News
Photo: Random Life Observer
Beautiful Farm Land Surrounding the Bacolod Philippines Temple
With the main body of the Bacolod Philippines Temple clad in stone, work is now moving up the central steeple. The temple is located on the northeastern edge of the city where farm land is abundant. Sugarcane plantations are a typical sight along highways, as thousands of acres are dedicated to its production. Other common crops include rice, coconuts, bananas, and a variety of vegetables.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Groundbreaking Date Announced for the Tarawa Kiribati Temple
The First Presidency has announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tarawa Kiribati Temple will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi, Second Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, will preside at the event. The temple will be constructed on a 0.8-acre site located across from the Kiribati House of Parliament. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 10,000 square feet. Ancillary facilities, including a meetinghouse and patron housing facility, will be located about a quarter mile west of the temple site.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Groundbreaking Held for the Wichita Kansas Temple
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, groundbreaking services were held for the Wichita Kansas Temple. Elder Steven R. Bangerter, First Counselor in the North America Central Area Presidency, presided. In his site dedicatory prayer, he said: "Please bless us this day that, as we turn this dirt as a symbol of a new beginning, that we may feel Thy Holy Spirit within our hearts as a manifestation of the divine mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we may each feel a new beginning with renewed commitment to live our lives according to His teachings and filled with His love."
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Open House of the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple Begins
A news conference for the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple was held this morning where Church leaders shared information on the second house of the Lord to have been constructed in Honduras. Following two more days of tours for invited guests, the public will received at the temple from Thursday, September 12, through Saturday, September 28, 2024, excluding Sundays. No tickets are needed to participate in these free tours.
Photo: Mark Shelton
Beautiful View of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple Tower
The distinctive tower of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple can be seen above the tree line while walking north along Avenida Presidente Carlos Luz toward the temple site. The region is teeming with beautiful vegetation including the bright yellow flowers of the Ipê Amarelo tree. Stone cladding of the temple exterior and hardscaping of the grounds are progressing steadily. A masonry fence is being installed along the north property line.
Photo: Kuuipo Langi Fakatava
Installing Base Moldings Around the Neiafu Tonga Temple Spire
At the base of the Neiafu Tonga Temple spire, moldings are being lifted into place that will provide a visual transition from the steeple body to the spire. The exterior walls are being plastered and primed, and work continues on the roof. Plans to construct the temple were announced at the April 2019 general conference, and groundbreaking services were held three years ago in September 2021.
Photo: Brent R.
Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple Foundation Progress
With the assistance of two large cranes, reinforced concrete footings and basement structures are being installed for the foundation of the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple, which will rise on Provo's east bench, just west of Rock Canyon. Portions of Temple Hill Drive have been removed, providing land that will be incorporated into the new parking and landscaping west of the temple.
Photo: Erick Ochieng
Monument Sign Installed for the Nairobi Kenya Temple
A monument sign for the Nairobi Kenya Temple has been installed on the property wall, stating the names of the Church and the temple. East Africa's first temple was announced in April 2017, and construction began three years ago in September 2021. Both the temple and ancillary building are nearing completion. The temple is anticipated to serve members from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Photo: Google
Construction Advancing on the San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple
Construction of the San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple has been underway for the past six months on the western side of the city across from the beautiful "De Morales" Juan H. Sánchez Park. It is one of three temples currently under construction in the country—the others being the Querétaro Mexico Temple and the Torreón Mexico Temple. Plans have been announced for eight additional temples to constructed in Mexico.
Photo: Denise Bird
Demolition Activity Continues at the Kona Hawaii Temple
A rainbow emerges through the gray clouds over the Kona Hawaii Temple where demolition and removal of the landscaping is advancing quickly. The temple steeple has been stripped of its marble cladding, and the angel Moroni statue, which held a horn in one hand and a scroll in the other, came down last week. The temple will be renovated and enlarged over the coming months. It is one of two temples that have been dedicated in the Hawaiian islands. Plans for two more have already been announced.
