Temple Construction Progress Update
(current as of 7/13/17)
NOTE: There
will be a total of 182 operating
temples once all of those under construction or announced are dedicated. Of
those, we currently have 156 temples in operation; 1 other will be dedicated next month
(after the traditional July recess for the General Authorities); 2 more
have construction concluding and a dedication scheduled for later this
year; 9 are in various
stages of construction; 1 other has construction pending
(groundbreaking was last year), and earnest work will hopefully start on that
within the next month or so); 1 has a groundbreaking
scheduled (set for later this year); 2 are undergoing
renovation (with completion anticipated next year); another 4 have a renovation closure date set
for later this year, with 5 others
set to close early next year (the actual dates will be set closer to the time);
the remaining 12 are announced (with either a site
announcement or groundbreaking pending).
NOTE ON FUTURE TEMPLES: Elder Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as the
Executive Director of the Temple Department, indicated in a recent interview
that the Church has around 85 temple sites that are under active consideration
for an announcement within the next 15 years or so. If that is true, then that
would take the number of temples in any phase to just under 270 by 2032. And if
that is true, then whether or not the Church makes it an official goal to do
so, it is more than likely that there could be a minimum of 200 temples
dedicated by or before the Church’s 200th anniversary on April 6,
2030, whether or not the Church makes that an official goal. All it would take
to do so is 18 more being announced, and each of them, along with the 26 either
under construction or announced, to be completed within the next 12 years and 9
months, which is doable if 3 or 4 are dedicated per year between now and then.
As there are 3 others scheduled for dedication before the end of this year,
with 5 set for next year, and up to 5 the year following, the Church seems to
be on track for that. Subsequent versions of this report will continue to share
developments as they occur.
Preparing for dedication:
157. Tucson
Arizona Temple: Preparing for dedication, which is scheduled for Sunday August 13, 2017.
Construction nearing completion; dedication scheduled:
158. Meridian
Idaho Temple: Interior finish work underway; sod laid and trees planted; dedication
scheduled for Sunday November 19, 2017.
159. Cedar
City Utah Temple: Installing art glass; dedication scheduled for Sunday December 10, 2017.
NOTE: Other
recent developments have been noted for this temple, such as the installation
of the Holiness to the Lord
engraving, but it is unknown as yet if that will be mentioned anywhere in any
source. As always, I will pass along updates in future versions of this report.
Under Construction (completion anticipated within the next 1-2 years):
160. Rome Italy Temple:
Interior and exterior work progressing; installing art glass windows; completion
anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
161. Kinshasa Democratic
Republic of the Congo Temple: Exterior brickwork completed; attaching purlins
to roof trusses and strengthening truss connectors; completion anticipated
sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
162. Barranquilla
Colombia Temple: Stone cladding underway on the south wall; completion
anticipated sometime during late 2018.
163. Durban South Africa
Temple: Applying waterproofing membrane to temple exterior walls; basement
floor poured; laying brick at missionary housing; top floor ring beam poured; completion
anticipated sometime during late 2018.
164. Concepcion Chile
Temple: Cladding progressing on west and south walls; palm trees planted at
temple entrance; completion anticipated sometime during late 2018-early 2019.
Under construction, completion
anticipated within the next 2-3 years:
165. Fortaleza Brazil
Temple: Tower base walls poured; scaffolding removed; completion anticipated
sometime during early-to-mid 2019.
167. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Preparing
to pour footings for foundation; surrounding property being cleared and graded;
completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: In looking at the completion
estimate for this temple versus that of the Winnipeg Temple, if construction
begins in earnest on that temple within the next month or so (which it may), it
will be finished prior to this one. That change of thinking is reflected on the
revisions I have made to my estimated timeline for future temple-related
events.
168. Lisbon Portugal
Temple: Pouring temple foundation walls; preparing meetinghouse for exterior
cladding; completion anticipated sometime during
late 2019.
169.
Arequipa Peru Temple: Setting rebar and concrete forms for foundation
walls; completion anticipated sometime during late 2019-early 2020.
