SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the open house and dedication dates of two new temples in Aba, Nigeria, and Newport Beach, California, and for the rebuilt Apia Samoa Temple.
The public is invited to tour the newly constructed Aba Nigeria Temple beginning 18 June 2005 and continuing through 2 July 2005, excluding Sundays. A cultural celebration is scheduled for Saturday, 6 August 2005, and the temple will be dedicated on Sunday, 7 August 2005, in four sessions. Once dedicated, the Aba Nigeria Temple will be the 121st operating temple in the world and the third temple in Africa.
The Newport Beach California Temple will open its doors to the public from 23 July 2005 through 20 August 2005, excluding Sundays. A cultural celebration will be held on Saturday, 27 August 2005. The Newport Beach Temple will be formally dedicated in four sessions on Sunday, 28 August 2005, making it the 122nd working temple of the Church and the sixth in California.
A public open house for the rebuilt Apia Samoa Temple will be held from 6 August 2005 through 27 August 2005, excluding Sundays. A cultural celebration will be held on Saturday, 3 September 2005, and the temple will be dedicated in four sessions on Sunday, 4 September 2005. The original Apia Samoa Temple, dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on 5 August 1983, was destroyed by fire on 9 July 2003.
Latter-day Saints consider
temples “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are
reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that
unite families for eternity.