Photo: Fibrared Telecomunicaciones Digitales S.R.L
Interior Work on the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple Progressing
While construction advances on the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple, technicians are working nearby to lay fiber-optic cable that will provide high-speed internet to the area. Exterior stonework on the temple is nearing completion, stained glass has been installed, and interior finish work is well underway including stone baseboards and thresholds and wood trim and moldings. Tile is being laid, painted walls and ceilings are being stenciled, and the baptismal font is in place.
Photo: Chris Miasnik
Health Walk to the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
At the end of July, local students of the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program gathered at the stake center for the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake to participate a health walk. They walked approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) from the stake center to the construction site of the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple and back. Having access to affordable college-level education is a great blessing to both Church members and non-members who take advantage of this remarkable program.
Photo: Paul Fecteau
Ornamental Fencing at the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple
Black ornamental fencing is being installed on the grounds of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple. Concrete gate posts will be clad in a stone veneer to coordinate with the temple exterior. Additional window frames have been installed, and cladding of the exterior walls continues with granite quarried in Spain. Inside the temple, Italian marble is being used to tile around the baptismal font.
Photo: Ethan Searle
Landscaping Progress on the Burley Idaho Temple Grounds
Large sections of the Burley Idaho Temple grounds have been mulched and planted, as landscapers continue their work of beautifying the temple site. The exterior of the temple has been completed while finish work continues on the interior. Construction of this house of the Lord began 27 months ago. It is one of three temples under construction in the state—the others being the Montpelier Idaho Temple and Teton River Idaho Temple.
Photo: Noy Ugay
Dedicatory Sessions Reduced for the Tallahassee Florida Temple
A change to the number of dedicatory sessions for the Tallahassee Florida Temple has been announced. Following a public open house that was previously announced for Monday, November 4, through Saturday, November 23, excluding Sundays, the temple will be formally dedicated in one session (two were previously announced) at 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Exterior Rendering Released for the Vancouver Washington Temple
A rendering of the exterior of the Vancouver Washington Temple has been published. Plans for the temple were announced at the October 2023 general conference by President Russell M. Nelson. The 43,000-square-foot house of the Lord will be constructed on a 15.11-acre site at the northwest corner of Southeast 20th Street and Southeast Bybee Road in Camas. A groundbreaking date will be announced at a later date.
Photo: Jamie Grace
Concrete Structure Erected for the Bengaluru India Temple
The concrete structural walls for the Bengaluru India Temple and annex building are in place. Once the buildings are enclosed, work can proceed on the interiors. The multistory temple will serve Latter-day Saints in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka who currently travel to the Bangkok Thailand Temple to participate in temple ordinances. The first stake in India was created in Hyderabad in 2012. A stake in Bengaluru came three years later in 2015, followed by Rajahmundry in 2016 and New Delhi in 2017.
Photo: Rita Lybbert
Erecting Scaffolding Around the Manhattan New York Temple
A covered walkway has been assembled along the sidewalks adjacent to the Manhattan New York Temple, and scaffolding is going up at the west corner as preparations get underway for an extensive three-year renovation. As part of the floor plan changes, a room for visitors will be created on the ground floor directly beneath the steeple, featuring a lighted marble reproduction of the Christus statue that will be visible from the street.
Photo: Shelem C. Ruiz
Structural Frame Rising for the Torreón Mexico Temple
The steel frame for the Torreón Mexico Temple has risen above the construction barrier that surrounds the property, giving passers-by a clear view of the impressive structure. The 10,000-square-foot temple will serve Church members living in the Laguna Region of Mexico who currently travel approximately 215 mi (350 km) to participate in ordinance work at the Monterrey Mexico Temple.
Photo: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Philippines
Groundbreaking Held for the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered alongside community and interfaith leaders to break ground for the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple. Presiding at the services was Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., President of the Philippines Area. He is himself a Mindanaoan, having grown up in General Santos City. It will be the second temple constructed on the island of Mindanao, joining the Davao Philippines Temple, which is currently under construction. The two-story temple will be built on Rosario Limketkai Avenue in Cagayan de Oro City. The project will also include an ancillary building, housing an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center.
