News
At Home Under the Dome in Belém, Brazil
An inflatable dome continues to protect fresh concrete pours and provide shelter for contractors from the nearly daily rain showers experienced at the Belém Brazil Temple site. Both those on site and passers-by have become accustomed to the structure, which has been in place for almost three months. Its initial appearance produced many questions and caused a local social media sensation.
Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple Tower Rising
The first section of concrete has been poured for the tower of the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple, and forms and rebar are in place for the next pour. The tower will be topped by a tall tapering spire and a figure of the angel Moroni. Inside the building, concrete block walls are being constructed.
Two-Month Closure Planned for the Bern Switzerland Temple
The Bern Switzerland Temple will close this year from approximately mid-May to mid-July for some work to the exterior. The nearly 65-year-old building was the first temple to be constructed in Europe, having been dedicated in 1955 by President David O. McKay. Once work has concluded, the temple will reopen for ordinance work. No rededication is required.
North Reflection Pool Filled at the Mesa Arizona Temple
A new aerial photograph captures the reflection of the Mesa Arizona Temple in the recently filled pool located on the north side of the building. On the west side, beautiful gold-colored doors have been installed in the main entrance. A similar set of doors has been added on the rear side of the building. Installation of the ornamental fencing continues as does concrete and asphalt work including sidewalks and parking areas.
Temples Temporarily Closed Due to Spread of Coronavirus
In a statement released today regarding the impact of the coronavirus on missionary work and worship services, Church officials announced that the Taipei Taiwan Temple has been temporarily closed, and the Seoul Korea Temple will likewise be closed beginning Saturday. The Hong Kong China Temple is already closed for renovation, which began more than six months ago.
Pocatello Idaho Temple Sheathing Progress
Enclosure of the Pocatello Idaho Temple has made significant progress with GlasRoc sheathing attached to much of the second and third floors. The water- and fire-resistant surface will soon be covered with a white sealant and hanging brackets for the granite cladding. On the main level, window frames are being installed including the decorative metal medallions that depict wildflowers of the region. The section of granite cladding that has been installed on the north end is now visible.
Construction Entrances Added to South Wall of Salt Lake Temple
Two construction entrances have been created on the south wall of the Salt Lake Temple, connected by a tower of scaffolding. On the south lawn, much of the rubble produced by demolition activities has been removed. The basement of the South Visitors' Center is being extracted while demolition continues on portions of the wall surrounding Temple Square. A temporary structure is being built along the east side of Temple Square on the Main Street Plaza.
Hong Kong China Temple Dressed in White
Sporting a form-fitting, ruffled debris net, the Hong Kong China Temple continues to be renovated under wraps. The exterior of the building is at an unknown stage of transformation—a process that includes stripping the granite cladding, making alterations and improvements to the exterior walls, attaching moisture barriers, and recladding the building in new stone.
Tower of Quito Ecuador Temple Rising
Concrete has been poured for the tower walls rising atop the Quito Ecuador Temple. Window openings in the tower and spire will hold beautiful art glass that will coordinate with glass installed throughout the building. Rebar has been set in preparation for pouring the walls of the spire.
Durban South Africa Temple Dedicated
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Durban South Africa Temple today. He said of his first temple dedication, "I don't think there’s anything greater that I could be asked in my ministry to do than…to dedicate a temple." Elder Rasband and his wife Melanie were accompanied by Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Lynette. Elder Rasband said the temple "took his breath away" as he walked through with his family on the eve of the dedication. On the same day, the king and queen of the Zulu Kingdom toured the temple. "I'm relishing in the privilege of having the king and queen and their family be the last guests that we will take through this temple before it is dedicated," said Elder Rasband. Elder Cook added, "[T]hey embraced our church, they embraced the temple."
Footings Poured for the Praia Cabo Verde Temple
At the construction site for the Praia Cabo Verde Temple, footings have been poured over piles, and rebar is being set for the foundation of the building. On the east side of the property, much of the staircase has been constructed near the plot for the meetinghouse. Construction has been underway for just over nine months.
Alabang Philippines Temple Rendering Revealed
The official rendering of the Alabang Philippines Temple has been released to the public. The white two-story building will be constructed at the corner of Filinvest Avenue and Corporate Avenue in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for May 2, 2020.
Opening Dates Released for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites the public to tour the newly completed Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple beginning Friday, April 17, and continuing through Saturday, May 2, 2020. Tours will be held on every day except Sundays. The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, May 17, 2020, in three sessions held at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The evening before the dedication, youth are invited to a devotional on Saturday, May 16, broadcast to meetinghouses throughout the temple district.
Enclosing the Tokyo Japan Temple Annex
The primary focus at the Tokyo Japan Temple complex is the work of enclosing and completing the new multistory annex. The hulking frame of the building stands directly northeast of the temple and is being clad in concrete panels that match the temple exterior. The beautiful side-by-side buildings will serve as a center of worship for the Saints throughout the Tokyo region.
Young Single Adults Converge on Temple View, New Zealand
The largest national young single adult conference in New Zealand history was held last week in the community of Temple View, where the Hamilton New Zealand Temple is located. The Isles of the Sea event was a huge success, bringing young single adults from far and wide. Renovation of the temple is expected to continue into next year.
Feeding the Construction Workers in Yigo, Guam
Last week, missionaries in the Micronesia Guam Mission brought lunch to grateful subcontractors at the Yigo Guam Temple site. The sacred structure was designed within a compact footprint that debuts some innovative features like multipurpose spaces. The sealing room, for example, can be used for presentation of the endowment.
