First Mormon Temple Opens In South Florida

DAVIE (CBSMiami) --  The first Mormon temple in South Florida opened it's doors in Davie.

The temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will serve approximately 25,000 church members from congregations in South Florida and members in the Bahamas.

The 30 thousand square foot temple is on 16.8 acres of land located at 3901 Southwest 154 Avenue.

While it is in Davie,it is called the the Fort Lauderdale temple since it takes on the name of the largest nearby city.

The congregation is inviting the public to visit the temple during an open house from March 29th through April 19th,  excluding Sundays.

The temple will be formally dedicated on May 4th in three sessions.

The Fort Lauderdale Temple will be the 143rd operating temple of the Church worldwide and the second in Florida. The Orlando Temple, dedicated in 1994, was the first Latter-day Saint temple built in the "sunshine state."