The Bern Switzerland Temple

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The Bern temple is the most revolutionary temple constructed by the Church. It represents the Church's commitment to the saints outside the United States, and the change in policy from gathering to Zion to building up Zion in the saints homelands.

The Endowment at the Bern Temple was to be presented in the native languages of its patrons. Since the Temple's district at the time included all of continental Europe, the patrons would be speaking a large number of different languages. Up to this time the Endowment had been presented with live actors. This presented serious problems. How was the Endowment to be presented in so many different languages without having a complete staff fluent in each one? The answer was to record the Endowment Ceremony on film, and dub the soundtrack into each necessary language. This became the standard method of presenting the Endowment from this point on, and it was so successful that most of the older temples, designed for live Endowments, were remodeled or rebuilt to accommodate the new form.

The Bern Temple was also the first "economy" temple. A serious concern was keeping the cost low, without sacrificing the quality, or beauty, of the temple. Therefore the Bern temple was smaller, and simpler, than all previous temples, and two other temples, the Hamilton and London, shared the Bern design.

The temple was announced in March 1952.
Ground was broken and construction begun on 5 August 1953.
The cornerstone was laid in November 1954.
The temple was dedicated on 11-13 September 1955.
The temple was remodeled and rededicated on 23-25 October 1992.
There are 7 Sealing rooms and 4 Ordinance rooms in the temple.
Before remodeling there were 34,750 square feet, after remodeling there are 39,063 square feet in the temple.
The spire is 140 feet tall.
The Bern Temple serves stakes in Switzerland, Austria and southern France.

Pictures of the Interior:

The Baptistry.
Source: November 1955 Improvement Era.
One of the seven Sealing Rooms.
Source: Open House Brochure.


One of the four Ordinance Rooms.
Source: November 1955 Improvement Era.
The Celestial Room.
Source: November 1955 Improvement Era.

Rooms not Pictured:
6 Sealing Rooms

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