Construction pending
(anticipated to start anytime):
166. Winnipeg Manitoba
Temple: Groundbreaking held Saturday December 3, 2016; awaiting full-scale
operations; acquiring building permits; completion anticipated sometime during mid-2019.
NOTE: In reevaluating the time-frames involved, I learned, as noted
above, that the 20-month completion estimate for this comparatively smaller temple
(which is being built to serve just the one stake at the moment) puts its
completion before that of the Rio temple. Subsequent adjustments will be made
as they are needed.
Groundbreaking scheduled:
170. Port-au-Prince
Haiti Temple: Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday
October 28, 2017; dedication may follow sometime during mid-to-late 2020.
NOTE: The
First Presidency made the groundbreaking announcement for this temple on July
13, 2017, noting that Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, who presides over the Caribbean
area, will preside at this groundbreaking. In the interim, I found out that
this temple will be much smaller than its other Caribbean counterpart, so it
seems reasonable to assume that this temple could have a dedication prior to
the end of 2020. As with everything else, I am keeping an eye out for
developments and will pass along any updates as I receive them.
Undergoing Renovation (rededication anticipated within the next year or
so):
20. Jordan River Utah
Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: Though this temple’s
renovation has been ongoing since its closure in February 2016, and while the
rededication had been anticipated at some point during 2017, as the renovation
process has continued, those estimates have been altered again and again, until
this most recent revision of that time-frame. This event could happen at any
point in the middle of the year, or it could be pushed back again. More
information will come as more is known.
41. Frankfurt Germany
Temple: Closed for renovation; baptismal font support walls poured in basement
addition; rededication anticipated sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: This temple, closed since
September of 2015, was also anticipated to be completed and rededicated at some
point prior to the end of 2017. As with the Jordan River temple, that
completion estimate has been pushed back repeatedly. Until more is known, it is
anyone’s guess when this rededication might happen. I will pass along any
updates as I receive them.
Renovations Scheduled (official
closure dates announced):
80. Memphis Tennessee Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation on September 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime
during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: While this temple is a comparatively smaller one (from the
Hinckley era), I also learned on July 5 that this renovation will be altering
both the exterior and interior appearance of the temple. Whether or not that
involves an expansion remains to be seen. More information will be provided as
I find out more. In the meantime, I will not change the possible completion
time-frame.
18. Tokyo Japan Temple: Scheduled to close for
renovation on September 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during
early-to-mid 2020.
NOTE: This temple, constructed as part of President Kimball’s smaller
temple design, is anticipated to be rededicated sometime in 2020. With what is
currently known now, unless an expansion is planned (and it may not be), the
completion estimate feels reasonable. Adjustments will be made as the process
gets underway.
95. Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation on October 14, 2017; rededication may take place sometime
during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: Another example of Hinckley-era
smaller temples, this one was dedicated in 2000. Unless an expansion is planned
(which seems doubtful at present), it is not unreasonable to believe that a
rededication could happen at around the time indicated. Once more is known, I
will make any adjustments that may be needed.
112. Asuncion Paraguay Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation on October 29, 2017; rededication may take place sometime during
early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: While previous reports had noted Asuncion’s closure date as being
set for September 29, a double-check done on July 9, 2017 revealed the closure
as being actually set for one month later. I apologize for the misinformation.
I am still evaluating how this might change the completion estimate I provided
for this temple. Unless an expansion is planned, it is likely that the
renovation might still take only about 15-18 months. More information will be
provided as it becomes available. For now, that is a change from what has
previously been noted.
Temples that have a renovation
closure announced, but no official date made known yet:
68. Raleigh North Carolina Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation in January 2018; rededication may take place sometime
during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: This temple, another smaller Hinckley-era one (that was dedicated
in 1999), does not have an expansion planned, as far as I know. That makes it
very likely that a 15-18 month renovation process might be all that is needed.
Until more is known, just wanted to note that.
94. Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation in February 2018; rededication may take place sometime
during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: As noted on other temples that have a renovation pending, we do
not yet know if part of the plan for this temple’s renovation is expanding this
temple. It might be possible, but then again, it might not. Once more is known,
I will adjust this estimate. Until then, the general time-frame indicated above
is my best estimate.
