Anchorage, Alaska, USA Temple

History

The Saints in Alaska prayed and watched for the day their state would be blessed with a temple. Finally, a new style of temple was conceived, smaller temples that could be built more quickly and with less expense. It was determined the first would be built in Alaska. However, architect Doug Green suggested the first be constructed closer to Salt Lake City where it would be easier to monitor any problems that might arise. President Gordon B. Hinckley agreed and the prototype was built in Monticello, Utah. Over three hundred changes were made due to valuable lessons learned in Monticello.* As Brother Green moved forward with the Anchorage temple he found himself praying for assistance in discovering ways to make the temple uniquely Alaskan. One day he noticed that the Salt Lake Temple had the Big Dipper pointing to the North Star on it. This symbol is found on the Alaskan flag and now graces the west side of the Alaska temple, too.* These are fitting symbols for a temple. As Hugh Nibley explained, the temple is where we take our “bearings on the universe and in the eternities, both in time and space.”** The stained-glass used in the temple is reminiscent of water. Patterns of evergreens found within reflect the forests outside. The state flower, the forget-me-not, adorns the walls and carpeting of the sealing room.*** Great efforts were put forth to be considerate of local residents. Builders preserved as much of the forest as possible so the surrounding land could continue to be a haven for family recreational use. The roof and spire were shortened from original plans so they would not cast an overwhelming shadow. The temple is lit only until midnight preventing the lights from disturbing neighbors. Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy shared the feelings he felt during the dedication of the temple on January 9, 1999. “I have never felt a greater spirit of love and warmth and the Holy Ghost pouring out on the people than I did in those dedicatory sessions. The people were so excited and so touched… They were so happy to have a temple.”**** This temple reminds us to love one another and be considerate at all times.

How Temple Coins are Made

Dave started creating jewelry using metals in 1992, ten years later he had worked with nearly every metal in the jewelry industry! Moving to Thailand, he spent the next nine years perfecting his skills with various metals, 3D models and 3D printers. He dreamed of producing something that would bring delight to purchasers and carry with it positive feelings that would touch the souls of those who owned them. In 2014 he was able to realize his dream. Returning to the US, he uses Lost-wax casting to create a metal master from brass alloy for each temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, depicting, in the highest degree of definition possible, a coin with a 3D image of a temple. The reverse of each coin is cast with the words “Stand ye in holy places.”

Purchase one or two of the temples that hold special meaning to you. Commemorate your visit to a temple by picking up the corresponding coin. Celebrate a milestone in a loved one’s life by gifting them a temple coin to inspire them. Collect them all or just a few. Some are cast in precious metals, making each coin an investment that will be a treasure in every sense of the word.

Additional Information

• Free Shipping on orders over $35.
• All coins are 1 1/4 in.
• Pewter Coins are cast from lead free alloys.
• Brass Coins cast from a silicone, brass alloy.  Giving our brass coins a rich yellow gold color for a fraction of the cost of gold coins.
• Silver Coins are cast from an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper.
• Gold Coins cast in 14K Gold are 58.5% pure gold.  The remaining alloy consists of a copper and silver mix.
• All of our coins are developed, cast, and finished locally in our facility in Logan, UT, U.S.A.

*Source note: Jasper and Lommel, “Gathering of Saints”, 320.
**Liungman, “Dictionary of Symbols”, 318.
***”Architect Gives Newest Temple”.
****Dockstader, “Northernmost Temple Dedicated”.