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The early Latter-day Saints in Northern California prayed to have a temple closer to home for many years. These early Saints were told that temples would come to California, but the process of getting temples built in California took longer than many expected. Even though the temple took more time than anticipated the members of Northern California patiently for the time when temples of the Lord would dot the landscape of California. While the members waited and prepared, they held tight to the predictions of earlier prophets, knowing the Lords promises would one day be fulfilled.
Brigham Young said August 7, 1847 "in process of time the shores of the Pacific may be overlooked from the temple of the Lord." This prediction gave these faithful Latter-day Saints in California hope that one day they would have temples, easily accessible to do the work of the Lord. In the 1920's, 73 years after Brigham Young said those prophetic words there were still only six functioning temples in the world- one in Hawaii, Alberta and four in Utah. The Saints of Northern California had to travel two days to get to the closes temple, which was the Salt Lake City Utah Temple, at the time.
In 1928, George Albert Smith, one of the Twelve Apostles at the time, was in San Francisco attending meetings, and met with President MacDonald a newly called Stake President. The two men met on Fairmont Hotel high atop Nob Hill in San Francisco.
MacDonald later recorded:
"From the Fairmont terrace we had a wonderful panorama of the great San Francisco Bay, nestling at our feet. The setting sun seemed to set the whole eastern shore afire, until the Oakland hills were ablaze with golden light. As we admired the beauty and majesty of the scene, President Smith suddenly grew silent, ceased talking and for several minutes gazed intently toward the East Bay hills. "Brother Macdonald, I can almost see in a vision a white temple of the Lord high upon those hills." he exclaimed rapturously, "an ensign to all the world travelers as they sail through the Golden Gate into this wonderful harbor." Then he studied the vista for a few moments as if to make sure of the scene before him. "Yes, sir, a great white temple of the Lord," he confided with calm assurance, "will grace those hills, a glorious ensign to the nations, to welcome our Father's children as they visit this great city."
President Macdonald recalled that this prediction from George Albert Smith seemed to come out of nowhere saying "there was no preliminary discussion of temples. The incident came quite unexpectedly but it was very impressive. The [other] matters we were discussing were quite forgotten in the sudden vision that came to him."
In the late 1930's the Oakland Temple site committee worked to locate the site envisioned by George Albert Smith. Oakland City, the chamber of commerce and city officials, even helped them, offering two locations free of charge! Even with those two locations being options, there was one spot on the hill feeling like it could be "the one". This spot on the hill was not for sale, and the leaders in Salt Lake City felt like it was not the best time to start looking for a new temple site, because the Los Angeles Temple site was just purchased. The Church was reluctant to build two temples in California at the same time.
With these obstacles mounting the Oakland Temple committee suspended their work but President Hilton, the head of the Temple site committee, said "Let us patiently wait our time and keep silent concerning this preferred site. Let us also watch and pray that we may obtain it."
The group, did indeed, wait patiently, believing strongly that this exact site was what was seen by George Albert Smith in a vision. While waiting for the land to become available the owner of the land passed away and instead of selling the site to Church they decided to maximize profits and sold to a real-estate developer J.F. Patterson and his wife Alice.
In 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor changed everything planned by Patterson and his wife for the land where the Oakland Temple now stands. The couple had obtained approval from city, county and state for a subdivision of luxury homes but could not proceed because the construction materials were not available due to the war. He, therefore offered the entire 14.5 acres to a member of the Church, named Graham for $18,000. The Oakland stake leaders regarded this as "a most marvelous bargain."
Graham's wife was a member of Montclair Reality and may have played key role in negotiations. The members of the Temple committee were thrilled. President Hilton of the Stake and head of the Temple committee, said they could not wait for the mail and traveled to Utah to speak with Salt Lake to urge the purchase of the property in 1942. The Church agreed to have someone go out and look at the property, but after many delays it took David O. McKay nearly two months before he could go look at the property. While waiting on the Church others offered to buy the land, for more money. Graham's diplomacy and friendship with the owners helped the owners of the land wait.
"Looking back, it may seem strange that a successful business man would not optimize his profit and accept the highest offer. But to the faithful it is obvious that the hand of the Lord was directing these matters." Arthur Coombs refected.
President David O. McKay was "enraptured at what he saw" and promised to recommend its purchase. From that time on the Saints referred to the site as "Temple Hill".
The Church purchased the property on January 28, 1943, and it was officially recorded on February 2.
Eugene Hilton later recorded:
"One of the most important and satisfying services I have ever rendered for the Church consisted in locating and recommending the purchase of 'Temple Hill' in east Oakland. . . I was truly inspired and impelled to persist in this project until it was completed. I never before or since felt such a strong repeated urging by the Holy Spirit. . . It all seemed to miraculously happen at the right time so that we could get this 'destined' site on which the Temple now stands!"
After all those years of looking and praying for the right land for the Oakland Temple, the members had finally received answers to their prayers and knew that they would get the temple for which they had been praying.
Owning the land was only one of the many obstacles to building the Oakland Temple, it took many years after the purchase of the property to even start building. War, finances and other reasons the Church did not start the building process on the Oakland Temple. With the prime real-estate with nothing built on it, problems arose. At one point, the local school board considered seizing it through their power of eminent domain, for a new elementary school. Fearful of losing the land O. Leslis Stone, the first president of the Oakland-Berkley Stake in 1956(thirteen years after the purchase of the property) telephoned Salt Lake to tell him the problem. Stephen L. Richards, the first counselor to the Prophet David O. McKay said "Brethren, don't worry about it. The Lord wants that for a temple site." Within forty eight hours the school board had changed its plans.
The Oakland Temple was not completed and dedicated until 1964, 21 years after the purchase of the 'Temple Hill' property. The faith and dedication of the Saints in Northern California is inspiring. The believed in the prophecies of early prophets and knew the Lord would come through on His promises. The Oakland Temple now stands as a fulfillment of prophecy, as a light on the hill for all to see. Years of waiting, and preparing made the Oakland Temple a very special place for the members in Northern California.
Elder Holland said "
My beloved brothers and sisters, Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But, of course, the reward for doing so is monumental. This truth is taught clearly and persuasively in the 32 chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon. There this great high priest teaches that if the word of God is planted in our hearts as a mere seed, and if we care enough to water, weed, nourish, and encourage it, it will in the future bear fruit “which is most precious, … sweet above all that is sweet,” the consuming of which leads to a condition of no more thirst and no more hunger.
Many lessons are taught in this remarkable chapter, but central to them all is the axiom that the seed has to be nourished and we must wait for it to mature; we “[look] forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof.” Our harvest, Alma says, comes “by and by.” Little wonder that he concludes his remarkable instruction by repeating three times a call for diligence and patience in nurturing the word of God in our hearts, “waiting,” as he says, with “long-suffering … for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.”
Refrences:
"The Oakland Temple, Portal to Eternity" By Richard O. Cowan and Robert G. Larsen p 20-37