13. Oakland California Temple: Scheduled to
close for renovation in February 2018; rededication may take place sometime during
mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: This renovation and the one below were announced in February of
2017. In the interim, the Church has scheduled 7 other renovations around those
two. This temple is older, so the renovation will likely take longer. But I am
not ruling out other possibilities. Once more is known, that new information
will be reflected in subsequent versions of this report.
16. Washington D. C. Temple: Scheduled to close
for renovation in March 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2020.
NOTE: As this is another older temple, completion of its renovation may
take longer than indicated here. Until more is known, I prefer to be conservative
in my estimate. As the process unfolds, this estimated timeframe may change.
7. Mesa Arizona Temple: Scheduled to close for
renovation in May 2018; rededication may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2020.
NOTE: This renovation, the third announced on June 27, 2017, is for the
oldest temple of the current bunch, and will be completed at some point in
2020. That is all we know for the moment. Until more is known, the completion
time-frame is approximated. As with everything else, I will pass any updates
along as I receive them.
NOTE ON FUTURE GROUNDBREAKINGS: I
have recently redone this section based on information I have. I should also
note that the timing of any temple event is up to the Lord (based on conditions
in each area), so these estimates should not in any way be taken as gospel or
official until they are confirmed or denied by those who have the authorization
to do so.
Announced:
171. Lima Peru Los Olivos
Temple: Planning and preliminary construction phase; awaiting official site
announcement; groundbreaking could take place sometime during early-to-mid 2018.
NOTE: Until recently, all that was
known regarding this temple is the contractor’s statement (he is the same man
overseeing the Arequipa Peru Temple project) to the effect that a year of
pre-planning would be needed prior to any groundbreaking ceremony being held. With
the recent news that this preconstruction began in March of this year, it is
not hard to believe that a groundbreaking could take place soon after 2018
begins. If my thinking on this changes (and it may once more is known), I will
make any adjustments needed.
172. Brasilia Brazil Temple:
Planning phase; site inspected by Church engineers on June 21, 2017; groundbreaking
may take place sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: In addition to the site
confirmation that has been noted on previous reports, news of the inspection of
this site by Church engineers seems to be indicative that the groundbreaking is
likely to happen sooner rather than later. We do also know that, since no other
groundbreakings are anticipated by the end of this year, this could be among
the first to have a groundbreaking next year. I will do my best to analyze
developments as I hear of them. For now, this seems to confirm my original
thinking on this time-frame.
173. Greater Manila
Philippines Temple: Planning phase; site confirmed; awaiting official name
announcement; groundbreaking may take place sometime during mid-2018.
NOTE: This temple’s location, which
the Philippines’ Facebeook page confirms is in the region of Alabang,
Muntinlupa City, will be built south of Manila proper. With the site confirmed,
it is very likely that a groundbreaking could follow at around this time. And
since the second Lima Peru temple had an official name announcement within
three weeks of the temple’s announcement, it is not hard at all to believe that
an official name will be announced for this temple in very short order.
174. Saratoga Springs Utah:
Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take
place sometime during mid-to-late 2018.
NOTE: While all that is known about
this temple presently is that the Church owns several acres of land in this
community, we do know that generally Utah County temples do get construction
started much sooner than their international counterparts. This groundbreaking
could therefore happen sooner or later than this. Until more is known, it does
seem to be a safe prediction.
175. Pocatello Idaho:
Planning phase; awaiting site confirmation; groundbreaking may take place
sometime during late 2018.
NOTE: While it may still be true
that several sites are under consideration for this temple, the most likely one
of these sites has been annexed into Pocatello City. If at any point within the
next year that site is confirmed, this groundbreaking could happen sooner or
later than this. Until more is known, it seems to be a safe estimate.
176. Nairobi Kenya Temple:
Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; media event held June 14,
2017; groundbreaking may take place sometime during early 2019.
NOTE: As I have considered the
media event held last month, I have determined it wiser to assume that a
groundbreaking for this temple will happen sooner rather than later. It seems
apparent now that this temple will not be the last of those currently announced
to have a groundbreaking, as I had originally thought and stated. So it seems
wise to make that adjustment. As always, once more information is available, I
will go from there.
