Ground Broken for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Elder Hutch U. Fale of the United States West Area Presidency presided at the event.

“God cares how we treat His children,” said Elder Fale. “Each and every meetinghouse, and especially each and every house of the Lord, is a reminder that we are all His children. The covenants we make are with Him, as our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Following his closing remarks, Elder Fale offered a dedicatory prayer on the future temple site.

“Please bless this community, even the surrounding areas, that all may see and witness that Thy Son and His holy house are a symbol and source of peace, the true peace that is only available through Him,” Elder Fale prayed. “May the very commencement of this work, even the softening of this soil this day, lead to the softening of many hearts in anticipation of qualifying for and receiving priesthood ordinances and associated celestial blessings.”

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During the program, several speakers shared their testimonies of the temple and their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Edyn Beesley, 17, of the Post Falls Idaho Stake, shared her conversion story and reflected on her first temple experience, which came just months after her baptism at age 16.

“I told my dad after visiting that it felt like coming home,” she said. “I felt the closest I’d felt with the Lord. Now I know I can feel my Savior’s peace, love and happiness when I make the effort to visit and receive the Lord’s blessings.”

Nile Shirley of the Hayden Lake Idaho Stake said, “My experience in the temple and the covenants made therein have taught and continue to teach me of the many blessings received by my Savior Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and that happens every single day of my life.”

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Isaac Jordan of the Sandpoint Idaho Stake spoke about how keeping covenants has strengthened his relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I may not keep my covenants perfectly, but I can love Jesus Christ because I know that whatever mistakes I make, He can fix and heal because He’ll make it right in the end,” he testified.

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Sulet Hiatt of the Bonners Ferry Idaho Stake talked about shouting for joy at the announcement of the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple “because as our prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks, taught, ‘The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on family. Essential to that doctrine is the temple. The ordinances we receive there enable us to return as eternal families to the presence of our Heavenly Father.’”

She added, “I know as we honor covenants we make in temples and strive to be Christlike, we will have this promise.”

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There are 11 temples announced, under construction or in operation in Idaho, including the one underway in Coeur d’Alene. Other locations include Boise, Burley, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Montpelier, Pocatello, Rexburg, Teton River and Twin Falls.

Idaho is home to over 480,000 Latter-day Saints meeting in around 1,300 congregations.

Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies that, through the power of Jesus Christ, allow families to be united forever.