April 2, 2023
The Bakersfield California Temple is announced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to be built in Bakersfield, CA.
Bakersfield California Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Bakersfield California Temple
LOCATION
Bakersfield California Temple
12310 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93314
What is a temple?
“The temple is the house of the Lord. The basis for every temple ordinance and covenant … is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house.”
President Russell M. Nelson
Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are houses of the Lord. They are places where individuals can go to make sacred promises with God, feel His Spirit, and escape from the hectic demands of day-to-day life.
Temples have been around for a long time. Moses had a tabernacle, Solomon built a beautiful temple, and Jesus taught at the temple in Jerusalem. Today, temples are built all over the world. In over 140 countries worldwide, faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints find opportunities for peaceful reflection and for learning more about God’s plan of happiness.
Inside temples, couples can be married for eternity, not just “til death do you part.” Church members can also perform baptisms and other ordinances for their loved ones who died without receiving these blessings.
You can learn more about temples here on the church website.
Fact Sheet And Q&A About The Temple
Here is a fact sheet about the Bakersfield California Temple.
Here is a list of questions and answers about building temples.
Community Impact
Like all residents of Bakersfield, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints value a community that is inclusive and one that welcomes all religious faiths. The proposed Bakersfield Temple on Stockdale Highway represents the highest form of worship for our members and symbolizes our devotion to God.
Latter-day Saint temples differ from meetinghouses where church members and our friends meet for Sunday worship services and other weekday activities. We consider a temple to be a literal “House of the Lord”, much like Biblical temples. It is where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught through sacred ordinances that bless individuals and unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make promises to serve Jesus Christ and bless the lives of others. Everything members experience in the temple centers on Jesus Christ and His Gospel—which is to love God, our families and our neighbors.
The proposed Bakersfield Temple is a single-story, 30,000 square-foot design. This size will accommodate a growing population of Latter-day Saints in Central California and serve over 21,000 members from San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Porterville, Ridgecrest, Bakersfield and their surrounding areas. Currently, the nearest operating temple is in Los Angeles, which is 113 miles from Bakersfield...
The Bakersfield Temple will be a place of beauty and peace. This is reflected in its planned architecture, built to the highest standards of construction, and designed to enhance the community. For example, the building will be set back from the road and adjacent community and be surrounded by landscaping including lawns, trees, flowers and native planting to beautify the area.
One of the distinguishing features of the temple will be the steeple. Across denominations, a steeple’s upward reach symbolizes the aspiration to connect with God and the heavens—and it represents spiritual ascent and the desire for communion with the divine. It visualizes a beacon of light and hope. Reverand James Field, of the Catholic Archdiocese in Boston, described steeples as “theology in brick and mortar.” Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share these same sentiments.
Unlike a cathedral, Latter-day Saint temples do not contain a single, large sanctuary for Sunday worship. Instead, they are designed with a series of smaller rooms where the highest ordinances of the Church take place in small, reverent services. These services are typically scheduled by appointment. Because of this, large numbers of people do not attend at the same time—and traffic in and out of the temple will be minimal.
Local lighting ordinances will be followed, ensuring that the beauty of the building can be admired at night without disturbing the character of the city.
The Church held a neighborhood open house to discuss the proposed development with residents. We are thankful for those who attended and asked questions about the temple. The Church is currently conducting studies to resolve concerns that were raised about various aspects of the project. By working together, we hope the community and members of our faith will ultimately be blessed with a beautiful temple that is both aesthetically pleasing and a place of sacred worship.
We desire to be good neighbors and welcome your questions or concerns about the project.
See how high the actual steeple of the temple will look from various locations nearby. These conceptual images show proper perspective, proportion, and scale. They were created using real photographs, US topography from Open Street Map, and satellite coordinate imagery from Mapbox.
The Church has conducted numerous studies to ensure the temple is following all requirements from the City of Bakersfield.
- Lighting Analysis (including Photometric Color and Grayscale graphics)
- Shadow Analysis
- Site Plan with distances to property line
Project Timeline
July 25, 2023
The temple site is announced in Bakersfield at corner of Stockdale Hwy. and Jewetta Ave.
January 8, 2024
The Bakersfield California Temple rendering image is released.
July 9, 2024
Neighborhood open house is held for the temple.
What is RLUIPA?
Click here to learn more about why temples are so important to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and How the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”) supports the Church’s right to build the Temple in the selected location in Bakersfield and with its current design.
Here is a copy of the letter from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division regarding RULIPA.
Land Use Entitlement Process
Navigating the land use entitlement process is crucial for any property development project. This guide outlines the essential steps involved, from the initial design phase to obtaining necessary municipal approvals.
Common Terms and Definitions
This document offers concise definitions of key terms and FAQs related to environmental studies, land use regulations, and development agreements, making it easier to understand the requirements for the temple project.
This website is NOT an official website of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For media inquiries about the Bakersfield California Temple,
please contact bakersfieldcatemple@gmail.com.
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