News
Photo: Ray Cheatham
Exterior Lighting System Installed for the Smithfield Utah Temple
The architectural lighting system for the Smithfield Utah Temple has been installed and tested, bringing broad smiles to local residents who appreciate the beauty and purpose this holy house of the Lord. Cache Valley's second temple was announced during the April 2021 general conference. Fourteen months later, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
Salt Lake Temple Model on Display in Temple Square Pavilion
On the south side of Temple Square, the privacy screen has been removed from the construction fence, allowing better views of the new pavilions where guests will be received. An updated cutaway model of the Salt Lake Temple is on display in the east pavilion, and a reproduction of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue stands in the west pavilion. Renovations of the buildings on Temple Square will continue through 2026 in preparation for a six-month open house that has been announced for April to October 2027.
Photo: James Lee
Cladding the Steeple of the Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple
The first cladding panels for the steeple of the Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple have been installed, including the ornamental grilles that will be featured along the centerline of each tier. Rows of scaffolds, wrapped in construction safety netting, surround the main body of the temple in preparation for cladding the exterior walls. Roofing of the ancillary buildings that stand on either side of the temple is underway.
Photo: Felipe Barroso
Location Revealed for the Beira Mozambique Temple
The location for the Beira Mozambique Temple has been announced as a 2.5-acre site located on Avenida 24 de Julho next to an existing meetinghouse in Beira. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 10,000 square feet along with patron housing and arrival facilities. The temple will be the first constructed in the country of Mozambique. The country's second temple has been announced for the capital city of Maputo.
Photo: Brayden Barney
Location of the Spanish Fork Utah Temple Announced
The Spanish Fork Utah Temple will be constructed on an 8.7-acre site located at the corner of 100 South and 2550 East in Spanish Fork. Plans call for a multistory temple of approximately 80,000 square feet with an accompanying ancillary building. There are currently six dedicated temples in Utah County. The Lindon Utah Temple will be the seventh. Groundbreaking dates for the Lehi Utah Temple and Spanish Fork Utah Temple have not yet been announced.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Groundbreaking Date Announced for the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple
Elder Patricio M. Giuffra, Central America Area President, will preside at the groundbreaking services for the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The temple will rise on property located across from the Barrio Sión meetinghouse at 18 Avenida, Zona 4, El Terrero in Huehuetenango. Plans call for a single-story building of approximately 10,787 square feet.
Photo: Frank Lewis
Yorba Linda California Temple Open House and Dedication
A public open house for the Yorba Linda California Temple has been announced for Thursday, April 30, through Saturday, May 23, 2026 (excluding Sundays). The event will begin with a media day held on Monday, April 27, followed by two days of tours for invited guests. The temple will be dedicated Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m. The dedicatory session will be broadcast to all units in the temple district.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
President Dallin H. Oaks Dedicates the Burley Idaho Temple
President Dallin H. Oaks, accompanied by his wife, Kristen, dedicated the Burley Idaho Temple on Sunday, January 11, 2026. It was his first temple dedication as president of the Church. As a child, he lived in nearby Twin Falls for about five years, so he said he chose to dedicate the temple because "it [is] close to my heart." He taught that "[t]he work of temples is centered on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. All that is learned and done here relates to Him."
Photo: Scott Ririe
150-Yard Concrete Pour at the Vancouver Washington Temple
Crews at the Vancouver Washington Temple recently poured 150 yards of concrete for the front footings and foundations. As concrete for the foundation cures, it is waterproofed and backfilled with soil. White plumbing pipes have been roughed in at several locations, marking future utility connections that will be made in subsequent phases of construction. The project has been underway for approximately four-and-a-half months.
Photo: Angela Bonsey
Scaffolding Erected Around the Kona Hawaii Temple
Vertical scaffolding rails have been erected alongside the Kona Hawaii Temple to support the installation of exterior wall finishes and stone cladding, as reconstruction of this house of the Lord advances. Materials are staged on site in the foreground, under a canopy of beautiful trees. The interior of the temple is in the rough-in phase, including interior framing and the installation of ductwork, plumbing, and electrical wiring.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
President Oaks to Dedicate the Burley Idaho Temple
President Dallin H. Oaks will dedicate the Burley Idaho Temple on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He will be accompanied by his wife, Kristen; Elder Steven R. Bangerter, Executive Director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Susan; and Elder K. Brett Nattress, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Shawna. The dedication service will take place at 10:00 a.m. MST and will be broadcast to all congregations in the temple district.
