PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA TEMPLE
This temple trip is all about Edward Tasca. It’s also about my dad.
My father served a mission in the eastern states mission around 1950. Back in those days you actually sold a copy of the Book of Mormon to an investigator instead of just giving it to them. One day on a street corner in Philadelphia, my dad sold a copy of the book to a Mr. Edward Tasca, who gave my dad his business card. My sister found this card and discovered that Mr. Tasca’s temple work could be done by us. So my brother did the initiatory work recently and I took off for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple to do the endowment today.
it’s a 240 mile drive one way to the Pittsburgh temple. I took my new used SUV that was recently thrown away at a hauling job and which I now drive. It ran like a charm! 
Even the cruise control worked! I always enjoy crossing underneath this bridge on I 70 going west as you head out towards Cumberland Maryland. I also appreciate going through some of the mountain passes on the way.
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Facts
The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple is the 97th temple I have visited since January 2017. The only other current operating temple in the United States that I have not done temple work is in McAllen Texas. I am working on attending that one sometime in the next few weeks.
The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple has an endowment room that holds about 40 people. It was a little over halfway full on the session that I attended. This was particularly fun for me since I was going through for someone that my father originally met on his mission.
The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple is the 196th operating temple of the Church. It was announced in April 2020 and dedicated in September 2024 by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
One very interesting fact about the layout of the grounds surrounding the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple is the bridge connecting the temple to the Pittsburgh North Stake Center. The black arrow in the first photo below shows the location of the bridge. The second photo shows a closeup of the bridge, and the third photo shows Elder Uchtdorf standing on the bridge at the temple’s dedication. Pittsburgh is known as the “City of Bridges.” This is a wonderful example of how the Lord customizes His temples to fit the local surroundings. (Third photo taken from the Deseret News)
Three things stood out on the drive both to and from the temple today. First, there were lots of Trump 2024 signs along the way. Very few of any for vice president Harris. Second, twice I passed Amish people in their horse and buggy transportation. And third, apparently the U.S. Open golf tournament is being held at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh as a large banner spanned the freeway, letting people know that merchandise was ready for sale. Oh, and let’s not forget the numerous billboards telling people that milk is good for them! Hats off to these Pennsylvania farmers and their dairy cows!
I enjoyed the quiet solitude of the celestial room as I thought about my father and Mr. Tasca possibly being there on this occasion. It was a tender moment.
I always enjoy photographing some of the flowers on the temple grounds. The mountain Laurel is featured in the stained glass and throughout the temple as it is Pennsylvania’s state flower.
There is only one operating temple left in the United States that I have not done temple work in. That is the McAllen Texas Temple. That’s next on the list!