One part of General Conference that most LDS Church members have become accustomed to is the announcement of new temples. During his opening address at conference this past April, however, President Thomas S. Monson said that there would not be any new temple announcements in the “immediate future.” So, instead of anticipating and speculating on where the next temple will be, it’s a good time to look back at the progress being made on the temples announced most recently.
There are currently 15 temples under construction, with another 12 still in various preliminary planning stages. When these 27 temples are completed, there will be 170 total temples throughout the world, and well over 85% of church members will live within 200 miles of a house of God.
Under construction:
Phoenix Arizona Temple
Announced – May 24, 2008
Groundbreaking – June 4, 2011
Dedication – Nov. 16, 2014
After years of debate and compromise between the Church and neighbors over zoning regulations, and amid ongoing protests from the community surrounding the temple site, the Phoenix, Arizona Temple is finally in the finishing stages of construction. An open house will be held from Oct. 10 to Nov. 1 and three dedication ceremonies will be broadcast to all Arizona congregations.
Cordoba Argentina Temple
Announced – Oct. 4, 2008
Groundbreaking – Oct. 30, 2010
Completion – Early 2015
The Cordoba Argentina Temple will be the second temple in operation in Argentina. As of next year, members in Cordoba will no longer have to travel nearly 400 miles to attend the temple in Buenos Aires.
Payson Utah Temple
Announced – Jan. 25, 2010
Groundbreaking – Oct. 8, 2011
Completion – Early 2015
The Payson Utah Temple will be the fifteenth temple in the state of Utah and third in Utah County alone. “Standing adjacent to 1-15, the Payson Utah Temple will be a dominant and visible influence on the millions who pass by here by day and by night,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Rome Italy Temple
Announced – Oct. 4, 2008
Groundbreaking – Oct. 23, 2010
Completion – 2015
Members in the Conference Center and worldwide gasped in surprise and excitement when President Monson announced the Rome Italy Temple six years ago. It will be the first temple built in Italy, and the twelfth in Europe.
Indianapolis Indiana Temple
Announced – Oct. 2, 2010
Groundbreaking – Sept. 29, 2012
Completion – Mid 2015
The Indianapolis Indiana Temple will be the first temple in the state. Saints in Indiana currently attend the temples in Chicago, Louisville and Columbus.
Trujillo Peru Temple
Announced – Dec. 13, 2008
Groundbreaking – Sept. 14, 2011
Completion – Mid 2015
The Trujillo Peru Temple will be the second temple in Peru, joining the temple in Lima.
Provo City Center Temple
Announced – Oct. 1, 2011
Groundbreaking – May 12, 2012
Completion – Late 2015
The historic Provo Tabernacle suffered major damage from an accidental fire in December 2010. Less than 10 months later, President Monson announced in General Conference the remains of the tabernacle would be restored, and the building would become the second temple in the city of Provo. Because it is being restored rather than built from the ground up, workers have utilized several unique methods in building the temple, such as supporting the outer walls on stilts while the original foundation was removed. Provo will join South Jordan, Utah as the only cities in the world to have two operating temples within their borders.
Tijuana Mexico Temple
Announced – Oct. 2, 2010
Groundbreaking – Aug. 18, 2012
Completion – Late 2015
The Tijuana Mexico Temple will be the thirteenth temple built in Mexico. Saints in Tijuana currently make the difficult journey across the US-Mexico border to attend the San Diego California Temple. “We’ve seen in other Mexican cities where a temple has been built that there is a new found peace in the city itself,” said Elder Benjamin De Hoyos of the Seventy at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We feel certain much the same thing will happen here.”
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple
Announced – Oct. 4, 2008
Groundbreaking – Sept. 17, 2011
Completion – Early 2016
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple was designed to look similar to the classical architecture of the historic buildings in Philadelphia, where leaders of the American colonies gathered to write the founding documents of the United States of America. It will be the first temple in Pennsylvania and will serve Saints in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Hartford Connecticut Temple
Announced – Oct. 2, 2010
Groundbreaking – Aug. 17, 2013
Completion – Mid 2016
President Gordon B. Hinckley actually announced that a temple would be built in Hartford, Connecticut in October of 1992. After struggling to find a suitable site for three years, however, plans changed to build temples in Boston and New York instead of Hartford. Fifteen years later, President Monson announced new plans to build in Hartford, and this time, Connecticut saints were not disappointed.
Fort Collins Colorado Temple
Announced – April 2, 2011
Groundbreaking – Aug. 24, 2013
Completion – Late 2016
The Fort Collins Temple will be the second in the state of Colorado, joining the temple in Denver. It will also serve Saints in Wyoming and Nebraska.
Paris France Temple
Announced – Oct. 1, 2011
Completion – Late 2016
After 13 years of searching for an adequate site, President Monson announced in 2011 that a temple would be built on the outskirts of Paris. The actual temple site is just north of the famous Chateau de Versailles.
Sapporo Japan Temple
Announced – Oct. 3, 2009
Groundbreaking – Oct. 22, 2011
Completion – Late 2016
The Sapporo Japan Temple will be the eighth in Asia and the third in Japan.
Meridian Idaho Temple
Announced – April 2, 2011
Groundbreaking – Aug. 23, 2014
Completion – Mid 2017
The Meridian Temple will be the fifth temple in Idaho, which will tie with Missouri for the fourth most in any one state behind Utah, California and Arizona.
Fortaleza Brazil Temple
Announced – Oct. 3, 2009
Groundbreaking – Nov. 15, 2011
Completion – Late 2017
The Fortaleza Temple will be the seventh operating temple in Brazil. Members in the area currently travel approximately 500 miles to attend the Recife Brazil Temple.
Announced:
Arequipa Peru Temple
Barranquilla Colombia Temple
Cedar City Utah Temple
Concepcion Chile Temple
Durban South Africa Temple
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
Lisbon Portugal Temple
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple
Star Valley Wyoming Temple
Tucson Arizona Temple
Urdaneta Philippines Temple
Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
