Feature photo by AJ Buruca can be found here – Tucson Temple – Angel Moroni

Have you heard the incredibly exciting news that was announced during the Sunday morning session of the April 2018 General Conference? In case you haven’t, we’re excited to share it with you!

As the final session of the Church’s 188th annual general conference came to a close, and to everyone’s great surprise, President Nelson announced plans to build seven (7!) new temples! They will be located in Salta, Argentina; Bengaluru, India; Managua Nicaragua; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Layton, Utah; Richmond, Virginia; and a major city yet to be determined in Russia.

For future updates, including news, construction pictures, and more, be sure to follow the Layton Utah Temple Facebook page!

“We want to bring temples closer to the expanding membership of the Church,” President Nelson said. “My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.”

These seven new temples will bring the total number of temples that are operating, under construction, or announced to 189 temples worldwide. There are currently 159 temples in operation and 23 under construction or announced. There are no plans to dedicate any new temples in the United States this year, but the Concepción Chile Temple and the Barranquilla Colombia Temple will be dedicated in October and December, respectively. There are also eleven temples that are currently closed and receiving major or minor renovations (they are still considered operating temples). These temples will be re-dedicated when the work is finished. Among others across the world, in the United States these temples include the Baton Rouge Temple, Houston Temple, Memphis Temple, Oakland Temple, Oklahoma City Temple, Raleigh Temple, and Washington D.C. Temple.

Salta, Argentina

When the Salta Argentina Temple is built and dedicated, Argentina will have three temples. The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple is the Church’s 39th operating temple and was dedicated in 1986, while the Córdoba Argentina Temple is the 145th operating temple and was dedicated in 2015. Argentina is home to approximately 450,000 Latter-day Saints in a country of 44 million residents.

Bengaluru, India

In this nation of more than 1.3 billion people, there are 43 Latter-day Saint congregations and approximately 13,500 members of the Church. The Bangalore (now known as Bengaluru) mission was created in 1993. The first stake (a group of congregations) in India was organized in Hyderabad in May 2012 by President Dallin H. Oaks.

Managua, Nicaragua

This will be the first temple in Nicaragua, a country home to nearly 100,000 Latter-day Saints. Church members in this country of more than 6 million people currently travel to neighboring nations such as Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras to participate in temple service.

Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

With this announcement, the Philippines will have five temples announced or dedicated, including Cebu City, Manila (2) and Urdaneta. There are approximately 750,000 Latter-day saints in this country of more than 103 million people.

Layton, Utah

As world headquarters of the LDS Church, Utah has 2.1 million members of the Church in a state of 3.1 million people. There are 17 operating temples in Utah, including Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Logan, Jordan River, Manti, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos, Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain, Payson, Provo City Center, Provo, St. George, Salt Lake and Vernal. The Layton Temple will be the 19th in Utah.

Richmond, Virginia

Missionaries first arrived in Virginia in the early 1840s and by 1841 some 80 members of the Church were in Virginia. Today, Virginia is home to nearly 100,000 Latter-day Saints. This will be the state’s first temple.

A Major City Yet to be Determined in Russia

The Church had its first presence in Russia in the late 19th century and was officially recognized in May 1991. The first stake in Russia was organized in Moscow in June 2011 by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson. Russia is home to more than 23,000 Latter-day Saints.