News
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Artist's Rendering Revealed for the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple
An artist's rendering of the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple has been released to the public. Plans to construct the temple were announced by President Russell M. Nelson at the October 2022 general conference. The location of the property was announced in March 2023. The temple will be constructed across from the Barrio Sión (Zion Ward) meetinghouse at 18 Avenida, Zona 4, El Terrero in Huehuetenango. Plans call for a single-story building of approximately 10,787 square feet.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Exterior Rendering Released for the Maceió Brazil Temple
The official exterior rendering for the Maceió Brazil Temple was published today. Plans for the temple were announced in April 2022, and the location was revealed in March 2023. The temple will be constructed on Avenida Durval de Góes Monteiro in the Jardim Petropolis neighborhood of Maceió. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 19,000 square feet. It will be the first temple built in the Brazilian state of Alagoas.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Groundbreaking Services Announced for the Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple
Elder Joni L. Koch, president of the Brazil Area, will preside at the groundbreaking services for the Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The temple will be constructed at the intersection of Av. Antonio Marcal and R. Jose Brandani in Ribeirão Preto. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 32,000 square feet. There are currently 23 temples dedicated, under construction, or in planning for Brazil.
Photo: Amy Bailey
Heavenly Scene at the Elko Nevada Temple
The aurora borealis paints a heavenly scene behind the beautiful Elko Nevada Temple, which has been under construction for the past two years. The psalmist said, "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous…[f]or the…Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright" (Psalm 11:4–5, 7).
Photo: Wade Lindley
Northern Lights Display at the Smithfield Utah Temple
A powerful geomagnetic storm reached the earth on Friday night, producing a magnificent display of the northern lights that was witnessed by millions. Photographers showed up en masse to capture the magical experience at their favorite locations, including many Latter-day Saint temples. The Smithfield Utah Temple is shown in the accompanying photograph, which has been under construction for nearly 23 months.
Photo: Rob Welker
Rising Sun Creates Silhouette of the Burley Idaho Temple
Sun rays dance across the water that is sprayed over the farmland near the Burley Idaho Temple. The dawning light ushers in another construction day of Idaho's seventh temple. The sacred structure stands in the aptly named Magic Valley, located in the south-central portion of the state. Landscaping around the temple is making progress, including the planting of trees and installation of sprinkler lines.
Photo: LhexiMont
Dusk Settles Over the Alabang Philippines Temple
The Alabang Philippines Temple is a beautiful sight in the evenings at its prominent location on the corner of Filinvest Ave and Corporate Ave. Elder Evan Schmutz, who was the president of the Philippines Area, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the temple almost 4 years ago. He prayed, "[W]e dedicate this chosen ground for the construction of the Alabang Philippines Temple as a house of holiness, a house to be built in Thy Son’s name wherein the important work of salvation may be done."
Photo: John Lowe | J.H.L. Photography
Landscaping Progress on the Farmington New Mexico Temple Grounds
With the onset of warmer weather, landscaping of the Farmington New Mexico Temple grounds is quickly progressing. A pergola has been installed, landscape boulders have been placed, and numerous plantings are taking place in the garden strips along the streets and driveways. On the temple exterior, only a few pieces of stone cladding remain to be installed.
Photo: Luciano Carvalho
Tower Walls in Place for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
Concrete forms have been stripped away from the walls of the central tower that rises over the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple. Two tiers of window openings are present on all four sides of the tower. The roof planned for the structure will be roughly pyramidal in shape and topped with a finial. Early work is also underway on the terraced landscaping planned for the grounds that slope behind the temple toward the street.
Photo: Garrett Ammesmaki | Cody Enterprise
Modular Units for the Cody Wyoming Temple Moved
The white modular units for the Cody Wyoming Temple that have been stored behind the Y-Tex building on Big Horn Avenue for the past year are being moved to private property adjacent to the temple site. "The church is not yet commencing construction of the temple," said President Edwards, Second Counselor in the Cody Wyoming Stake. Rather, the land where the modules were being stored is needed for a planned expansion, according to owner Glenn Nielson. The community dispute over the planned location for the temple has quieted down over the past few months, as lawsuits have been considered by a district judge. However, the judge is expected to conduct a hearing and issue a decision later this month.
