News
Photo: Dawn Annette Jorgensen
Forming the Structural Walls for the Modesto California Temple
Wall forms are rising over the concrete footings and foundation for the Modesto California Temple. The insulated concrete form (ICF) blocks are the same product used for the Yorba Linda California Temple. They stay in place after the concrete is poured, acting as an insulator and moisture barrier. The temple is the second to be constructed in California's San Joaquin Valley after the Fresno California Temple. A third temple is slated for construction in Bakersfield.
Photo: Lee R Cowan
Angel Moroni Is Removed from the Provo Utah Temple
The angel Moroni statue was removed from the spire of the Provo Utah Temple early this morning. A 300-ton crane was used to lift the gold-leafed figure off of the building, which is slated to be razed and rebuilt as the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple. Temple Hill Drive, the street between the temple and the missionary playing field, has been closed to all vehicular traffic. Over the past few days, demolition crews have been removing the entrance hardscape and taking down trees. The front portico has also been removed.
Photo: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - India
Construction of the Bengaluru India Temple Resumes
Construction activity has sprung up again at the Bengaluru India Temple site. Scaffolding and debris nets have returned to the temple, and crews can be seen scattered across both buildings. Plans to construct the first temple in India were announced at the April 2018 general conference, just a few months after President Russell M. Nelson was ordained and set apart as the 17th President of the Church.
Photo: Nathaniel Jones
Preparing to Reconstruct the Stockholm Sweden Temple
Protective wood slats have been placed around the trunks of mature trees near the construction entrance to the Stockholm Sweden Temple site. The old building was razed earlier this year, and preparations are being made for constructing the replacement building. The exterior of the new temple will be very similar to the original, but the interior will be divided into two levels to increase the overall square footage.
Photo: Nia Kioa
Plastering the Exterior Walls of the Neiafu Tonga Temple
The Neiafu Tonga Temple has become a distinguished landmark on the beautiful island of Vava'u. The copper-colored spire rises against a backdrop of cloudy azure skies, drawing the eyes heavenward. The exterior walls of the temple are being plastered, turning the rough surfaces of the concrete block smooth. Progress is being made on the roof and on the body of the steeple.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Building Permit Approved for Nauvoo Temple Visitors' Center
Construction may begin on a visitors' center planned to stand across the street from the Nauvoo Illinois Temple. A building permit was approved last week, and a timeline for the project is being established. "This is definitely a big step forward," said Acting Mayor Tacy Nelson. The approval comes after months of community discussion over concerns with zoning, traffic, safety, and appropriateness of the location. "The city and the LDS Church have come to kind of an agreement, and I think we’re both happy with how things are going to move forward," said the mayor. The 13,200-square-foot building will feature a Tiffany stained-glass window of Jesus Christ, a children's area, a theater, exhibits on the original temple, and picture windows facing the current temple with a 121-stall parking lot open to the public and community.
Photo: Google
Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Location Announced
On April 15, 2024, the location for the Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was officially announced as a 1.6-acre site located at Avenue Ilunga and N1 in Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Plans call for a one-story temple of approximately 11,000 square feet, along with patron housing and arrival facilities. No exterior rendering has been released, and no groundbreaking date has been announced.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Dedication Details Announced for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A public open house for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple will be held from Friday, August 16 through Saturday, August 31, 2024, excluding Sundays. Before the public tours, a media day will occur on Monday, August 12, 2024, followed by three days of tours for invited guests. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in two sessions on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The dedicatory sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EDT. All units in the temple district will receive the broadcast.
Photo: Darryl May
Groundbreaking Date Announced for the Cleveland Ohio Temple
Groundbreaking services for the Cleveland Ohio Temple will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area Presidency, will preside. Cleveland is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie about 20 miles from the Kirtland Temple. The new temple will be constructed on Brecksville Road in the suburb of Independence. Plans call for a temple of approximately 9,000 square feet with a 100-foot spire. Site preparations are already underway.
