Mormon temples generally take several years to construct, but circumstances can often extend the period of time between announcement and dedication.
Here are six temples that took longer than 10 years to construct, including two that have been in the works for some time, according to LDSchurchtemples.org:
Salt Lake Temple
- Announced July 28, 1847
- Dedicated April 6, 1893
- Time elapsed: 45 years, 8 months, 9 days
- What happened: During the Utah War, from 1857 to 1858, the temple’s sandstone foundations were buried in order to hide the construction from potentially hostile federal troops. When construction resumed in 1858, it was discovered that the foundation stones had cracked and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the granite used in the temple’s walls was sourced from Little Cottonwood Canyon — approximately 20 miles away from the temple site, leading to an extended construction time.
Los Angeles California Temple
The Los Angeles Temple. (Mormon Newsroom) - Announced March 6, 1937
- Dedicated March 11, 1956
- Time elapsed: 19 years, 5 days
- What happened: Following the temple’s announcement, construction was delayed due to problems acquiring the land, World War II and zoning problems.
Manti Utah Temple
- Announced June 25, 1875
- Dedicated May 21, 1888
- Time elapsed: 12 years, 10 months, 26 days
- What happened: While settlers in Manti didn’t have any serious issues during construction, an attention to detail and limited resources led to an extended construction period, according to BYU alumna Nani Bendixen.
Kyiv Ukraine Temple
- Announced July 20, 1998
- Dedicated August 29, 2010
- Time elapsed: 12 years, 1 month, 9 days
- What happened: Construction was delayed for nearly nine years due to difficulties obtaining the desired amount of land for the temple site, according to the Deseret News.
Rome Italy Temple
- Announced October 4, 2008
- Dedication estimated for late 2018, 2019
- Estimated time: Over 10 years
- What happened: Although construction has progressed steadily over the years, in 2015 the LDS Church cited unrelated difficulties with contractors as the reason for delays.
Fortaleza Brazil Temple
- Announced October 3, 2009
- Dedication estimated for 2019
- Estimated time: 10 years
- What happened: After construction began, the temple’s original double-tower design was denied, leading to a redesign.
