Provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Casper Wyoming Temple, the state’s second temple, on Sunday, November 24, in a single dedicatory session that was broadcast to all units within the temple district.

The Apostle promised great blessings for those who engage in temple work — especially for their own ancestors — including protection, peace and unity.

“I believe that the youth of the Church will have greater protection from the adversary if they immerse themselves in searching for their ancestors, preparing their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and gift of the Holy Ghost, or act as a witness,” said the Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The house of the Lord is also a place of thanksgiving, refuge and instruction — a place to experience tranquility and peace in a world that is in commotion.

“It is wonderful to leave the cares of the world behind in this sacred setting,” he said, recalling a busy time of his life living in San Francisco when he’d leave the chaotic world outside to enter the Oakland California Temple. There he experienced feelings of love, peace, and of being closer to God and His purposes.

In addition to the temple’s sacred ordinances performed for the living and the dead are the equality and unity that may be experienced there. Temple attendees all dress in white, he said, and all participate in the same ordinances, make the same covenants and receive the same eternal priesthood blessings, regardless of their worldly background and status.

“Fulfilling divinely appointed responsibilities — based on righteousness, unity and equality before the Lord — brings personal happiness and peace in this world and prepares us for eternal life in the world to come. It prepares us to meet God,” Elder Cook said.

Elder Cook was accompanied by his wife, Mary; Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé and his wife, Valérie; Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, a General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the North America Central Area, and his wife, Catherine; Elder James R. Rasband, a General Authority Seventy and Assistant Executive Director in the Temple Department, and his wife, Mary.

A Brief History

The first company of Mormon pioneers traveled through Wyoming toward Salt Lake City in 1847. Sixty thousand more would later follow the trail not far from where the temple stands today.

The first branch (a small congregation) of latter-day Saints was organized in Casper in 1920 as part of the Western States Mission. Members met in private homes until a chapel was built in 1938. A second, larger building was dedicated in 1955. The first two stakes (a stake is similar to a diocese) in the region were organized in 1962.

President Russell M. Nelson announced the Casper temple during the April 2021 general conference. Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, an Emeritus General Authority Seventy who was then President of the Church’s North America Central Area, presided at the groundbreaking on October 9, 2021. A public open house was held August 29 through September 13, attended by about 27,000 people.

The Casper temple will serve more than 15,000 members of the Church in nearly 50 congregations. The Star Valley Wyoming Temple was dedicated in 2016. A third temple, the Cody Wyoming Temple, announced in 2021, is under construction.