Ground broken for Mormon temple
CRANBERRY TWP — Linda Johnson was introduced to the Mormon faith as a young adult living in London.
“I found members of the church to be genuinely good people,” she said. “I admired not only their faith but the way they lived their lives.”
Johnson became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and eventually moved to the United States, where she met her husband, Karl.
The couple moved to Cranberry Township in 1995 and raised three children in the faith, which has remained a cornerstone of their lives.
That's why Saturday was a day for Linda Johnson to celebrate and be grateful.
Latter-day Saints broke ground for a new temple, which will be constructed along Powell Road. It will be just the second temple in Pennsylvania, with the other located near Philadelphia.
The Johnsons have traveled to worship in Columbus, Ohio, which will remain the shortest drive to a temple for them until the one here is completed.
“We live six minutes from here,” Linda Johnson said. “I could live in Utah and not have a temple that close.
“Having a temple here will be tremendous. For us, it will be a source of peace, and we are very thankful.”
The temple will serve 10 different stakes, including the Pittsburgh North Stake, of which Cranberry is a part.The Pittsburgh North Stake ranges from just outside the city limits to Clarion County.In all, Latter-day Saints from parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York will soon have a shorter drive to worship at a temple.Elder T. Michael Price spoke during the ceremony, held outside on the site of the future temple.“To have a temple in the Pittsburgh area, within a short drive of so many of our members, it's almost unimaginable,” he said.“It's a great location, right next to one of our meetinghouses,” added Chris Hoke, president of the Pittsburgh North Stake. “We're very excited about this.”
Latter-day Saints often congregate at a meetinghouse, though people of all faiths are welcome. There are three such venues in Butler County — Butler and Slippery Rock, along with the one in Cranberry Township.Temples, however, are exclusive.“After the temple is completed, there will be a period when the public can come and tour it,” said Kenneth Witzel, director of communications for the Pittsburgh Coordinating Council. “Then, after it is dedicated, only members will be allowed inside.“It will be viewed as an offering to God.”Witzel said construction of the temple will begin soon and should take between two and three years to complete.Johnson, a sister in the church, is president of the Pittsburgh North Stake's Relief Society, a women's organization within the Latter-day Saints that deals with philanthropy and education.Saturday's ceremony was attended by presidents of the 10 surrounding stakes and presidents of the Relief Society, along with their spouses. The event also was live-streamed to other members.Also present was Elder Randall K. Bennett, president of the North America Northeast Area. He resides in Salt Lake City, where it was ultimately decided that Cranberry Township would be the site of the temple.Hoke was born into the Latter-day Saints and was raised in southern California. He graduated from Brigham Young University.“My faith is everything to me,” he said. “It's helped me develop fundamental principles, which are centered around God and family. It guides me in everything I do.”