Concrete Pours Underway for Bangkok Thailand Temple Substructure
With excavation reaching the designated depth for the underground parking facility at the Bangkok Thailand Temple complex, regular pours of concrete are creating the columns, walls, and floors for the vast structure. A bright yellow tower crane protrudes hundreds of feet into the air through the structural framing, providing assistance with the heavy lifting of materials.
Billboards Identify the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple
Motorists in Rio de Janeiro traveling east along Avenida das Américas will notice two new billboard advertisements identifying the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple as The House of the Lord belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The general contractor has reportedly completed construction on the temple and has transferred it to the Church in the last couple of weeks. Members eagerly await the official announcement of the open house and dedication dates.
Aerial Update on the Mesa Arizona Temple Renovation
Watch the stunning aerial footage taken this month of the tree-filled grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple. You'll catch a glimpse of the impressive Family Discovery Center and residential units under construction across the street, the massive sunken pageant grounds with crisscrossing walkways, the embedded water features in the reflection pools, and the work of installing permanent windows and ornamental fencing.
Brickwork Progressing on the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
Tarps are covering nearly all sides of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, protecting masons as they continue to lay a reddish-colored brick in handsome patterns along the building's exterior walls. The adjoining brick meetinghouse is already completed on the outside. Last month, the spire was attached to the tower of the temple. Work is progressing on the interior.
Original West Wall of St. George Utah Temple Revealed
With the 1970s stair tower addition removed from the west side of the St. George Utah Temple, the original windows and walls are visible for the first time in over 40 years in remarkably good condition. The annex, another 1970s addition, has also been removed from the north side of the building, and materials have been sorted for recycling or repurposing. Both the annex and stair tower will be reconstructed in a manner that is more safe, functional, and consistent with the original architecture of the temple.
A Peek at the Pocatello Idaho Temple Cladding
The Temple White granite being attached to the exterior of the Pocatello Idaho Temple is visible along the northwest corner of the building. The precut, numbered pieces are assembled like a giant—and very heavy—jigsaw puzzle. Framing for the exterior walls is nearing completion, which will be followed by window installation and roofing. The work of sheathing and cladding the exterior will continue for many months.
Reflection Pool Filled at the Mesa Arizona Temple
Water is rippling across the recently filled reflection pool on the west side of the Mesa Arizona Temple where the main entrance is located. Progress has also been made on installing black ornamental fencing along the west side and bollards around the northwest corner. A new driveway entrance have been paved for the west side of the parking lot. Previously, there were only entrances on the south side. Green patches of sod are just beginning to appear on the grounds.
Washington D.C. Temple: A Beautiful Sight
The Washington D.C. Temple is looking more beautiful than ever with scaffolding removed and the full exterior lighting system running each night. The temple has been closed for almost two years and is expected to be completed before the end of this year. Modifications are underway on the reflection pool near the visitors' center.
South Visitors' Center Brought Down at Temple Square
By the end of last week, little was left standing of the South Visitors' Center on Temple Square. Much of the rubble was moved into the basement to be used as a ramp, and just a few pieces of wall remained. The chain-link barrier that sectioned off the construction area is being replaced with a wooden barrier. All of the landscaping on the south side of the temple is being cleared away, and preparations have begun for excavating along the deep foundation stones of the Salt Lake Temple.
Yigo Guam Temple Exterior Walls
The exterior walls have been poured for the Yigo Guam Temple, which are visible above the solid construction barrier that surrounds the site. Rebar and concrete forms had been set in place by early November last year when the construction project made the news, due to the death of a construction worker on site from an apparent heart attack. It was estimated that construction would continue for another year.
Concrete Block Walls Inside the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple
The concrete structure for the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple continues to grow behind the stake center for the Cocody Côte d'Ivoire Stake. Block walls are being erected inside the building, and raised concrete pillars have been poured from the tower to the rear of the building. Work continues on waterproofing and protecting the foundation, which is backfilled as the work is completed.
Layton Utah Temple Groundbreaking Announced
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, the groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the Layton Utah Temple. The service will be broadcast to stake centers in the temple district, and attendance at the temple site will be by invitation only. Elder Craig C. Christensen, president of the Utah Area, will preside. The three-story, 87,000-square-foot temple will be constructed at the corner of Oak Hills Drive and Rosewood Lane in Layton. A preliminary subdivision plat and an application for a conditional use permit were brought before the Layton City Planning Commission in November.
Groundbreaking Set for the Alabang Philippines Temple
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Alabang Philippines Temple on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Attendance at the temple site will be by invitation only. However, the service will be broadcast to stake centers within the temple district. Alabang is a barangay (or district) of Muntinlupa—a city located on the south side of Metro Manila. President Thomas S. Monson announced this temple for the greater Manila, Philippines, area. An artistic rendering of the building has not yet been released.
First Presidency Announces Richmond Virginia Temple Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Richmond Virginia Temple will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2020. The service will be broadcast to stake centers in the temple district with attendance at the temple site by invitation only. Elder Randall K. Bennett, president of the North America Northeast Area, will preside. The temple will be constructed at 10915 Staples Mill Road in Glen Allen, Virginia, a suburb just north of Richmond. The two-story, 36,000-square-foot temple will stand aside a 16,000-square-foot meetinghouse. The temple district will encompass units in Virginia, eastern West Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. It is the first temple to be constructed in the state.
