At first glance, Dallas, Texas; Boise, Idaho; and Chicago, Illinois may have little in common. However, if you were to visit the LDS Temple in each city, you would notice each have almost identical architecture. The unique angled roof of the building with the disconnected steeple is iconic to these three temples.  

Besides looking alike, each of these three temples was dedicated within a year of each other:

- President Gordon B. Hinkley dedicated the Dallas, Texas Temple on October 19, 1985. He also performed the rededication after a remodeling just four years later, on March 5, 1989.

-President Hinkley also dedicated the Boise, Idaho Temple on  May 28-30, 1984. After an extensive renovation, President Thomas S. Monson performed the more recent rededication on November 18, 2012. 

-Since the temples were constructed so close together in date, President Hinkley also dedicated the Chicago, Illinois Temple. The event was on August 9, 1985.

Think you can point out which LDS Temple picture is which?

We will give you a few hints: The Boise Temple has clean, white walls and less-defined brickwork. The Dallas Temple has a beautiful layout of pathways and with walls made of light-colored marble. And finally, the Chicago Temple is surrounded by trees and greenery right up to the walls. 

See if you can spot any more unique differences between these triplet sister temples in these inspiring pieces of LDS art and photography.

The Boise, Idaho Temple covers 35,868 square feet. The open landscape and clear skies of the famed potato state surround this sacred building. The beauty of the expansive grounds lies in simplicity. As with all LDS Temples, you will find flower beds and trees. But at Boise, much of the space is taken up by green grass and open air. 

The temple was constructed to bless the saints in their faithfulness. It encourages members of the church today to continue forward on their personal journey on that same spiritual path. A phrase from the original dedicatory prayer reads: 

“Bless Thy saints everywhere. Strengthen them in their faith. Look with favor upon all who walk honestly with Thee in the payment of their tithes and offerings. Open the windows of heaven and pour Thy gifts upon them.”

Characteristic of the state of Texas, the Dallas Temple is the largest of the three. It covers 44,207 square feet. The marble brickwork gives a unique look to the architecture, which is captivating at sunset or glowing against an evening sky.

This building stands as a firm symbol of God’s power on the earth. A profound and emboldening phrase from its first dedicatory prayer reads:

“Prosper Thy work in this part of Thy vineyard. May the dedication of this temple mark the beginning of a new and glorious day for Thy Church in this area. May the voices of evil be stilled. May the declaration of Thy truth be strengthened. May many hearts be opened to Thine everlasting gospel as it is proclaimed by Thy faithful servants. Father, may Thy work grow both here and across the world.”

"May the dedication of this temple mark the beginning of a new and glorious day for Thy Church in this area. May the voices of evil be stilled. May the declaration of Thy truth be strengthened. May many hearts be opened to Thine everlasting gospel as it is proclaimed by Thy faithful servants." 

The Chicago Temple covers 37,062 square feet. Similar to Dallas, this temple was constructed from marble. The marble variety is gray buff, giving the walls a stunning array of shades and shapes. As with all LDS Temples, the Chicago Temple grounds are lush and welcoming. It is encircled by trees and bushes, some of which grow right up along the temple walls. 

This temple was only dedicated once so far. The prayer focuses on the growing status of the church and what that means for its members:

“Heavenly Father, we see the dawning of that glorious day. The morning breaks, and the sunlight of truth is spreading over the earth. Thy people, once few in number, have become a great multitude, living in many lands and speaking many tongues. Their numbers are constantly increasing. The virtue of their lives is widely acclaimed. We are profoundly grateful for Thy blessings upon Thy work and upon Thy faithful saints across the earth.”

These three LDS Temples are not the only group of sister temples. Check out our earlier blog posts about the Bountiful Temple and the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Or you can see our full collection of Boise, Chicago, and Dallas pictures.