during late afternoon to see sunset light reflect off the white granite and art glass windows.
Evening Photography
The temple is fully floodlit at night, making it visible across the valley and nearby highways.
About
Dedicated on November 7, 2021, the Pocatello Idaho Temple stands as a sacred sanctuary on the east bench of Pocatello. Operating as the 170th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the structure serves approximately 61,000 members across 23 stakes in southeastern Idaho.
Rooted in the broader Abrahamic tradition of consecrated sacred architecture, this temple represents a literal house of the Lord where divine covenants are made. Its streamlined classical design harmonizes classical symmetry with modern verticality, creating a reflective space for worship and family sealings.
Gallery
Symbolic Elements
The temple's exterior features intricate carvings, each rich with spiritual meaning:
Syringa State Flower
Integrated into art glass and light fixture moldings, representing regional beauty and resilience in arid climates.
Bitterroot Wildflower
Woven into carpet borders and windows to symbolize spiritual rebirth blossoming from harsh desert soil.
Indian Paintbrush
Featured in custom textile tufting to highlight native Intermountain flora and natural divine creation.
Red Hill Color Gradient
Art glass transitions from sage green to gold and coral, symbolizing the soul's progression toward celestial light.
Font Resting on Twelve Oxen
The baptistry font rests upon twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel spreading salvation worldwide.
Quarter-Sawn Sapele Woodwork
Rich mahogany-stained millwork underscores the biblical tradition of offering the finest craftsmanship to God.
Central Spire & Angel Moroni
The soaring central spire directs worshipers' thoughts heavenward, supporting the restored gospel finial.
Interesting Facts
NFL quarterback Taysom Hill, a native of Pocatello, was a featured guest speaker at the 2019 groundbreaking ceremony. (Tier A)
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together Latter-day Saint leaders, civic officials, and interfaith clergy. (Tier A)
Exterior leaded art glass features stylized designs of three native plants: syringa, bitterroot, and Indian paintbrush. (Tier A)
The art glass color scheme incorporates pink and coral tones color-matched to the sunset light on Pocatello's Red Hill. (Tier B)
Interior woodwork uses quarter-sawn sapele wood imported from West Africa, stained in a deep mahogany tone. (Tier A)
More than 250,000 visitors toured the temple during its 35-day public open house in 2021. (Tier A)
President M. Russell Ballard, who dedicated the temple, was a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith. (Tier A)
Prior to 2021, local Church members traveled 50 miles north to Idaho Falls for over 75 years to attend a temple. (Tier B)
Custom leaded crystal chandeliers in the Celestial Room were fabricated by lighting artisans in the Bronx, New York. (Tier B)
Common Questions
Who can enter the interior of the Pocatello Idaho Temple?
Interior entry is reserved for baptized members of the Church who maintain a valid temple recommend.
Are non-members allowed on the temple grounds?
Yes, the surrounding landscaped gardens and plaza walkways are open to the general public.
What architectural style is used for the building?
The structure features a Streamlined Classical design with clean vertical lines and polished white granite.
Which plant motifs are featured in the artwork?
The interior art glass and carpets highlight native Idaho plants including syringa, bitterroot, and Indian paintbrush.
Featured Stories
Interfaith Community Gathering
March 16, 2019
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pocatello Idaho Temple brought together civic leaders, Latter-day Saint officials, and clergy from local Christian denominations. Pocatello native and NFL athlete Taysom Hill shared personal reflections on family and faith during the ceremony. The event emphasized shared Christian values and strong interfaith solidarity across southeastern Idaho.
Source: Church News & Local Media Reports
Red Hill Palette Inspiration
2019-2021
Architects and interior designers sought to ground the sacred edifice in its natural environment by reflecting local geographic landmarks. Glass artists meticulously color-matched the coral and pink glass panes to sunset reflections against Pocatello's prominent Red Hill. This regional palette blends nature with sacred symbolism, creating a warm spiritual atmosphere inside.
Source: FFKR Architectural Design Notes
Welcoming a Quarter Million Neighbors
September 18, 2021
During the 35-day public open house, approximately 250,000 visitors toured the newly finished temple interior. Guests included community members, interfaith friends, and families from neighboring states experiencing a temple for the first time. The overwhelming turnout demonstrated deep regional interest and unity prior to the building's sacred consecration.
Source: Church Newsroom Fact Sheet
Timeline
Temple Announcement
President Thomas S. Monson announces the Pocatello Idaho Temple during General Conference.