Photo: Google
Structural Frame Rising for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple
A satellite image taken last month of the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple site shows the progress being made on building the load-bearing walls and posts for the temple and ancillary building. A roof is being installed over the temple, starting on the west side, and the support for the baptismal font is visible on the east. The walls for the two-story ancillary building are nearly finished where patrons will have arrival and housing facilities.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Austin Texas Temple Groundbreaking Services Announced
On Saturday, August 17, 2024, ground will be broken for the Austin Texas Temple. Elder Michael A. Dunn, Second Counselor in the North America Southwest Area Presidency, will preside at the event and offer the site dedicatory prayer. Attendance at the temple site will be by invitation only. The 30,000-square-foot temple will be built on a 10.6-acre site adjacent to an existing meetinghouse located at 1801 E Park St in Cedar Park.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
June Groundbreaking Slated for the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple
Groundbreaking services for the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple have been scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2024. Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, president of the South America Northwest Area, will preside at the event and offer the site dedicatory prayer. Attendance at the temple site will be by invitation only. There is currently one dedicated temple in Bolivia, the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple. The Santa Cruz temple will be the second in the country, and a rendering has been released for the third, the La Paz Bolivia Temple.
Photo: Teixeira Duarte Eng Const BR
Open House and Dedication Scheduled for the Salvador Brazil Temple
The Salvador Brazil Temple will open to the public for free tours beginning Thursday, August 22, and continuing through Saturday, September 7, 2024 (excluding Sundays). Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in two sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. UTC on Sunday, October 20, 2024. Both sessions will be broadcast to all units in the temple district. Prior to the open house, a media day will be held on Monday, August 19, followed by two days of tours for invited guests.
Photo: Matthew Christensen
Installing the Ornamentation for the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple Spires
Crews have installed the golden finial and precast ornamentation that decorate the main central spire of the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple. Work has also begun on attaching precast panels to the four smaller spires, while wall panels are secured to the temple's exterior. Curbing has been poured for some of the driveway and parking areas, and more windows have been installed in the ancillary building. It is the first temple to be constructed in Cambodia.
Photo: Rofelix Media
Happy Saints of Zimbabwe Look Forward to a Temple in Harare
A group of happy saints stand in front of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple holding the Church publication from October 2010 entitled Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It explains the importance, purpose, and history of the Church's temples. The temple in Harare is the first to be constructed in the country of Zimbabwe. The area between the housing buildings is currently being landscaped.
Photo: Brent R.
Entrance Pavilions Rising North of the Salt Lake Temple
On the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, the concrete frames for the entrance pavilions have been erected, and steel framing for the roof of the west pavilion is underway. Between the pavilions, a tower crane rises through a rectangular opening, which will become a large skylight over the main foyer and recommend desk. Scaffolding has been removed from the east central spire where the brilliantly refurbished statue of the angel Moroni stands. Massive post-tension cables are being threaded through conduits in the transfer beams on the east and west sides of the temple foundation. Base isolators can also be seen on the west end.
Photo: Robert O'Connor
Beautiful Sunrise at the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple
Beams from the morning sun backlight the gray clouds over the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple on another day of construction. The structural frame for the temple topped out at the end of March, and a flag still flies over the steeple frame. On the exterior, the work of sheathing, waterproofing, and cladding all continue. The temple is rising on a picturesque site at the base of tree-covered hill in Springfield, Oregon.
Photo: Kent Taylor
Forming the Footings for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple Foundation
Inside the excavation pit at the Knoxville Tennessee Temple site, crews are forming the footings for the basement walls and baptismal font. Aggregate is being spread on the ground where the footings for the main level will be installed, and work continues on the storm drainage system. The temple is located in a wooded area in the suburb of Farragut.
Photo: Kael Wilcox
Cladding Progress at the Smithfield Utah Temple
Beautiful stone cladding is steadily moving up the south side of the Smithfield Utah Temple. The temple stands in a valley with deep pioneer roots, and the design reflects that heritage. Smithfield was settled in October 1859 by brothers Robert and John Thornley and their cousin Seth Langton, who were sent north from Salt Lake City by President Brigham Young to found a settlement on Summit Creek. The settlement was originally named Summit but was later renamed Smithfield after the first bishop, John Glover Smith, who was called in 1860.
