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

Groundbreaking Ceremony

"Whenever a temple of God is constructed, it stands as another symbol of truth, righteousness, and peace as we seek to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ," said Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, president of the Africa Central Area, in his opening remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple held on Saturday, August 20, 2022. He was joined by his two counselors and numerous guests including dozens of government, community, and interfaith leaders. The temple will be 19,300 square feet (1,800 square meters) and be constructed on a 2.57-acre site along with ancillary buildings for patron and missionary housing and a distribution center.¹

Temple Design

The Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple is a single-story building of approximately 16,700 square feet with a steeple over the entrance. Supporting building on site include a patron housing facility, a temple missionary housing facility, a guardhouse, and mechanical buildings. Services include a distribution center, family history center, and arrival center.

Temple Rendering

On May 10, 2022, the official exterior rendering of the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was released.

Temple Site

On May 10, 2022, the location of the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was announced as a site located on Av. Kashobwe across from École Privée Belge de Lubumbashi, an international Belgian school, and near Lac Kipopo, a beautiful man-made lake.

Temple Announcement

Plans to construct the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple were announced in the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2020 General Conference by President Russell M. Nelson. Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo behind the capital city of Kinshasa where a temple was dedicated in 2019. The Saints of Lubumbashi currently belong to the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, which located nearly 1,500 miles (2300 km) away—a prohibitive distance for most members. A temple in the southeastern region of the country will greatly bless its nearly 63,000 Church members.²

Temple Facts

The Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple will be the second temple built in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, following the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple (2019).