Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Construction Status

The Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple is currently in the planning stages. No groundbreaking date has been announced.

Temple Rendering

Renderings of the Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple and site plan have not yet been publicly released.

Temple Site

On April 15, 2024, the location for the Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was officially announced as a 1.6-acre site located at Avenue Ilunga and N1 in Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Plans call for a one-story temple of approximately 11,000 square feet, along with patron housing and arrival facilities.¹

Temple Announcement

President Russell M. Nelson announced plans for a third temple in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at the closing session of the October 2021 General Conference. Other temples in the country include the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple and the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple. The first missionaries arrived to the country in 1986. It is now home to more than 68,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 200 congregations.²

Temple History

In February 2016, Elder Neil L. Andersen became the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to visit the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the historic visit, Elder Andersen addressed a congregation of approximately 2,000 people who had gathered to hear the apostle and his wife, Kathy, both of whom speak French, at a special Sunday meeting for the members of Mbuji Mayi.

Although loud music coming from an adjoining church proved a distraction as the meeting began and as the speakers delivered their messages, members offered silent prayers. Remarkably, when Elder Andersen stood to speak, the music quieted through his entire address, resuming just before the closing prayer. "Is it not wonderful to be in a land where so many gather to worship in their own way, such as our neighbors?" he said with a smile.

In his remarks, Elder Andersen encouraged members to teach their children to work and to receive education. He taught the principles of tithing and asked parents to teach their children likewise. He spoke of the importance of temple worship and shared experiences from the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, where he presided two days earlier. He invited members to prepare for a temple in the Kasai. The congregation was visibly moved and filled with hope by his comments.

In closing, Elder Andersen remarked on the spirituality of the members in the Kasai region, expressing gratitude for their faith and devotion. He blessed them to receive blessings sufficient to meet their needs.³