News
Groundbreaking Held for the Brasília Brazil Temple
"Bless us so that we continue to strive to be good citizens who serve and bless our neighbors and to never forget the poor and needy," said Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, president of the Brazil Area, in his site dedicatory prayer at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brasília Brazil Temple held Saturday, September 26, 2020. Elder Parrella was accompanied by Elder Joaquin E. Costa and Elder Joni L. Koch of the Brazil Area presidency, along with Damares Alves, Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights in Brazil at the event. Due to social distancing guidelines, attendance was limited. The 25,000-square-foot temple will be located on a six-acre site near an arm of Paranoá Lake. Patron housing and a meetinghouse will also be constructed on site.
Video Update on the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
"In this phase of the construction process, it may look a little bit shocking to some," says Andy Kirby, director of historic temple renovations, in a new video update on the Salt Lake Temple renovation. "It’s a little bit messy and there's been significant changes around the temple, but trust that this is a phase and a step [in] the important process of strengthening the temple and preparing it for many generations in the future." Watch the Salt Lake Temple Renovation: September 2020 Update video.
Winnipeg Manitoba Temple Art Glass Installed
The final pieces of art glass have been installed in the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, filling the elegant archway over the entrance, the narrow openings in the steeple, and the main body of the temple. Temporary construction doors being used in the entrance will soon be replaced with larger glass-filled doors underneath an inscription stone—yet to be installed—designating the temple as the House of the Lord. The temple incorporates a flower into the design theme, which appears to be the province's official flower, the prairie crocus.
A Glimpse at the Alabang Philippines Temple Site
Steady activity has been underway at the Alabang Philippines Temple site since the groundbreaking was held in early June. Construction aggregate was spread around the sites for the temple and the housing facility to create staging surfaces for the construction equipment. Piling and drilling rigs have been among the heavy machinery on site, helping to build a solid foundation for the temple, which will sit on moist soil next to the meandering Alabang River.
Attaching Exterior Panels to the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple
Delivery trucks are making regular stops at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple, carrying beautifully detailed precast concrete panels that are now being attached to the structural framing for the temple. The steeple frame was recently assembled, and interior framing is underway on the main floor. The accompanying meetinghouse and grounds building have been framed and are being wrapped in a vapor barrier.
Concrete Base Poured for Pocatello Idaho Temple Monument Sign
The west lawn of the Pocatello Idaho Temple recently saw the addition of a concrete base for the monument sign, which is centered in front of the temple and flanked on either side by symmetrical staircases and rows of trees that ascend the hill to the temple entrance. Granite cladding of the upper walls has also reached the west side with the majority of the east and south sides completed. An additional retaining wall has been poured along the east side of the grounds while installation of the ornamental fence continues.
Okinawa Japan Temple Groundbreaking Slated for December
Ground will be broken for the Okinawa Japan Temple in December 2020. Elder Takashi Wada, president of the Asia North Area, will preside at the service. The two-story, 10,000-square-foot building will be constructed on a half-acre parking lot adjacent to an existing meetinghouse, which will be remodeled to include a patron waiting area. It will be the fourth temple built in Japan, joining the Tokyo Japan Temple, Fukuoka Japan Temple, and Sapporo Japan Temple.
November Groundbreaking Set for Cobán Guatemala Temple
Elder Brian K. Taylor, president of the Central America Area, will preside at the groundbreaking for the Cobán Guatemala Temple in November 2020. The 8,800-square-foot building will be constructed on the site of the meetinghouse for the Cobán 2nd Ward. Plans also call for a replacement meetinghouse and a patron housing facility. It will be the third temple constructed in Guatemala, joining the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple and the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple.
Structural Framing for the Richmond Virginia Temple
Construction progress on the Richmond Virginia Temple delighted observers last week who saw concrete forms removed and the first structural steel beams rising over the foundation of the building. The neoclassical design developed for the two-story temple echoes elements of the state capitol building that stands about ten miles away in downtown Richmond, Virginia's capital.
Temple Reopenings Announced for Next Monday
On Monday, September 28, three more temples will enter Phase 1 of reopening including the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple, Mérida Mexico Temple, and San Salvador El Salvador Temple, leaving only a handful of temples that have not reopened in some phase since the worldwide closure in March. Four other temples will move to Phase 2 of reopening including the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple, Newport Beach California Temple, Papeete Tahiti Temple, and San Diego California Temple.
