In 1973President Spencer W. Kimball in his dedicatory prayer for the land of South Africa said that a temple would be erected there. “We look forward to the day, Our Father, when all the processes might converge to bring a temple to this land, wherein all the youth and the people of this land may have their endowments and the blessings that are available to righteous people.”
April 1, 1981 Plans to construct Johannesburg Temple announced at General Conference. Temple grounds purchased.
April 2, 1982 Hearing for “Consent Use” appeal (Local residents did not want to have temple spires or the angel Moroni on the temple.)
May 19, 1982 Temple “Consent Use” appeal was dismissed (Issac Swartzberg argued that the Church only wanted to build a house—“A house of the Lord”). Father in Heaven had approved the site where He wanted His House in South Africa.
Nov 27, 1982 Temple ground breaking
May 23, 1983 Bids for the main contract to build sought. Four bids tendered, all over the proposed budget.
June 22, 1983 Approval of bid from Tiber-Bonvec approved by Salt Lake.
July 5, 1983 First work begins.
July 7, 1983 First site meeting
July 14, 1983 First concrete poured.
July 18, 1983 Contract signed.
Sept 27, 1983 Residence for the temple president purchased.
Sept 29, 1983 Frederick Sage accepted as joinery sub-contractor.
Oct 24, 1983 First bricks delivered to site.
Jan 21, 1984 All footings in place.
Feb 22, 1984 Instruction received to increase seating in ordinance room from 25 to 40 persons.
Feb 25, 1984 Pouring of concrete on last of towers completed.
March 8, 1984 Ellery Hansen arrives.
May 28, 1984 Commencement of laying the stones for the temple arches.
June 16, 1984 Temple arches completed.
Aug 30, 1984 Font arrives and is lowered into font area and all brickwork completed.
August 1984 Spire, Angel Moroni & trumpet arrive. Glenn Bray employed as temple engineer.
Sept 1984 Ellery Hansen and wife Yvonne return home.
July 25, 1985 The Temple building is turned over to President Clark and the Temple Operations Department.
July 29, 1985 Open House begins.
Aug 9, 1985 Open House ends.
Aug 24, 1985 On August 24-25, 1985, President Gordon B. Hinckley, Counselor in First Presidency, dedicates the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. Prior to that time, South African Latter-day Saints had to travel to England or the United States to attend the temple.
President Canfield, a former president of the Johannesburg Temple, pointed out that the temple sits on a high point of ground in Johannesburg. It is very prominent, and at night pilots flying into Johannesburg often use its light as a beacon. The temple is indeed a beacon—a beacon symbolizing the good hope the gospel offers to all the people of South Africa.”