ST. GEORGE — Five new temples spanning four different continents – including another temple in Utah and the first of its kind in Kenya – were announced to begin construction at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 187th annual General Conference Sunday morning session.
The announcement was made by LDS church President Thomas S. Monson for new temples located in Brasília, Brazil; Manila, Philippines; Nairobi, Kenya; Pocatello, Idaho; and Saratoga Springs, Utah.
The church currently operates 155 temples worldwide. The buildings are used to conduct ceremonies for devout members of the church and, unlike the faith’s chapels or meetinghouses, are not open to the public.
The announcement brings the total number of new temples planned or under construction to 27.
Saratoga Springs, Utah
The Saratoga Springs temple will be the 18th of its kind in the state.
On the Saratoga Springs website, Mayor Jim Miller released the following statement:
On behalf of myself, the City Council and many of our residents, we are thrilled to have this sacred building added to our community. There are many faithful members of the LDS Church in Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area who will benefit from having this new temple located in our city. Saratoga Springs looks forward to working with the LDS Church in making this new temple a beautiful part of our community.
The LDS church claims over two-thirds of the Utah’s 3 million residents as members.
Southern Utah residents will get a chance to see the interior of a temple – regardless of church membership – when the church holds an open house for its forthcoming Cedar City temple in December.
Read more: Councilman asks residents to ‘make Cedar sparkle’ for Mormon temple dedication
Nairobi, Kenya
The announcement for a temple in Kenya is notable as the first Mormon temple to be constructed in the East African country of 48 million people, including 13,000 church members.
The temple will become the eighth of its kind in Africa, joining three operating temples in Aba, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Johannesburg, South Africa; two under construction in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Durban, South Africa; and two more announced in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Harare, Zimbabwe.
Brasília, Brazil temple
Aside from the United States and Mexico, more Mormons live in Brazil than any other country, with the church claiming 1.3 million members in its population of approximately 211 million people.
The Brasília, Brazil temple is the 10th announced temple in Brazil, including six operating temples in Campinas, Curitiba, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife and São Paulo. Three other temples are announced or under construction, including Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and Belém.
Manila, Philippines
The temple to be built in the greater Manila, Philippines, area will mark the second temple in Manila for a total of four temples in the island nation of 104 million people, home to nearly 750,000 Mormons.
Pocatello, Idaho
The Pocatello Idaho temple will be the sixth operating temple in Idaho, joining Boise, Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Twin Falls and the nearly completed Meridian temple. The church claims approximately 450,000 of the state’s 1.7 million people as members.
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As an active member of The Church, I’d really like to see them scale back the temple building in Utah. I understand making it more convenient, but going to the Temple should require some sacrifice. Build them in Europe, South America, Africa, Southeast Asia. Spend that money on humanitarian efforts. Stop spending it so people in Utah don’t have to drive an extra 45 minutes. Or, if there’s that much money floating around, how about we cut tithing back to 5%? And maybe cut out the General Authority living allowance while we’re at it (you know, based on that whole unpaid ministry foundation the church likes to brag about)
How about instead of flaunting the riches of the Mormon church by spending millions on new temples to try and get more members 10%, you actually do some good. A church of Jesus wouldn’t have millions of dollars. A cult would tho. Be careful of churches that have riches. LDS church and also non Mormon Joel oesteen’s church that never opens the Bible, are examples. Open your minds.
If you weren’t a member of the LDS church would they take care of you?
If you were ostracized from the Mormon church, would they feed you?
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul?
There is no such thing as the Mormon church.. ! Lba
Whatever LSD? Ohhhh wait it’s LDS, right? As always, good to hear from you Dot
Baptist’s go to Baptist church. Lutheran’s go to Lutheran church. Christians go to Christian Church. Mormons go to Mormon church. There it’s settled ? Have a blessed day!
Mormon meeting houses are a lot like a fast food chain. There’s so many temples popping up I guess those are like a fast food chain with the deluxe play center. The whole thing is just a fast food religion. I love the manti temple but so many of these new ones are just so cookie-cutter. Either like a quickly built tract home or fast food–take your pick. I guess at the end of the day it’s just a place where you all do your weird, cultish, masonic ritual stuff; maybe the type of building makes no difference.
Hey Bob write a letter to the state president Im sure he cares what you think