Photo: Remi
Cladding the Syracuse Utah Temple Monument Sign
The concrete core and footing for the monument sign of the Syracuse Utah Temple have been installed, and several pieces of stone cladding are in place, coordinating beautifully with the temple exterior. Cladding of the temple began nearly two years ago, and very little remains to be completed. The Syracuse temple is the third to be constructed in Davis County, following the Bountiful Utah Temple (1995) and Layton Utah Temple (2024), which will be dedicated next month.
Photo: Santiago Garcia
Construction of the Antofagasta Chile Temple Nears Completion
Nearly 42 months ago, ground was broken for the Antofagasta Chile Temple that now stands as a beautiful landmark on the northern end of the city. On that occasion, Elder Juan Pablo Villar of the South America South Area presidency said in his dedicatory prayer, "I invite us all to…remove the rocks that weaken our foundation and prepare our spirits with firm foundations to support life's trials and to stand tall in the face of the adversity."
Photo: Julián Mansilla
Advancements on the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple Complex
The guardhouse and maintenance building for the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple stand on the northeast side of the property, sharing the same brick exterior as the ancillary building. The temple is being faced with a light-colored stone, setting it apart from the other buildings. Cladding is nearly completed on two sides of the temple, and the roof has been shingled. It is one of seven temples dedicated, under construction, or planned for Argentina.
Photo: Sean Wilhelm
Scaffolding Coming Off the San Diego California Temple
Scaffolding has been a familiar sight at the San Diego California Temple for the past six months, but that is beginning to the change. As renovation of the sacred edifice progresses, scaffolding has been removed from the double towers where the refurbished white walls, blue glass, and gold-leafed tower ornaments sparkle under the sun. On the interior, modifications to the floor plan will allow for larger sealing groups.
Photo: Rodrigo Quib Cucul
Cupola Frame Added to the Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple
The cupola frame has been secured to the top of the tower that rises over the center of the Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple. The exterior walls are being wrapped in a vapor barrier to protect the porous concrete from moisture damage. Box fans are being used in some of the window openings to circulate fresh air through the building.
Photo: Google
Cincinnati Ohio Temple Location Released to the Public
On Monday, April 29, the location of the Cincinnati Ohio Temple was announced as a 35-acre site located at the intersection of Mason-Montgomery Road and Cedar Village Drive in the northern suburb of Mason. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 29,630 square feet. With detailed design plans still under development, a rendering and groundbreaking date will be released later.
Photo: Alexander Zarkowski
Location for the Des Moines Iowa Temple Announced
The location for the Des Moines Iowa Temple has been announced as a 19.576-acre site at 9050 NW 62nd Avenue in the suburb of Johnston. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 18,850 square feet. It will be the first temple built in the state. Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in Iowa with more than 200,000 residents. An exterior rendering and groundbreaking date will be released later, as detailed design plans are still under development.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Exterior Rendering Released for the Lethbridge Alberta Temple
An exterior rendering for the Lethbridge Alberta Temple has been released. The temple will be constructed on a 9-acre site at the corner of Whoop Up Drive West and Mauretania Road West in Lethbridge. Plans call for a temple of approximately 45,000 square feet with an accompanying distribution center. The temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson in April 2023. The site location announced in September 2023.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
News Conference Held for the Salta Argentina Temple
Local government officials and more than 20 media organizations participated in a news conference this morning for the newly constructed Salta Argentina Temple. The temple's architecture and design reflect the region's rich heritage, honoring the cardon cactus flower, a prominent plant in the area, and the guarda pampa pattern motif, traditionally used in regional costumes and handcrafts. Free tours for the general public begin on Friday, May 3, and continue through Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., excluding Sundays.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
President Dallin H. Oaks Dedicates the Urdaneta Philippines Temple
President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Urdaneta Philippines Temple today. It is the 190th dedicated temple in operation and the third in the Philippines. "I often tell people that the greatest period of my growth as an Apostle was the two years in the Philippines," said President Oaks, who served there as Area President from 2002 to 2004. Sister Kristen M. Oaks said, "We have so many memories here. It was an incredible time." Elder Carlos G. Revillo, Jr., a General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, said, "The presence of President and Sister Oaks here adds significance to the dedication. We deeply love them. To hear him dedicate this House of the Lord in Urdaneta is very significant. I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and the Filipino saints."
