Back to the Real Salt Lake Newsfeed

A historic first: All 15 top Latter-day Saint leaders will be in Rome for temple dedication this weekend

With more than 200 operating temples around the world, dedications of these edifices are fairly routine for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But this weekend’s dedication of the Rome Temple — in the cradle of Catholicism — will be no routine event.

For evidence, witness that the Utah-based faith’s entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be in the Eternal City — believed to be the first in Mormon history that all 15 leaders will be in one location outside the United States.

The delegation will be led by church President Russell M.