News
Open House and Dedication Announced for the Durban South Africa Temple
The First Presidency has announced a public open house for the Durban South Africa Temple beginning Wednesday, January 22, and continuing through Saturday, February 1, 2020. The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, February 16, 2020, in three sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m. A youth devotional will be held the evening prior to the dedication on Saturday, February 15, 2020.
Landscaping Underway at the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Grounds
The construction barrier that surrounded the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple has been removed, revealing the permanent decorative fencing that has been installed and the work that has started on landscaping the grounds. The tower pedestal has been clad in stone, and the scaffolding is being removed. When the temple is dedicated, it will become the eighth dedicated temple in Brazil.
Belém Brazil Temple Groundbreaking Ceremony Announced
In a letter sent to area seventies, stake presidents, district presidents, and mission presidents, the presidency of the Brazil Area has announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belém Brazil Temple will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, president of the Brazil Area, will preside. Attendance at the temple site will be by invitation only, but the proceedings will be broadcast live via the internet. The temple will be constructed in a central location to the Belém metropolitan area near the Val de Cans International Airport.
Oakland California Temple Rededicated
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, presided over today's rededication of the Oakland California Temple. He was accompanied by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "I'm astonished at the beauty of what has been done in the restoration of the Oakland Temple," President Oaks said. More than 123,000 people toured the building during the open house. Elder Bednar said, "People are drawn, not just to the beauty of this place. You feel something when you come onto the grounds of the temple."
Stained Glass Installed at the Raleigh North Carolina Temple
The cream-colored stone exterior of the Raleigh North Carolina Temple has been accented by soothing blue and green swirls captured in the recently installed stained-glass windows. Asphalt has been installed for the driveway, and the landscaping for the park-like grounds is nearing completion.
Aerial View of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
Take a flight around the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple site to see the latest progress on the renovation including the recently installed stained-glass windows and entrance doors, the beautiful landscaping filling the grounds, and the elegant window-filled tower capped by a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni.
Oakland California Temple Youth Devotional
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, will preside at a youth devotional on Saturday, June 15, 2019, in anticipation of the rededication of the Oakland California Temple on Sunday, June 16, 2019. President Oaks will be accompanied by his wife, Kristen, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Susan. The devotional begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Interstake Center.
Forms Set for Elevator Shaft at Pocatello Idaho Temple
The concrete mixer at the Pocatello Idaho Temple construction site is hard at work churning out concrete for the extensive system of footings being poured to support the foundation. Footings started at the basement level, including a footing to support the baptismal font. Work has now progressed to the main floor level, and forms have been set for an elevator shaft.
Durban South Africa Temple Tower Cladding Completed
Scaffolding around the Durban South Africa Temple tower is being dismantled, as crews have finished cladding the structure in marble. The wall mosaic in the baptistry is nearly finished, and installers are expertly fitting marble baseboards, door frames and trim, and other millwork. The monument sign slab has been poured at the entrance to the property while work continues on connecting to utility mains and adding road layers. Landscaping efforts carry on as does the meticulous work of piecing together the water feature medallion.
Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Enters Final Weeks of Construction
Crews at the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple will be working quickly over the next few weeks to wrap up construction and turn the building over to the Church. Trees and plants have filled the garden space behind the temple, decorative bars are being installed over the windows, and the meetinghouse extension is nearing completion. The open house begins in just under eight weeks on August 3, 2019.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple
Elder Enrique R. Falabella, president of the South America Northwest Area, presided this afternoon over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple. He said the groundbreaking would be an occasion never to be forgotten. "There is something special in the temples. As we spend more time in the Lord's house, our life will have greater meaning," he said. Lima will become the first city outside of the United States to have two temples.
Lovely Landscaping at the Arequipa Peru Temple
A handsome display of trees, shrubs, and flowers have filled the grounds of the Arequipa Peru Temple, adding to the tranquility of the serene setting. Temporary glass has been replaced by stained glass in the temple's window openings, and workers continue finish work on the interior. The public open house for the temple complex begins in five months.
Construction Activity at the Quito Ecuador Temple
It's been nearly a month since the groundbreaking for the Quito Ecuador Temple, and the construction crew has been hard at work on erecting Ecuador's second temple. A white outline of the temple has been made on the ground, and some excavation work has begun. Plans are underway to open a visitors' trailer where questions may be answered and construction activity observed.
Feather River California Temple
The name for the temple to be constructed in Yuba City, California, has been changed to Feather River California Temple on the temple list maintained on the official website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Development Services Department for the City of Yuba City listed the temple as one of its planning projects for 2019 in a goal-setting presentation made to the City Council. No location for the temple has been officially announced.
Raleigh North Carolina Temple Update
Work is progressing in every area at the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. Recent highlights include the installation of wall sconces on the entrance exterior walls, aggregate being laid for the driveway and parking lot, and more plants and trees being added around the monument sign and in the garden areas.
Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple Site Cleared
The site of the future Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple has been cleared, and volunteers will begin this week to assemble the structures and set the chairs needed for Saturday's groundbreaking ceremony. After three months of work, demolition of the institute building and meetinghouse that formerly occupied the site was completed last month.
Fortaleza Brazil Temple Dedicated by Elder Ulisses Soares
Brazil's seventh temple, the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, was dedicated today in three sessions by Elder Ulisses Soares, the first South American (and Brazilian) apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to dedicate the temple saying, "They could have sent any other apostle, but they gave me the opportunity. It means a lot. It is my own country, my own language, and my own people."
Final Day of Open House Tours at the Oakland California Temple
Today is the last chance for guests to tour the interior of the Oakland California Temple before it closes for rededication on Sunday, June 16, 2019. Thousands of visitors have walked through the temple, taken pictures to commemorate their visit, and marveled at the panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. The historic structure first opened in 1964.
More Trees Planted at the Lisbon Portugal Temple
Landscapers are busily planting trees across the grounds of the Lisbon Portugal Temple, filling in the green space between the temple and meetinghouse. Retaining walls and planter boxes are being clad in stone including the wall surrounding the monument sign. Ornate entrance doors have been installed, accented in gold details.
Decking Out the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
Steel roof decking is being attached to the trusses of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, and a mockup has been assembled next to the building as a reference for the exterior finishes. Crews have completed laying shingles atop the roof of the adjoining meetinghouse and are wrapping the areas above gables and around window openings with a moisture-protective housewrap.
Soft Landscaping the Durban South Africa Temple Grounds
Thousands of plants are finding a home on the Durban South Africa Temple grounds to create the beautiful gardens that will greet arriving temple patrons. Stone cladding continues on the planter boxes and the temple exterior walls as does work on the water feature medallion. Millwork progresses inside the temple including stairwell banisters, doors, and trim. A wall mosaic is being carefully installed in the baptistry.
The Frankfurt Germany Temple Villa
The charming farmhouse-style villa that stands on the site of the Frankfurt Germany Temple and serves as a residence for the temple president matron is receiving renovations alongside the temple. The exposed timbers of the structure have been treated and are now being painted a vibrant maroon color. The Church agreed to preserve and restore the villa to its 1890s beauty as a condition of receiving a building permit for the temple.
Pocatello Idaho Temple Foundation Footings
Under a mass of gray clouds with on-and-off-again rain, crews are setting forms for the concrete footings of the Pocatello Idaho Temple. Conduits are being buried in utility trenches as connections are made to the City's water and sewer systems. Work has begun on spreading gravel for the aggregate base of the parking lot.
Plans Well Underway for the Bengaluru India Temple
On May 19, 2019, Bishop Dean M. Davies of the Presiding Bishopric and his wife met with members at the stake center for the Bengaluru India Stake where he assured them that plans for the Bengaluru India Temple are well underway. "We hope to share details of the design and location before the end of the year," he said, encouraging members to prepare themselves to attend the temple after it is dedicated.
Renovation Plans Shared for the St. George Utah Temple
At a news conference held in the St. George Temple Visitors' Center today, plans were released for the upcoming renovation of the St. George Utah Temple, which closes on November 4, 2019. Brent Roberts, managing director of the Special Projects Department said, "Latter-day Saints have worshipped here for almost 150 years. However, the building has worn out over time, and it is once again time for us to refresh and strengthen this historic structure for future generations to enjoy." Improvements are planned for the entire block including new walkways, landscaping, water features, and shade trees. The existing annex will be replaced with a larger structure that complements the temple's exterior and incorporates a new exit for brides. Major structural and mechanical upgrades will require some excavation around the foundation. A new baptistry entrance will be added on the south side of the temple. The renovation is expected to be completed in 2022, which will be followed by an open house and rededication.
Open House and Dedication Announced for the Arequipa Peru Temple
The First Presidency has announced the opening dates for the Arequipa Peru Temple. The general public is invited to attend a free open house beginning Friday, November 15, and continuing through Saturday, November 30, 2019, except for Sundays, November 17 and 24. A youth devotional will be held Saturday, December 14, and the dedication will follow on Sunday, December 15, in three sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The devotional and dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to meetinghouses within the temple district. The temple opens to patrons on Thursday, December 19, 2019.
Asunción Paraguay Temple to Be Rededicated
The renovated Asunción Paraguay Temple will open to the public for an open house beginning Saturday, October 12, and continuing through Saturday, October 19, 2019, except for Sunday, October 13, 2019. The temple will be rededicated on Sunday, November 3, 2019, in one session at 10:00 a.m. It reopens to patrons on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.
Site Announced for the Auckland New Zealand Temple
During his nine-day ministering tour of the Pacific islands, President Russell M. Nelson spoke at a devotional held Tuesday night in Auckland's Spark Arena to a congregation of 12,000. He said: "Today I am pleased to announce that the new temple will be built in Auckland on Redoubt Road." The hillside site sits between an existing stake center and missionary training center. President Nelson added that the temple would be a "two-story building with a granite exterior. It's light and beauty will be highly visible."
Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple Monument Sign
The monument sign has been installed on the grounds of the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple where newly planted trees and shrubs are filling garden spaces. Work continues on an extension of the existing meetinghouse that will feature an arrival center with a waiting room, dining tables, restrooms, shower stalls, and lockers.
President Eyring Rededicates the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple
"Don’t forget that our ancestors are real," said President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, at the rededication of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple. "They are waiting and when we do their [temple] work, the warm feeling [we feel] is the Spirit. That warm feeling will stay with you forever." The temple was rededicated following a renovation of the interior and exterior that altered the appearance of the temple and made numerous improvements.
