Chicago, Illinois, USA Temple

History

The Chicago temple is the first to grace the Midwestern US after the destruction of the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. Situated on land known as “The Grove”, the temple faced intense opposition from groups who feared it would visually detract from this area famous for its wildflowers, birds and grasslands. At the groundbreaking, President Gordon B. Hinckley, second counselor in the First Presidency, promised, “…that what we do here will be beautiful and will enhance rather than diminish the charm of this lovely area.”* True to his words, the Church took care to preserve the native landscape on the temple grounds, even keeping the southern side of the building unlighted so it would not disrupt the bird migration flyways.** The temple itself adds to the beauty of the area. The beauty of “The Grove”, combined with the Chicago Temple make it easy to feel the peace offered by the Lord. As the time of dedication neared, the Saints were encouraged to prepare themselves to attend the temple. Home teachers in the Naperville, Illinois Stake asked families to consider the question, “Are you really spiritually prepared to go to the temple?” Members took up the challenge. Robert Ensign, a member of the stake said, “People’s lives are changing, and we’re finding that the closer we draw to the dedication, the more that momentum is building.”*** Prior to offering the dedicatory prayer on August 9, 1985, President Hinckley said, “I have a feeling that the erection and dedication of this House of the Lord carries something of a redemption of what happened in the past. It brings together the tradition of Nauvoo and the blessings of today.”**** The Chicago temple is one that reminds us that there is hope for peace with all that surround us.

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: Winfield, “Rites Begin Construction,” 3.
**Wood, “Temple a Mecca”
***”Chicago Saints,” 77.
****Heslop, “Bright Future Seen”.