Ground Broken for Three Temples in Africa and the US

For only the fifth time in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for three temples on the same day. 

Ground was broken on Saturday, August 23, 2025, for the Tampa Florida, Brazzaville Republic of the Congo and Vancouver Washington Temples. 

Tampa Florida Temple 

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tampa Florida Temple. The Apostle offered a dedicatory prayer over the land and all who will be influenced by it.

“We ask that Thou might bless this land and this sacred house once constructed, that it might be a light and strength to the Latter-day Saints and to all the community,” Elder Andersen prayed. “Let our friends and neighbors feel Thy Spirit and increase their faith in Thy Son as they sense what has come to this place.” 

The groundbreaking ceremony was conducted by Elder Brook P. Hales of the Seventy. 

President Russell M. Nelson announced the Tampa Florida Temple during the April 2022 general conference. 

He said then, “Positive spiritual momentum increases as we worship in the temple and grow in our understanding of the magnificent breadth and depth of the blessings we receive there.” 

The first Latter-day Saint congregation in Florida was created in 1897. Today, there are more than 176,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 280 congregations in Florida, which is part of the southeast United States. 

Other temples announced, under construction or in operation in Florida are the Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee Temples. 

Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple 

Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, Africa Central Area President, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple. 

"... I testify to you, my brothers and sisters, that something special happens when the house of the Lord is built in a place," he said. "The powers of heaven are manifested in the sacred ordinances performed in the temple, and the Republic of Congo will never be the same again, because everywhere temples are built, the influence of the devil diminishes and the light of Christ is elevated."

President Nelson announced this temple during the April 2022 general conference. 

The Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple is the first house of the Lord announced, under construction or in operation in the Republic of the Congo. Nearby, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a temple in Kinshasa was dedicated in 2019, and a temple in Lubumbashi is currently under construction. The Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple and the Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple have previously been announced. 

In the 1980s, Latter-day Saints who had been baptized abroad began returning to the Republic of the Congo and gathered in Brazzaville to organize the Church in the country. By the time then-Elder Russell M. Nelson and Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited in 1992 to dedicate the country for the preaching of the gospel, the first district had already been organized. 

Today, the country is home to nearly 14,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 40 congregations. 

Vancouver Washington Temple 

Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Vancouver Washington Temple. 

“A temple is truly the house of the Lord, a holy protection from the world where sacred ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and in behalf of our ancestors, because we know that we live after this life and can return to live with our Heavenly Father,” he said.  

President Nelson announced the Vancouver Washington Temple during the October 2023 general conference. 

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

Many Church members helped with Washington’s railroad construction for the Northern Pacific Oregon Short Line in the 1880s. In 1930, Church membership in the state totaled 1,900 across eight congregations, with chapels located in Everett, Spokane, Seattle and Olympia. Many more members flocked to the state with the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in the early 1940s. 

Today, Washington is home to more than 282,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 470 congregations. 

“A house of the Lord brings hope, light, joy, and eternal life through our Savior Jesus Christ,” Elder Bragg said. “I testify that he lives and that His love is eternal.”  

There are four other instances in which three groundbreakings occurred on the same day:  

• On August 17, 2024, groundbreaking services were held for the Santiago West Chile, Londrina Brazil and Austin Texas Temples.  
• On May 4, 2019, ground was broken for temples in Yigo Guam, Praia Cape Verde and San Juan Puerto Rico. 
• On March 13, 1999, ground was broken for temples in Oaxaca, Mexico; Nashville, Tennessee; and Kona, Hawaii.  
• On May 29 of the same year, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Veracruz Mexico, Adelaide Australia and Louisville Kentucky Temples. 

Latter-day Saints worship in temples for several reasons: To feel God’s love and peace, to learn more about God’s plan for His children and the gospel of Jesus Christ, to make promises with God and with one’s husband or wife, and to unite families in this life and the next through sacred ordinances.