See First-Ever South Dakota Mormon Temple Opening In This City

With over 12,000 Latter-day Saints followers in South Dakota, you would think there would be temple already welcoming people for worship. But to my surprise, the first-ever Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Dakota.

We now have a better idea of what the first South Dakota Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will look like. But where will the temple be built?

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In a new press release, officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have released the exterior rendering of the new South Dakota Temple.

Where Will The New Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Be in South Dakota?

You can expect to see the first-ever Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple out west for our Mormon friends in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Dakota News Now

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will located at northeast corner of Mount Rushmore Road and Moon Meadows Drive. The site is 4.86-acres and plan is to build a 11,800-square-foot, single-story temple and an accompanying ancillary building.

The temple is something that church officials feel like this project has been a long time coming, especially since South Dakota followers have been meeting in around 30 congregations. They explain in a press release that congregations are different from temples.

Latter-day Saints consider each temple a house of the Lord and the most sacred place of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living

The first South Dakota temple was first announced by officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last April.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the reality TV show called "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" based in Utah. Who knows, maybe this leads to a spin-off in South Dakota...kidding by the way.

Get more details about the first South Dakota Mormon temple here.

10 Things You Should Never Do in South Dakota

Go anywhere in the U.S. and you'll find traditions and customs that only exist in that part of the country. South Dakota is no different, and there are definitely some "do's and don'ts" when it comes to living here.

Be careful trying any of these things in the Mount Rushmore State.

17 Animals You Can Hunt All Year in South Dakota

South Dakota loves to hunt. It's not only one of the state's most popular pastimes, but it's also big business. Especially South Dakota's famous Pheasant season.

There are seasons for hunting deer, antelope, turkey, and even bison. Plenty of opportunities to get that freezer in the garage stocked up.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department is the place to go for info about hunting licenses and specific rules and regulations for hunting in South Dakota.

GET: South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook

Hunting most game in South Dakota is restricted to specific hunting seasons. Like deer and pheasant seasons in the fall.

But there are also animals you can hunt year-round in South Dakota.

There are still some rules to follow, like where exactly you can hunt. South Dakota has millions of acres of public and private land to hunt on. And you'll still need a hunting license.

So, always check with the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department for the latest information and regulations.

LOOK: South Dakota Is Home to the World’s Largest Pheasant [PICTURES]

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns