Cleveland Ohio Temple
Pago Pago American Samoa Temple
Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple
Installing stained glass; finishing the exterior walls; construction estimated to be completed in late 2025 to early 2026
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Announcement:
5 October 2019Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:
22 April 2023 by Peter F. MeursSite:
3.76 acres | 1.5 hectaresArchitectural Features:
Single attached end spireOrdinance Rooms:
One instruction room, one sealing room, and one baptistryTotal Floor Area:
9,550 square feet | 887 square metersElevation:
82 feet | 25 metersGroundbreaking Ceremony
"May the emerging temple become a symbol of peace and blessings for them," prayed Elder Peter F. Meurs, General Authority Seventy, in his site dedicatory prayer at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple. Many honored guests attended the event held on Saturday, April 22, including His Excellency, Sir Bob Dadae, Governor General of Papua New Guinea; Tauvasa Tanuvasa Chou-Lee, Solicitor General; and Joe Zadrozny, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Current and former Church leaders from across the country were present, and a group of 18 men walked the famous Kokoda Trail, a 100km mountainous hike, for four days to be in attendance. Church members have traveled overseas for many years to participate in temple worship. Soon they will have a temple of their own on a beautiful site overlooking the ocean.1
Temple Design
The Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple will be a single-level building 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. An existing meetinghouse will be demolished to make way for the temple complex.
Temple Rendering
On September 15, 2020, the official rendering of the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple was publicly released.
Temple Site
On September 15, 2020, the location of the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple was announced. The temple 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.2
Temple Announcement
On October 5, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple at the 189th Semiannual General Conference. It will be the first temple constructed in the island nation of over 28,000 Latter-day Saints in 80 congregations. Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. Members currently fly to the Fijian islands to participated in temple ordinance work at the Suva Fiji Temple. The Port Moresby Branch, the first nation's first congregation, was organized on October 10, 1979. The Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission was created on February 13, 1992.3
Temple Facts
The Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple will be the first temple built in Papua New Guinea.
- "Papua New Guinean Saints Rejoice as Ground is Broken for New Temple," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 23 Apr. 2023.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "Rendering Released and Location Announced for Papua New Guinea Temple," 15 Sept. 2020.
- "President Nelson Announces Eight New Temples During General Conference," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 5 Oct. 2019.