Photo: Matthew Christensen
Inscription Stone Installed on the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple
The stone panel that is inscribed with the words Holiness to the Lord – The House of the Lord in the Khmer language has been installed over the main entrance to the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple. The lettering will be painted later. On the grounds, ornamental fencing is being installed, a variety of trees has been planted, and concrete pours continue for driveway surfaces, curbing, and other hardscape structures.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Story Behind the Transformed Plazas on Temple Square
A new Church-produced video shares the story behind the transformation of the plazas on Temple Square, which are now open to the public. The renovation became necessary to remediate the leaking membrane (installed in the 1970s) that covered the top decks of the underground parking structure. The concrete itself was discovered to be delaminated, necessitating further repairs. The final result is "an oasis from the storms of the noise and chaos…to feel the presence of the Savior," said Jay Warnick, ground services manager for Church Headquarters Facilities.
Photo: Darryl May
Installing Concrete Curbing at the Cleveland Ohio Temple Site
Concrete crews are installing curbing on the grounds of the Cleveland Ohio Temple, clearly defining the driveways and parking areas around the temple. Work continues on pouring the footings for the foundation around a central baptismal font. The temple is located in a quiet wooded neighborhood in the suburb of Independence. Construction has been underway for the past three months.
Photo: Andrew Rossi | Cowboy State Daily
Judge Upholds City's Decision on Cody Wyoming Temple
In a ruling made on Monday, a district court judge upheld the City of Cody's approval of a conditional use permit for the Cody Wyoming Temple, which was challenged by a neighborhood group who believes the temple should be located elsewhere. The Church was cleared to begin construction when a building permit was issued by the City in September, but Church officials chose to wait until a final ruling was issued. A Church spokesman said the Church is "grateful" for the ruling, but the group opposed to the location says the issue "may merit further review by the Wyoming Supreme Court."
Photo: Jim Hughes
Forming the Exterior Walls for the Anchorage Alaska Temple
Light-blue insulated concrete forms are going up at the Anchorage Alaska Temple construction site. The stay-in-place forms will be filled with concrete to create the exterior walls of the new building. Of the eight temples currently under renovation, three are full rebuilds including the Anchorage Alaska Temple, the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple, and the Stockholm Sweden Temple.
Photo: Clayton Ingram
Teton River Idaho Temple in Early Stages of Construction
The Teton River Idaho Temple is in the early stages of construction. It will be the second temple built in the city of Rexburg, which was founded by Thomas E. Ricks in the 1880s. The settlers originally named the town Ricksburg after their leader, but since the German ancestral name of Ricks is Rex, the name was changed to Rexburg. Ricks was also the founder of Ricks College, which later became Brigham Young University–Idaho.
Photo: Leipakoa Merilyn Prescilla Kakae
Crane Assists the Construction of the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple
The large telescoping crane being used to construct the Port Vila Vanuatu Temple and ancillary buildings is a conspicuous sight on the Pacific island of Efate. It is the third largest island by land area in Vanuatu and the most populous with approximately 66,000 residents, nearly 50,000 of which live in the capital city of Port Vila. The temple is rising on the site of the former Blacksands meetinghouse.
Photo: Totong Millora Vlog
Scaffolding Removed from the Davao Philippines Temple Steeple
Scaffolding has been removed from the steeple of the Davao Philippines Temple, revealing the beautiful stone cladding on the upper tier. The heaven-pointing structure is topped with a faceted dome and finial and features arched windows on all four sides of the upper and lower tiers. Cladding of the main body of the temple is nearly completed, which has been underway for over a year.
Photo: Henry Diaz
Reservations Available for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple Open House
Reservations are now available to tour the interior of the Deseret Peak Utah Temple, located in Tooele. Tours will be held Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, September 26, and concluding Saturday, October 19, 2024. Admission is free. The open house includes a brief video overview followed by a short walking tour through the temple. Comfortable shoes and modest dress are recommended.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Dedication Rescheduled for the Casper Wyoming Temple
The dedication of the Casper Wyoming Temple, which was originally scheduled to be held in two sessions on Sunday, October 13, has been rescheduled. The dedication will now be held on Sunday, November 24, in one session at 10:00 a.m. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside. The dedication will be broadcast to all units in the temple district. Due to the schedule change, the Deseret Peak Utah Temple is now projected to be the 200th dedicated temple of the Church in operation.