MilestoneSite Selection Confirmed
The Church confirms the east bench site at 3100 Butte Street in Pocatello.
MilestoneGroundbreaking Ceremony
Elder Wilford W. Andersen presides over the groundbreaking alongside local civic leaders.
component.timeline.groundbreakingOpen House Dates Announced
The First Presidency publishes the schedule for public tours and formal dedication.
MilestonePublic Open House Begins
A 35-day public open house commences, welcoming a quarter million community members.
EventOpen House Concludes
Public tours conclude after hosting visitors from across Idaho and surrounding states.
EventTemple Dedication
President M. Russell Ballard dedicates the temple across three sacred general sessions.
DedicationHistory by Decade
2010s — Announcement and Foundation
This sacred structure will stand as a beacon of peace and spiritual strength for generations to come.
On April 2, 2017, President Thomas S. Monson announced the intent to build a temple in Pocatello. Site confirmation followed in 2018 on Butte Street, and groundbreaking took place on March 16, 2019, under the direction of Elder Wilford W. Andersen.
2020s — Completion and Consecration
Despite global supply challenges, construction concluded on schedule. Following a public open house attended by 250,000 visitors, President M. Russell Ballard dedicated the Pocatello Idaho Temple on November 7, 2021, as Idaho's sixth operating temple.
Architecture & Facilities
The Pocatello Idaho Temple is constructed in a Streamlined Classical architectural style. The aesthetic balances classical Greco-Roman proportions and subtle stone pilasters with modern vertical lines characteristic of mid-20th century Intermountain Western architecture.
Building Materials
Exterior Granite
Clad in brushed and polished white granite quarried in China.
Interior Millwork
Crafted from West African quarter-sawn sapele wood stained mahogany.
Leaded Art Glass
Fabricated by Holdman Studios using local flora patterns and sunset tones.
Decorative Lighting
Features antique brass fixtures and Bronx-crafted lead crystal chandeliers.
Interior Features
Celestial Room
Highlights crotch mahogany panels and custom lead crystal chandeliers.
Sealing Rooms
Appointed with rich wood trim and central mirrors reflecting eternity.
Instruction Rooms
Four stationary ordinance rooms decorated with soft sage green carpeting.
Baptistry
Houses a cast bronze font supported by twelve life-sized oxen.
Temple Grounds
Spanning 10.94 elevated acres, the grounds feature formal planting beds, evergreen trees, and paved plaza walkways overlooking the Pocatello valley.
Additional Facilities
Includes public parking and arrival plazas designed for sacred gatherings and temple patrons.
Religious Significance
In harmony with Abrahamic traditions of consecrated sacred space, Latter-day Saints view temples as literal houses of the Lord. Distinct from weekly meetinghouses, temples are dedicated exclusively to high spiritual instruction, sacred covenants, and eternal ordinances.
To serve as a consecrated space where Church members receive divine priesthood ordinances and unite families for eternity.
Sacred Ordinances
Baptism for the Dead
Proxy baptisms performed on behalf of deceased ancestors to offer salvation universally.
The Endowment
A ceremonial instruction sequence where patrons covenant to obey God and serve selflessly.
Eternal Marriage (Sealing)
Priesthood ordinances uniting husbands, wives, and children in eternal family relationships.
The Biblical Pattern of Sacred Space
From the ancient Tabernacle of Moses to modern temples, sacred architecture creates a physical sanctuary dedicated to encountering the divine. The Pocatello temple continues this ancient covenant tradition.
Universal Salvation & Family Unity
Temple ordinances emphasize the eternal nature of the human spirit, binding generations together through proxy work and sacred covenant sealings.
Sources & Research
Every fact on Temples.org is backed by verified Sources & Research. Each piece of information is rated by source tier and confidence level.
View All Sources (7)
| Field | Source | Tier | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| About & Historical Background | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (opens in a new tab) | A | 2026-02-15 |
| Temple Design & Architectural Details | Church Newsroom (opens in a new tab) | A | 2026-02-15 |
| Groundbreaking & Community Interfaith Gathering | Idaho State Journal (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |
| Temple Construction & Open House News | East Idaho News (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |
| Dedication and Apostolic Blessings | Church News (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |
| Statistical Data & Status Tracking | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org (opens in a new tab) | C | 2026-02-15 |
| Architectural & Interior Design Features | FFKR Architects (opens in a new tab) | B | 2026-02-15 |