Jacksonville’s First Mormon Temple Groundbreaking
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its first temple in Jacksonville on January 24. The event will take place on Loretto Road in Mandarin and will be private, attended by invitation only.
Event Details and Leadership
Elder Massimo De Feo, first counselor in the United States Southeast Area Presidency, will preside over the groundbreaking service.
Temple Location and Size
The temple will cover 29,000 square feet and is situated on a 6.6-acre site just east of San Jose Boulevard. The announcement of the temple was made in April.
Other Florida Temples
This temple will be part of a group of five temples in Florida, including those in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tallahassee, and Tampa.
Historical Background of the Site
The land where the temple will be built was formerly home to the Fleming Bowden residence, a two-story house built in 1907.
- Fleming Bowden was among the first residents in Mandarin to own a car, purchasing several Ford Model T’s in the early 1920s.
- He also served as Duval County supervisor of elections for 21 years.
- The property was rezoned for subdivision in 2020, but local efforts to preserve the site halted development.
- Attempts to relocate the historic house failed, and the subdivision was never constructed.
- Without historic designation, the house was demolished in early 2024.
"Since the house did not have historic designation, it was demolished in early 2024," said local historian Tracey Arpen.
Mormon Church History in Florida
Mormon missionaries first arrived in Florida in 1845, and the state's first congregation was established in 1897 in the Big Bend region.