177. Urdaneta
Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting government
approval and official site announcement; groundbreaking could take place
sometime during early-to-mid 2019.
NOTE: This temple will mark seven
years since its announcement with no progress this October. While many have
hoped for a groundbreaking later this year or early next year, it appears that
until more is known, it might be practical to move this temple. Once more is
known, I will pass that along, including moving this temple up or down as
things develop. Right now, the word is that a groundbreaking may take place
sometime next year. But if nothing happens to further this temple’s progress
within the next year, I could see the Church waiting until the first six months
or so of 2019 to have a groundbreaking for this temple. More information will
be provided once more is known.
178. Bangkok Thailand
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during mid-2019.
NOTE: If member speculation is confirmed
within the next year or so (that a building housing Church offices will be
reconstructed and repurposed into an edifice housing not just those offices,
but also a meetinghouse and the temple as well), then formal construction
efforts could begin sooner than indicated here. Until more is known, I am
trying to be conservative in my estimates. I would not be surprised in the
least if this temple’s groundbreaking happens sooner or later than indicated
here.
179. Harare Zimbabwe Temple:
Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking could take
place during mid-2019.
NOTE: Since there has been no
progress whatsoever on this temple since Elder Hamilton stated that 2017 would
see a site announcement and groundbreaking; I would like nothing more than to
say that this temple could have a groundbreaking sooner than indicated here,
but it seems doubtful. As further developments take place, this temple will be
adjusted accordingly.
180. Abidjan Ivory
Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking
may take place sometime during mid-to-late
2019.
NOTE: With the massive growth that
the Church has experienced in the Ivory Coast, some have speculated that the
Ivory Coast could get one or two additional temples within the next 15 years.
For this first one, this adjustment feels appropriate. Further adjustments will
be made once more is known.
181. Quito Ecuador
Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may
take place during mid-to-late 2019.
NOTE: Despite the 14-year wait
between the announcement and groundbreaking for Ecuador’s first temple, this
one for the Ecuadoran capital is not anticipated to have nearly as long a wait.
With other adjustments that have been made, this seems appropriate. Further
adjustments will be made once more is known.
182. Belem Brazil Temple:
Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement; groundbreaking may take
place during late 2019-early 2020.
NOTE: Since we have a site
essentially confirmed for the other Brazilian temple above, even though this
one was announced a year prior to that one, it is more than likely that we will
not see a groundbreaking for this Belem temple until a year or so after the one
for Brasilia. If the estimates for all other temples are anywhere close (which
they may or may not be), that would make this temple the last of the current
bunch to be dedicated. But this is 2 or 3 years out, so changes are always
possible within that time depending on what develops between now and then.
ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTE: Temple
announcements within the last three years have come during the April General
Conference. They may happen at any time the First Presidency feels inspired to
make them, but that has been the pattern since 2015. Also, as noted above,
Elder Larry Y. Wilson said in an interview recently that 85 or more temple
sites are under consideration for an announcement within the next 15 years. So
we could be entering another unprecedented era of temple announcements and
construction. That is one big reason why I have expanded my list of temples
that may potentially be announced. I also know that sites have been procured for
future temples in Managua Nicaragua (which seems most likely, as it is the
first of the top ten countries with the strongest LDS presence that does not
yet have a temple, and such a temple was proposed by Elder Nelson in 2012), Auckland
New Zealand, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Bentonville Arkansas, and Missoula
Montana (which was proposed by Elder Bednar sometime in 2014). I have been told
by many that an official announcement will happen once unit growth and activity
in temples within such areas warrants those announcements. If there have been
any other sites purchased elsewhere, they have not yet been made known. We also
know that several potential temples have been proposed in several locations
around the world by many of our prophets and apostles. The Lord will continue
to inspire such temple announcements as they are needed, and all developments
will continue to be included on subsequent versions of this report.
Key:
Bolded numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a
scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as
dedication or groundbreaking dates.
Italicized numbers and
text denote temples whose numbers may change based on the order in
which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.
Underlined numbers and text denote
temples whose numbers may change based on progress towards planning, approval,
and groundbreaking.
Red text highlights changes from the last posted temple
progress report.
