The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced in the October 2021 General Conference that the Provo Utah Temple would be reconstructed following the completion of the Orem Utah Temple in Fall of 2023. 

It was announced in November 2021 that exterior will not be preserved, but an entire new design put in its place.

We respectfully urge the Temple Department to reconsider and instead preserve the exterior of the Provo Utah Temple and do seismic upgrades on the current building. 

The mid-century modern architecture of this building is iconic, beautiful, and worth preserving. When Emil B. Fetzer was asked to design the temple, he was given the parameters of a “functional design with efficiency, convenience, and reasonable cost” as his factors to keep in mind.

But he also took it one step further. In Exodus chapter 13 verse 21, it is written that “The Lord preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light.” Emil B. Fetzer took that scripture and created an architectural design that embodied that beautiful tradition of God leading the children of Israel out of bondage and to safety. The base of the temple as the column of cloud and the spire as the column of fire.

The beautiful symbolism of the temple should be preserved. 

As an icon of Provo and Utah Valley, the Provo Utah Temple should maintain its architectural integrity while still receiving the necessary seismic updates. Just as the Provo Tabernacle was "lifted" in 2012, and the Salt Lake City, St. George, and Manti Temple are being preserved, we ask that the Provo Temple department use similar or like means to preserve the Provo Utah Temple.  If funding is an issue, we ask that fundraising be allowed.