portland oregon temple visitors' center

The temple and grounds are exquisite. Easily accessed from the highway and visible for miles before entering the grounds.

I love bringing family and friends to walk the grounds and see the Visitors' Center. I am always impressed with all of the information and technology put in such a small building. So well done and peaceful. It has been an interesting visit for everyone I have shared the experience with. Regardless of the differences of faith.

If you're looking for beautiful architecture and well-groomed grounds, the entire area is just gorgeous. The Visitors' Center itself is small, but the attendants are fantastic and the atmosphere is peaceful. The stations and videos are instructional. My kids loved the scavenger hunt, which will take you around the entire temple grounds.

Although the visitor center is very small, essentially a single room with interactive displays, they have a mini theatre in the center with literally hundreds of 2-10 minute videos. Gives one the sense of being able to retreat from the world. The staff are extremely attentive and friendly. Obviously they want to share their message but I spoke with a young sister missionary there and had a truly lovely conversation with her about faith and religion. I left feeling very good and positive about myself. Well worth the visit. And of course the temple grounds and reflecting pool are gorgeous. Can walk all around it and admire the landscape and plantings.

We loved the Visitors Center! There are so many different interesting activities that it probably takes more than one trip to enjoy them all. Our young kids love the statue of Christ in the entrance and our older kids loved coloring the temple on the computer screen and emailing it to grandparents. My husband and I loved listening listening in different languages and learning about Jerusalem on the interactive map.

My wife and I took our grandchildren to the Temple grounds and very much enjoyed the free tour and the beautiful gardens and inspiring Visitors Center.

My husband and I serve once a week in the Visitors' Center. Visitors find there peace that allows them to set aside their worldly cares. In the Center, the central theme is feeling that each of us can come closer to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. We can think of His invitation to let Him help us, as we view the full-sized statue of The Christus, hear His words, and and hear the testimonies of his apostles and prophets, both ancient and modern, who have walked and talked with Him. They describe His gospel, His attributes, and His love and yearning that all of us return to Him and our Father in Heaven. We feel closer to Jesus Christ as we learn the history of temples that prophets have built for millennia unto God--holy places where earth meets heaven. We learn how we can prepare ourselves to enter a "House of the Lord", and feel cherished by God in this holy place. We learn about the eternal nature of our earthly family--that God intends that we continue this family unit in the next life. No joy exceeds the hope that the sweet love we feel for our family--the love we want to last forever, especially poignant when one departs from us--is sanctioned by God. God has prepared a way, in His holy temples, for priesthood bearers to bind families forever. We can live as a family, again, with God in Heaven. We have never found anyone disappointed in this visit. We invite all to come and open their hearts to hear heavenly messages that add purpose, hope, and direction to their lives. Willard and Vicky Bushman

My family visited the Portland Oregon Temple Visitors' Center and had a great experience there. It was family oriented and helped us to feel the spirit of Christ and of the importance of family. We plan to visit again next time we are in Portland. (The temple was also beautiful!)

My wife and I were blessed to serve in the Portland Oregon Visitors' Center for just over a year. We saw many an individual come into the center being blessed through instruction, participation, a lending ear, or, in a few cases, finding someone with whom to cry. Many came, just to sit and ponder, others to discuss certain principles or ask definitive questions, some (Mostly the young) to play interactive displays, some to build testimonies and others out of curiosity. We literally saw lives change in the Center, including our own. One who visits the enter will be greeted by wonderful Sister Missionaries who have a strong testimony and knowledge of the Gospel and who will take the time necessary to offer whatever is needed for each individual. So, if you are just curious about the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), have specific questions, want some points of doctrine explained, would like to see and hear from Prophets and Apostles, need some peace and comfort, someone to listen, or just a place to sit quietly and commune with God, the Portland Oregon Temple Visitors' Center will satisfy your needs.We cannot recommend it enough.Bob and Joan Chatfield

The Mormon Temple and Visitor's Center in Lake Oswego is one of my favorite places in all of Portland. The grounds are gorgeously planted and maintained; if you're looking for the Garden of Eden, it's here locally! On this visit, my husband and I took some friends of ours to look around the outside of the place we got married, and to enjoy the Visitor's Center. While visits to the temple structure are limited to practicing Mormons, the Visitor's Center is open (and entrance is free!) 365 days a year, from 9AM to 9PM to anyone who wants to attend. We were warmly greeted by two young women serving missions in the area and loved getting to know more about them (and they about us!) as we wandered around the facility.My favorite part is the peace I felt when I stepped inside the building. No one gave me the "hard sell" on Mormonism, but simply allowed me to wander at my own pace and answer questions when I had them. We were there less than an hour, but could have stayed longer if we interacted with any of the (many) installations they have. I'd highly suggest a visit if you're in the Portland or Lake Oswego area. I'll definitely be back.