Атланта ғибадатханасы: Иса Масых соңғы күндердің Сенімділер шіркеуінің Оңтүстік-Шығыс ғибадатханасы

Temple of the LDS church

The Atlanta Georgia Temple (formerly the Atlanta Temple) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church) was the first temple built by the church in the Southeastern United States and the second temple east of the Mississippi River since 1846. Members of the church consider it a literal "house of God" comparable to the ancient Israelite temple where, as recorded in Bible, God spoke with Samuel. Emphasizing this belief, the building's façade bears the inscription "Holiness to the Lord – The House of the Lord." The announcement to build a temple in Georgia was made by the church's First Presidency in April 1980. A site for the temple was selected on a lot in Fulton County, in the then unincorporated city of Sandy Springs, between Barfield Road on the east and Glenridge Drive on the west, 3.5 mile (6 km) north of Atlanta.

Latter day Saints consider it a sacred privilege to serve in the temple. With the exception of a small staff of grounds keepers, maintenance engineers, office workers, and security, all other temple workers, including sealers, serve in a volunteer capacity. Prior to the construction Latter day Saints in the South traveled to either the Washington D. C. Temple or to other temples throughout the United States to be married, sealed to children or parents, receive blessings collectively known as the Endowment, or perform ordinances on behalf of deceased ancestors. The original area served by the temple included approximately 150,000 Latter day Saints encompassing the states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and portions of North Carolina, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Until the dedication of the Orlando Florida Temple in October 1994 members of the church in the Caribbean also came to the Atlanta Temple. As a direct result of this announcement, between 1999 and 2000, temples were dedicated in every state in the original Atlanta Temple district, except Arkansas and Mississippi. This dramatically decreased the number of out of state visitors to the temple.

The First Presidency announced on April 4, 2009, that the temple would close on July 1, 2009, for 15–18 months of renovations. Changes as part of the remodeling included making the temple more accessible to those with special needs. Additional windows were added, as well as more art and art glass. Among the new works of art is a mural in the creation room by Linda Curley Christensen. When construction was completed, a public open house was held from April 9 through April 23, 2011. The temple was rededicated on May 1, 2011, by church president Thomas S. Monson.