Temples facing east

Issue

Do LDS temples always face east?

Response

The front of the temple is the elevation where the phase "House of the Lord" is found. So, for example, the "front" of the Provo temple is on the east-northeast elevation as the temple itself is 20 degrees off of a true east/west axis. The front of the Oakland Temple is the north elevation, the front of the Los Angeles Temple is the southeast elevation. The Stockholm Temple faces due south, which, at such a northern latitude, would be the direction of the most light; its front is, therefor, the south elevation.

Nauvoo is an interesting case as it has the phrase on both the east and west elevations of the building. We know that the original Nauvoo temple had the phase on the west elevation but no photographic record or architectural drawings exist of the east elevation so the design of the east elevation of the modern Nauvoo Temple is guesswork. So in the case of Nauvoo you can take your pick if the west or the east elevation is the "front". Most people however would say that the west elevation is the front of that building as there are no doors on the east elevation.

In summery to find the "front" of an LDS temple you find the phase "House of the Lord" on the building itself, not on a sign. The elevation that the phase is on is the front of the building. It is not always the east elevation. The angel Moroni statue has nothing to do with what is the front of the building. Temples are placed on the site in the manner which is most practical and artistically pleasing for that particular site. They can face in any direction.

Conclusion

Temples face whatever direction is most practical and artistically pleasing for the site they are on.

External links

Google Maps of the Oakland and Los Angeles Temples.