Photo: Astherielle Seraphine
First President and Matron of the Bacolod Philippines Temple Called
Gregorio Horlador Lagaña and Maria Luisa Arnaiz Nain Lagaña of the Roxas Capiz Philippines Stake have been called as president and matron of the Bacolod Philippines Temple. President Lagaña is a temple worker and a former district presidency counselor, bishop and high councilor. Sister Lagaña is a temple worker and Relief Society teacher and a former ward Young Women presidency counselor and ward Primary presidency counselor.
Photo: PouNeru Kifaga
President and Matron of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple
Kalilimoku Sola August Hunt and Tuputausi May Asayo Hirata Hunt of the Pago Pago Samoa Stake have been called as the president and matron of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple. President Hunt is an area temple and family history adviser and ward Sunday School president and a former area communications director, stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor and temple worker. Sister Hunt is an area temple and family history adviser and ward music coordinator and a former stake Primary president, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president and temple worker.
Photo: TRip ni ToniO
Temple Continues to Rise in the City of Golden Friendship
Scaffolding wraps around the entire exterior of the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple, as installation of the cladding panels continues. Cagayan de Oro, called the "City of Golden Friendship," is known for its warm, hospitable, and welcoming people. It is also the country's White Water Rafting Capital with adventures to be had on the Cagayan River and at beautiful nature parks. The temple has been under construction for over 16 months.
Photo: Jeff Taylor | The Winchester Star
Structural Framing Underway for the Winchester Virginia Temple
At the end of last month, a photographer for The Winchester Star captured a stunning rainbow over the rising steel frame for the Winchester Virginia Temple. Winchester is located at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 72 miles northwest of Washington, DC. It is the oldest city west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has a rich history, including being the location of multiple major battles during the Civil War.
Photo: A.T. Hun
Structural Walls Rising for the Budapest Hungary Temple
Construction of the Budapest Hungary Temple has moved above ground, rising above the blanket of snow that covers the surrounding soil. Red formwork is being used for the cast-in-place concrete walls. Rough openings are visible in the concrete, indicating the locations of windows or doors. Construction of the temple began over six months ago at the beginning of the summer season.
Photo: Tom Cook
Pendant Light Shines in the Front Portico of the Cody Wyoming Temple
On the grounds of the Cody Wyoming Temple, black lamp posts have been installed next to the walkways that lead to the front entrance of the building. The cheek walls on either side of the front staircase have been faced with cladding to match the temple exterior, and a pendant light has been installed inside the front portico, which is always kept on. The temple beautifully harmonizes with the surrounding mountain scenery.
Photo: Robert A. Stancliffe
Fort Worth Texas Temple Under New Year Skies
The freshly clad exterior walls of the Fort Worth Texas Temple stand out beautifully against the clear blue skies of a new year. The light-gray stonework is complemented by gold accents, most notably the domed cupola, shingled roofs, and front entrance doors. Landscaping of the grounds is progressing, and craftsmen continue their work of finishing the interior. The temple has been under construction for over 26 months.
Photo: Scott L Wyatt
Cupola Installed on the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple
Scaffolding has been removed from the central tower of the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple, which has been clad with a light-beige exterior stone and topped with a faceted dome cupola that stretches heavenward, terminating with a needle finial. Palm trees are being established along the front approach as major features of the landscaping. The gentle peaks of the surrounding mountains play backdrop to this beautiful house of the Lord.
Photo: Jeff Goebel
Installing the Basement Level for the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple
The beautiful rugged profile of Lone Mountain stands directly west of the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple site where reinforcing steel and concrete are being used to build the basement walls of the edifice. Corrugated steel panels has been stacked on site for the form deck that will be installed over the basement level. Heavy steel will be used to frame the superstructure of the building once the basement has been finished.
