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  • Writer's pictureNathan Augustine
    • Sep 21, 2020
    • 6 min read

Temples to Dot the Earth: Part 1

Updated: May 8


Durban South Africa Temple


The Church is building temples at an increasingly rapid rate. There was a big surge in the late 1990's and early 2000's when the Church built 49 mini-temples patterned after the Monticello Utah Temple. Things have slowed down since then but the rate is still incredible. Just during President Russell M. Nelson's time as Prophet he has announced dozens of temples. As with other posts, temples that are announced but not yet under construction are in bold while temples that are under construction are in italics.


President Gordon B. Hinckley


A Church News article from 6 October 2000 says: “President Gordon B. Hinckley has said he eventually wants to see a temple available "within a day's journey" of every Latter-day Saint."


President Thomas S. Monson


In his April 2011 Conference address “The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World” President Thomas S. Monson stated that “Eighty-five percent of the membership of the Church now live within 200 miles (320 km) of a temple…” At that time there were 134 dedicated temples (Temple List). Now the Church has 177 dedicated temples, 43 more than when he made that statement.


Jordan River Utah Temple


South Jordan was the first city with more than one temple (Jordan River Utah in 1981 and Oquirrh Mountain Utah in 2009) (Temple List).


Lima Peru Temple


Lima Peru will be the first city outside Utah and outside the US with more than one temple with the dedication of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (Groundbreakings Announced for Two South American Temples).


Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple


The following cities have more than one temple operating, under construction or announced (Groundbreaking Held for Red Cliffs Utah Temple). It should be noted that many temples are not within the city limits of the city they are named for (see my post on Temple Names).


Oakland California Temple


California was the first state outside Utah with more than one temple (Los Angeles California in 1956 and Oakland California in 1964) (Temple List).


Edmonton Alberta Temple


Alberta Canada was the first administrative subdivision outside the US with more than one temple (Cardston Alberta in 1923 and Edmonton Alberta in 1999) (Temple List).


Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple


The following US states, have more than one temple operating, under construction or announced (Temple List):


There are operating temples in 37 US states with temples under construction or announced in 2 more (Bentonville Arkansas and Wichita Kansas) (Temple List).


The following 11 US states do not have a temple operating, under construction or announced (Temple List):


Manila Philippines Temple


The following administrative subdivisions outside the US have more than one temple operating, under construction or announced (Temple List):

  • Canadian Province of Alberta 3+1 (Lethbridge)

  • Brazilian State of São Paulo 2+3 (São Paulo Brazil East, Santos, Ribeirão Prêto)

  • Mexican State of Chihuahua 2

  • Peruvian Province of Lima 1+1 (Lima Peru Los Olivos)

  • Philippine National Capital Region (NCR) 1+1 (Alabang)

  • Guatemalan Department of Guatemala 1+1 (Miraflores Guatemala City)

  • Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile 1+1 (Santiago West)

  • Mexican District of Ciudad de México 1+1 (Mexico City Benemérito)

  • Autonomous City of Buenos Aires Argentina 1+1 (Buenos Aires City Center Argentina)

  • Brazilian State of Paraná 1+1 (Londrina)

  • Philippines Region of Ilocos 0+2 (Urdaneta, Santiago)

  • Mexican State of Hidalgo 0+2 (Pachuca and Tula)

  • Brazilian State of Bahia 0+2 (Salvador, Vitória)

  • Philippines Region of Western Visayas 0+2 (Bacolod and Iloilo)

Mexico is the first country outside the United States to have multiple subdivisions with more than one announced temple. Brazil is the second (Temple List).

Frankfurt Germany Temple


Canada was the first country outside the US to have a second temple (Cardston Alberta in 1923 and Toronto Ontario on 27 August 1990) (Temple List). Germany was the second country with more than one temple outside the US by six weeks when West and East Germany reunited on 3 October 1990 (Wikipedia: German reunification). However, both of Germany’s temples were dedicated several years before Toronto (Freiberg Germany in 1985 and Frankfurt Germany in 1987) (Temple List). Canada was also the first country outside the US to have a third, fourth and fifth temple (Halifax Nova Scotia, Regina Saskatchewan and Edmonton Alberta all in 1999) (Temple List).


Hong Kong China Temple


The following countries have more than one temple operating, under construction or announced (Temple List):


With 177 dedicated temples there are operating temples in 50 countries and overseas territories with temples under construction or announced in 24 more (Abidjan Ivory Coast, Bangkok Thailand, Bengaluru India, Harare Zimbabwe, Nairobi Kenya, Phnom Penh Cambodia, Pago Pago American Samoa, Freetown Sierra Leone, Managua Nicaragua, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Port Vila Vanuatu, Russia, Budapest Hungary, Dubai United Arab Emirates, Tarawa Kiribati, Oslo Norway, Brussels Belgium, Vienna Austria, Beira Mozambique, Singapore Republic of Singapore, Monrovia Liberia, Antananarivo Madagascar, Brazzaville Republic of the Congo, Jakarta Indonesia) (Temple List).


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