In the news today: Location released for South Dakota’s first LDS Temple. I did not know South Dakota was getting a temple. It’s on Mt. Rushmore Road, just south of Rapid City and about twenty miles north of the Mt. Rushmore National Monument. If you’re a biker, that’s about 35 miles south of Sturgis. If you’re into TV westerns, that’s about 60 miles from Deadwood, SD. If you prefer movie references, the site is about 85 miles east of Sundance, Wyoming, where you can get a photo of yourself sitting with a bronze of the Kid himself on a park bench. If you’re into tourist traps off the interstate, it’s about 60 miles west of Wall Drug. So the LDS temple will be one more star attraction in western South Dakota.

What is the most surprising LDS temple site you have run across? As in, whoa, there’s a temple here? They’re everywhere these days, so sometimes you get surprised. Most recently for me it’s the LDS Temple and Casino in Elko, Nevada, right next to the 80. No, there’s not really a casino with the temple, but if there was it might increase attendance. I’m sure the LDS citizens of Jackpot, Nevada, are happy to have the option of driving 116 miles to the Elko Temple as opposed to crossing the state line into Idaho and driving 51 miles to the Twin Falls temple.

I suppose I’m being a little lighthearted with this post, but maybe today is a good day for a little distracting humor.

Here are a few questions for readers.

  • On your next wild week in Sturgis, will you lead a caravan of righteous bikers over to the Rushmore Temple?
  • Will you South Dakotans now support putting an image of Joseph Smith on Mt. Rushmore? Or adding Samuel the Lamanite to the nearby but yet-unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial?
  • What’s the most surprising LDS temple location you have run across?
  • Did you know there was once serious discussion by LDS leaders about outfitting a cruise ship as a mobile LDS temple? It would have visited remote locations where LDS members lived but could not easily visit an earthbound LDS temple. With the booming cruise ship business, this idea should be revisited as more of a themed cruise for LDS seniors, with either an onboard temple section or frequent shore visits to say Caribbean temples. The Church even provides a handy map of LDS temples in the Caribbean to help you plan your righteous cruise.
  • Elon Musk put a Tesla in space. If not an actual functioning LDS temple, perhaps a small replica of an LDS temple could be launched. Perhaps in 2036, on the 200th anniversary of the magnificent spiritual outpouring at the Kirtland Temple in 1836. It would be fitting if a replica of the Provo Temple was the space temple.