Landscaping Progress at the Tokyo Japan Temple
New landscaping along the southwest side of the Tokyo Japan Temple is incorporating the elements of a traditional Japanese garden including an irregular-shaped pond that could potentially be suitable for koi fish, carefully placed rocks to capture the essence of nature, a traditional pagoda-style stone lantern, and trees and flowers yet to be planted—all surrounded by a garden fence. Along the northeast side of the annex, numerous trees have been planted at street level.
Cladding of the Quito Ecuador Temple Underway
Stone cladding has started on the upper walls surrounding the tower of the Quito Ecuador Temple. The metal rod for the spire that will support a gilded fiberglass figure of the angel Moroni was recently installed atop the steeple that sits directly over the Celestial Room. The lower art windows in the tower will stream natural light into that holy space, which is a representation of the heavenly realm.
Salta Argentina Temple Groundbreaking Further Postponed
A second postponement has been announced for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Salta Argentina Temple. The service was originally announced for August 15 and then postponed until October 9, but it is now anticipated to take place in November 2020. The specific day was not released. Both postponements are due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temple will be constructed on a beautiful field across from the airport in the southern section of Salta.
Setting Rebar at the Feather River California Temple
The excavations for the Feather River California Temple are being filled with wooden forms and crisscrossing rebar that will contain and reinforce the strong concrete footings for the building. A white vapor barrier has been installed at the end of the temple for the floor slab of the partial basement. At the stake center site, water lines are being backfilled. Watch a video update of the construction progress.
Moldings Attached to the Yigo Guam Temple Exterior
On the sunny Pacific island of Guam, the Yigo Guam Temple continues to take shape with the addition of handsome moldings being affixed along the top of the exterior walls and around the tower. Painting of the exterior has also begun, especially visible through the scaffolding surrounding the tower. Work is advancing on the interior.
Details Released for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple
The site selected for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple has been announced. The holy edifice will be constructed on Muniogo Crescent in the Badili neighborhood of Port Moresby on the site of an existing meetinghouse that overlooks beautiful Walter Bay. An exterior rendering has also been released showing a single-level temple of approximately 9,550 square feet. Lodging for temple missionaries and patrons, a residence for the temple president and matron, and a distribution center will also be constructed on site. The existing meetinghouse will be demolished to make way for the temple complex. No groundbreaking date has been announced.
Ten More Temples Enter Phase 2 of Reopening
The following ten temples begin Phase 2 of reopening on September 21, 2020: the Atlanta Georgia Temple, Chicago Illinois Temple, Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple, Halifax Nova Scotia Temple, Manila Philippines Temple, Memphis Tennessee Temple, Nashville Tennessee Temple, Orlando Florida Temple, Portland Oregon Temple, and Raleigh North Carolina Temple. This brings the total number of temples in Phase 2 to 99.
Moses Lake Washington Temple Groundbreaking Announced
Elder David L. Stapleton, an Area Seventy, will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Moses Lake Washington Temple next month. A specific day was not announced. To adhere to the local government's social distancing guidelines, attendance will be by invitation only. Photographs and video of the event will be made available to the media and public through the Church Newsroom website following the services. The 20,000-square-foot temple and an adjoining 17,000-square-foot meetinghouse will be constructed on a 17-acre site on Yonezawa Boulevard.
Construction Fence Installed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
The Columbus Ohio Temple has been decommissioned, and a construction fence has been installed around the property as the general contractor begins the work of renovating the interior and exterior of the building. The angel Moroni statue, which currently faces east over the rear side of the temple, will be rotated to face the same direction as the temple entrance.
Saratoga Springs Utah Temple Steeple Frame
The final segment of the steeple frame for the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple was set in place today at the center of the tower roof deck. The steeple will eventually be capped by a spire and an angel Moroni statue. Construction of the temple began nearly eleven months ago. Following a few months of site preparation, the structure began to rise to its current height.
Wrapping Up Renovations at the Bern Switzerland Temple
A nearly finished renovation project on the grounds of the Bern Switzerland Temple has upgraded the temple access road including new asphalt from the parking lot to the hostel. Renovation continues on the hostel for temple workers with numerous upgrades underway. The temple is currently operating under phase 2 of the reopening plan.