Photo: Isabel Margarita Durán
Outriggers Secured to the Santiago West Chile Temple
At the Santiago West Chile Temple construction site, bright yellow outriggers have been secured to the top of the tower and above the front facade. The cantilevered beams will be used as stable bases to support and lower work platforms, giving crews access to the exterior surfaces of the building. The accompanying photograph shows the progress of construction as seen from the observation area inside the visitors' trailer.
Photo: Mark Curry
Finish Work Progressing Inside the Modesto California Temple
Finish work is advancing inside the Modesto California Temple, with marble flooring in progress and stone being installed on the baptismal font. Millwork is being added around doorways and windows while light fixtures are hung throughout the interior. Scaffolding has been removed from the exterior of the building, and installation of roof shingles is nearing completion. Fencing, hardscape elements, and sidewalks are in various stages of placement on the grounds.
Photo: Richard Walton
Construction Fence Installed Around the Fairview Texas Temple Site
A chain-link construction fence has been erected around the Fairview Texas Temple site where installation of the utility infrastructure is getting underway. Preliminary work will be carried out before construction of the religious facility begins. A date for the start of construction has not yet been established. The temple has been designed to celebrate the natural environment of North Texas, including representations of local flowers in the art glass and stone exterior.
Celebrating the New Year on the Island Nation of Kiribati
Because of its location just west of the International Date Line, the first nation to celebrate the new year is the Pacific island nation of Kiribati where the Tarawa Kiribati Temple is under construction. Colorful lights are strung through trees and over streets. The concrete foundation for the temple was completed before the end of the year, and the work of installing the prefabricated modules is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
2025 Temple Milestones: Nine Dedications and One Rededication
The year of 2025 ended with 211 dedicated temples, 62 temples under construction, and 110 announced temples for a total of 383 temples. During the year, 16 new temples were announced, construction began for 20 temples, and 9 temples were dedicated in Auckland, New Zealand; Nairobi, Kenya; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Syracuse, Utah; Antofagasta, Chile; Farmington, New Mexico; Elko, Nevada; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The Toronto Ontario Temple was also rededicated.
Photo: John Hoffman
Interior Renovations Progressing at the Orlando Florida Temple
Construction equipment and materials are staged in the northwest parking lot of the Orlando Florida Temple where extensive renovations of the interior are progressing. Florida's first temple was announced in February 1990 and constructed in the Orlando suburb of Windermere. Known as the "Theme Park Capital," Orlando attracts millions of tourists annually, boasts over 100 lakes, and was once the hub of the state's citrus industry.
Photo: Mike Harris
Second-Story Floor Slab Poured for the Lethbridge Alberta Temple
With the structural walls in place for the ground floor of the Lethbridge Alberta Temple, the floor slab for the second story has been poured, and the concrete is curing under yellow-and-green-striped tarps. Concrete forms and reinforcing steel bar are staged on site, ready to be used for building the second-story exterior walls. The temple is rising across the street from a massive sports facility that houses an aquatics centre, fitness centre, two ice arenas, and a curling club.
Photo: Victor Loza
Adding the Portico Panels to the Querétaro Mexico Temple
A flatbed trailer on the grounds of the Querétaro Mexico Temple holds a precast concrete panel that will soon be hung over the opening for the temple's main entrance doors. The front portico is the last section of the main body of the building to be clad. Work will then progress toward the tower. Four ball-shaped pinnacles have been added to the parapet, which will coordinate with the metal finial planned for the top of the tower.
Photo: Jenn Walker
Exterior Cladding Progress at the Teton River Idaho Temple
The north face of the Teton River Idaho Temple continues to be covered with granite panels, changing the color of the exterior from a dark brown to a cool gray. On the west side of the building, the structural frame for the front portico has been installed. Located just three-and-a-half miles north of the Rexburg Idaho Temple, the 100,000-square-foot edifice will relieve demands on the city's heavily attended first temple.
Photo: Jonathan Hughes
A Tale of Two Temples in Anchorage, Alaska
The first reconstructed temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated in Nauvoo, Illinois, on June 27, 2002. Since that time, other temples have been reconstructed, but the Anchorage Alaska Temple represents another first. It is the first temple to be reconstructed as a new building while the original building remained operational on site. Dedicated in 1999, the Anchorage Alaska Temple continues to operate at the southeast corner of the property from Tuesday through Saturday while the new building is constructed.
