News for Temples in the Philippines and US

Ground has been broken for the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An exterior rendering has also been released for the Vancouver Washington Temple, and an update has been made to the number of dedicatory sessions for the Tallahassee Florida Temple.

Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple

Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., Philippines Area President, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

“Father, we thank Thee for the faithful tithe payers of this Church, not only in the Philippines but throughout the world, whose voluntary offerings have made the building and maintenance of this temple possible,” Elder Revillo said in the dedicatory prayer on the site. “Thou have truly opened the windows of heaven and poured out this blessing because we have given our tithes and offerings.”

Joining the many Latter-day Saints in attendance were Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez; Ms. Mona Pangan, from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; and several other community and interfaith leaders.

This temple was one of seven announced by President Russell M. Nelson during the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2018 general conference.

“Our message to the world is simple and sincere: We invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy and qualify for eternal life,” President Nelson said.

The Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple will be built on a 4.9-acre site at Lot 2163-c and Lot 2163-d Rosario Limketkai Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

Plans for the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple call for a two-story structure of approximately 18,449 square feet (1,714 square meters). An ancillary building will also be constructed, which will include an arrival center, patron housing and distribution center.

There are more than 860,000 Latter-day Saints and nearly 1,300 local congregations in the Philippines. There are 13 temples that are announced, under construction or in operation in the country: Alabang, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Manila, Naga, Santiago, Tacloban City, Tuguegarao City and Urdaneta. Since the country officially opened for missionary work in 1961, Church growth has been among the fastest in the world.

Vancouver Washington Temple

An artistic rendering has been released for the exterior of the Vancouver Washington Temple.

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This house of the Lord was first announced in October 2023 by President Nelson.

The Vancouver Washington Temple will be built on a 15.11-acre site located at the northwest corner of Southeast 20th Street and Southeast Bybee Road, Vancouver (Camas), Washington. Plans call for a multistory temple of approximately 43,000 square feet. This will be the city’s first temple.

In 1930, Church membership in Washington numbered 1,900 members in eight congregations, and many more members flocked to the state with the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in the early 1940s.

Now, the state is home to more than 280,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 480 congregations.

The Vancouver Washington Temple will be the fifth temple in Washington state. Other temples that are announced, under construction or in operation in Washington are in Columbia River, Moses Lake, Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma.

Tallahassee Florida Temple

The First Presidency has announced an update to the number of dedication sessions for the Tallahassee Florida Temple.

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As previously announced, a public open house will run from Monday, November 4, through Saturday, November 23, excluding Sundays. A media day will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, and invited guests will tour the temple on Tuesday, October 29, and Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

The temple will be dedicated in a single session (previously two sessions were announced) at 9 a.m. eastern standard time on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside.

President Russell M. Nelson announced the Tallahassee Florida Temple during the final session of the April 2020 general conference.

“Talk about the temple with your family and friends,” he said. “Because Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do in the temple, as you think more about the temple you will be thinking more about Him.”

The Tallahassee Florida Temple will be built on a 4.97-acre site located at 2440 Papillion Way. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 29,000 square feet with a center spire. The temple project will also include a distribution center.

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The following temples in Florida have been announced, are under construction or are in operation: the Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa Temples.

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ differ from meetinghouses or chapels where members and friends of the Church meet for Sunday worship services. Each temple is considered a “house of the Lord” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed so that families can be united for eternity. In the temple, Church members can seek peace and guidance, learn more about the purpose of life, and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow men and women.