Photo: Cristián Lozano / Diario UNO
Open House Dates Announced for the Mendoza Argentina Temple
A public open house for the Mendoza Argentina Temple has been announced for Thursday, August 22, through Saturday, September 7, 2024, excluding Sundays. Before the public tours begin, a media day will be held on Monday, August 19, followed by tours for invited guests on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 20–21, 2024. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in two sessions on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. UTC. The proceedings will be broadcast to all units in the temple district.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Layton Utah Temple Opens for Public Tours
The open house for the Layton Utah Temple kicked off today with a news conference attended by members of the media. Free public tours will be offered beginning Friday, April 19, and continuing through Saturday, June 1, 2024, with no tours held on Sundays. Reservations can be made online. The design motifs were influenced by the agricultural heritage of Layton, featuring seedlings, leafy branches, and cherry blossoms. The temple will be dedicated by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Photo: Jay Pala
Gorgeous Views from the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple Site
The walls of the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple can be seen rising behind the lush vegetation along Hubert Murray Highway against the stunning blue waters of Walter Bay. The temple is the first house of the Lord in Papua New Guinea. Plans to construct the temple were announced at the October 2019 general conference. The groundbreaking was held nearly one year ago on April 22, 2023.
Photo: Randy Christensen
Scaffolding Coming Off the Grand Junction Colorado Temple
Scaffolding is being removed from the steeple of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple, revealing the beautifully completed stonework. Portions of the ornamental fence have been installed, and work is progressing on the hardscape. Much more landscaping will take place over the spring and summer. Next Tuesday marks the two-year anniversary of the temple groundbreaking.
Photo: Dana Henriksen
A Beautiful Spring Morning at the Lindon Utah Temple
The beautiful snow-capped peaks of Mount Timpanogos play backdrop to the steeple frames of the Lindon Utah Temple, which catches the rays of the morning sun. Framing and sheathing is being added to the base of the south steeple while stone installers continue to hang granite on the exterior of the building. More window frames are being installed, including the frames for the celestial room windows on the east side.
Photo: Yorba Linda LDS Temple Instagram page
Stone Cladding Begins at the Yorba Linda California Temple
Along the base of the Yorba Linda California Temple, installation has begun on a footing course of granite. The temple's two-toned exterior will combine a brownish red granite with a cream-colored marble. The marble will cover the majority of the exterior surfaces while the granite will be used for accent moldings along the base and around windows and entryways. Framing and utility rough-ins are progressing on the interior.
Photo: Luciano Carvalho
Aerial View of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
A recent aerial view of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple shows the progress being made on building the frame for the tower. The front side of the temple faces toward an ancillary building that is rising at the base of a tree-covered hill. At the rear side of the temple, the ground slopes steeply down to street level. Stormwater management has been incorporated into the landscape design to handle the large amounts of moisture that fall during the rainy seasons.
Photo: Rory Wallwork
Installing Art Glass in the Syracuse Utah Temple
Gorgeous panes of art glass are being installed on the top floor of the Syracuse Utah Temple. The vibrant sheets of glass will run from the top floor to the ground floor in a breathtaking swath of floral shapes and colors down the east facade. The Holiness to the Lord panel has been prominently installed, also on the east side. Fence posts are being clad in stone that matches the temple exterior.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Taylorsville Utah Temple Opens for Public Tours on Saturday
The public is invited to tour the interior of the Taylorsville Utah Temple from Saturday, April 13, through Saturday, May 18, 2024. Free reservations are available online. A news conference and tour was held for the media this morning with Elder Kevin W. Pearson, Utah Area President; Elder James R. Rasband, assistant executive director, Temple Department; and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency; were in attendance. Invited guests will tour the temple through Friday, April 12. The temple will be dedicated by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Elder Rasband to Dedicate the Manti Utah Temple
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will rededicate the Manti Utah Temple at 5:00 p.m. MDT on Sunday, April 21, 2024. The three-week public open house for the temple recently concluded on Friday, April 5. There were 230,665 guests who toured the historic edifice.
Fifteen New Temples Announced at the 194th Annual General Conference
In a prerecorded message presented at the conclusion of the 194th Annual General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans for the construction of 15 new temples in the following locations: Uturoa, French Polynesia; Chihuahua, Mexico; Florianópolis, Brazil; Rosario, Argentina; Edinburgh, Scotland; Brisbane, Australia South Area; Victoria, British Columbia; Yuma, Arizona; Houston, Texas South Area; Des Moines, Iowa; Cincinnati, Ohio; Honolulu, Hawaii; West Jordan, Utah; Lehi, Utah; Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Photo: Aaron Nuffer
Minor Renovation Underway for the Melbourne Australia Temple
The Melbourne Australia Temple closed last week for a minor renovation project that will bring changes to the area where the foyer, non-patron waiting room, and guest bathrooms are located. Interior finishes and furnishings will also be refreshed. The temple is scheduled to resume service in early December of this year. Since the project is not a major renovation, no open house or rededication will be held.