Location Announced for the Davao Philippines Temple
The location of the Davao Philippines Temple has been announced as the 2.7-acre site of an existing meetinghouse at the intersection of Ma-a Road and Anahaw Road in Barangay Ma-a. The meetinghouse will be demolished and replaced with the temple, a meetinghouse, and housing for patrons and the temple presidency. The two-story temple will be approximately 18,450 square feet. No groundbreaking date has been announced yet.
Update on Reopened and Paused Temples
Beginning Monday, September 14, 2020, five more temples will reopen under Phase 1 including the Chicago Illinois Temple, Monterrey Mexico Temple, San José Costa Rica Temple, Veracruz Mexico Temple, and Villahermosa Mexico Temple. On that same day, ten more temples will move to Phase 2 including the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple, Campinas Brazil Temple, Curitiba Brazil Temple, Durban South Africa Temple, Johannesburg South Africa Temple, Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, Madrid Spain Temple, Recife Brazil Temple, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple, and São Paulo Brazil Temple. The Mexico City Mexico Temple and all temples in California have temporarily paused ordinance work until further notice.
Ground Broken for the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple
Ground was broken for the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple—the country's second—on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Elder José Bernardo Hernández, an Area Seventy, presided over the event. Elder Hernández, who is originally from San Pedro Sula, said "Personal preparation [to go to the temple] will bring to our lives many unimaginable blessings, such as eternal life and uniting the family for eternity." He encouraged parents to teach their children the importance of following God’s commandments and invited the youth to attend the temple often to participate in ordinances.
Ground Broken for the Orem Utah Temple
A small gathering of 30 attendees broke ground for the Orem Utah Temple on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Elder Craig C. Christensen, president of the Utah Area, presided at the event and said in his remarks: "The Orem Utah Temple will become an added refuge of strength in an increasingly uncertain world—a holy place where we learn and live more fully the great plan of happiness made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ." Elder Evan A. Schmutz, a member of the Utah Area presidency who grew up in Orem, said: "[The temple] will act as a beacon, drawing the gaze of millions as they pass by this hallowed ground, and inviting the devoted service of hundreds of thousands of faithful Latter-day Saints, as the ordinances of salvation are offered to the living and the dead."
Richmond Virginia Temple Footings and Foundation
Aerial photographs of the Richmond Virginia Temple site show the progress being made on pouring the footings and foundation walls for the temple. The location of the baptismal font is visible on the rear side of the building where walls for a partial basement have already been poured and cured, and work has begun on attaching a vapor barrier. An outline is visible for the meetinghouse that will be constructed south of the temple.
Strengthening the Salt Lake Temple Foundation
The work of strengthening the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple will continue through the end of the year. The process involves drilling deep 3-inch holes into the exposed foundation and footings and filling them with a high-strength grout that fills both the drilled hole and any intersecting voids and joints. On the south side of the temple, work has begun on building the secant (retaining) wall that will surround the entire building and contain the soil under the foundation in preparation for the deep excavations that will be necessary to install the base isolation system. The majority of the debris has been cleared from the north side of the temple where the sealing room wing and annex were demolished.
Staircases Added at the Pocatello Idaho Temple
The sun sets on another day at the Pocatello Idaho Temple where construction continues to move forward at a steady pace. A temporary staircase has been added to the scaffolding around the spire to make travel up and down the structure more safe and efficient over the upcoming months. In addition, concrete staircases are being poured across the front lawn from the driveway to the entrance, and the concrete fence posts at each corner of the property are being clad in beautiful granite. Cladding of the building is also making good progress on the east and south sides of the building and around the base of the spire.
Setting Rebar for the Walls of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple
On the sunny island of Puerto Rico, construction of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is rising above ground level with the first steel rods set for the exterior walls. Work is also underway on the supporting structure for the baptismal font and on the floor slab for a portion of the building. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelves Apostles visited the temple site in February and commented on the peacefulness of the location. An unexpected two-month construction hiatus from March to May, due to COVID-19, has delayed the anticipated completion of the temple until late 2021 or early 2022.
Auxiliary Building at the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple
At the end of 2019, a portion of the parking lot surrounding the stake center next to the Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire Temple was removed, and the tin construction barrier was extended to include this piece of land. For the past several months, construction has been underway on that ground of an auxiliary building that will house a distribution center and other Church-related offices. Structural concrete columns have been poured for the building, and metal posts are helping to support a growing roof structure.