Photo: Burley Idaho Temple Facebook page
Fertile Farmland Around the Burley Idaho Temple
The granite-clad Burley Idaho Temple is a beautiful sight when standing in the farmland that lies west of this house of the Lord. The region is a center for agricultural production given the fertile soil and abundance of irrigation water from nearby rivers. Potatoes were among the first crops that were grown in the area, but they were followed by sugar beets, alfalfa, and grains. The temple site itself is former farmland.
Photo: Nyasha Shepard Ushewokunze
Palm Trees Planted on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Grounds
The approach to the Harare Zimbabwe Temple has been greatly beautified by the addition of royal palm trees that have been planted and braced in the garden area between the two housing buildings. Brick is being laid around the body of the steeple. The stake center for the Harare Zimbabwe Stake was razed and additional property was acquired to make way for the new temple complex, located on Enterprise Road in the Highlands neighborhood of Harare.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Extended Maintenance Closure for the Richmond Virginia Temple
The Richmond Virginia Temple will close for approximately three months from April 15 through July 8, 2024, for an extended maintenance period to accommodate adjustments and improvements to the interior including the baptistry. The temple was dedicated almost a year ago on May 7, 2023. It was the first temple constructed in the state, but plans have been announced for temples in Winchester and Roanoke.
Photo: Elko NV Temple Progress Facebook page
Exterior Stone Cladding of the Elko Nevada Temple Completed
Stone cladding of the Elko Nevada Temple has been completed, having now reached the top of the steeple. The first panels were installed about nine months ago. On the interior, finish work is getting underway. Walls are being prepped for primer and paint, and floors are being readied for tile. The installation of permanent lighting has also begun. Muntin bars are in place for the art glass windows, which will be encased between panes of clear glass and backlit by the interior lighting.
Photo: Matthew Christensen
Installing the Hardscape for the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple Grounds
On the west side of the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple, crews are installing the hardscape elements for the grounds. The concrete frame for the guardhouse is in place, and planter boxes are being formed and poured. The masonry wall at the rear of the property has been installed where different colors of paint are being tested. Exterior panels continue to be hung on the exterior walls of the temple.
Photo: Joseph F CorHer
Building the Foundation for the Torreón Mexico Temple
Work is progressing on the foundation of the Torreón Mexico Temple, located west of Torreón in the city of Gómez Palacio. The temple is rising across the street from an existing meetinghouse where auxiliary facilities will be constructed to support the work of the temple. Members in the area currently travel approximately 210 miles (340 km) to participate in ordinances at the Monterrey Mexico Temple.
Photo: Reg Hass
Landscaping the Grand Junction Colorado Temple Grounds
Pavers have been laid for an attractive hardscape feature on the grounds behind the Grand Junction Colorado Temple. The large floral pattern at the center of the plaza echoes the design found on many other surfaces of this house of the Lord. Concrete bases have been installed for future lamp posts, and numerous trees have been planted and staked in the surrounding soil.
Photo: John Lowe | J.H.L. Photography
Cladding of the Farmington New Mexico Temple Nearly Finished
Scaffolding covers the front portico of the Farmington New Mexico Temple where the final pieces of stone cladding are being affixed to the exterior. Vibrantly colored stained glass is being installed, featuring flowers and tribal patterns. Piles of mulch and aggregate have been staged for when landscaping picks up in the spring. Construction on the project has been underway for almost two years.
Photo: Don Hudson
Preparing for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple Foundation
Heavy machinery has been drilling and excavating in preparation for laying the footings and foundation for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple. Concrete pipe has been staged, and trenches will be excavated for the property's storm drainage system. The groundbreaking for Tennessee's third house of the Lord was held over two months ago at the end of the January. Construction activity picked up significantly in March.
