LDS Church breaks ground for three new temples in Florida, Congo and Washington
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints marked a rare milestone over the weekend, breaking ground for three temples on the same day.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, ceremonies were held for the Tampa Florida, Brazzaville Republic of the Congo and Vancouver Washington temples. It is only the fifth time in Church history that three temples have begun construction on the same day.
In Tampa, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the groundbreaking. He offered a dedicatory prayer for the site, asking that the temple become “a light and strength” to the community.
The temple was first announced in 2022, and will be the fifth in Florida, where more than 176,000 Latter-day Saints live in nearly 280 congregations.
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Rendering (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Tampa Florida Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple
Across the Atlantic, Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, president of the Africa Central Area, led the ceremony for the Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple.
It is the first temple in the country, which is home to nearly 14,000 members.
Mutombo said the temple would bring spiritual strength to the nation, adding that “everywhere temples are built, the influence of the devil diminishes, and the light of Christ is elevated.”
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Rendering (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Brazzaville Republic of Congo Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple
In Vancouver, Washington, Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy, presided at the groundbreaking.
It will be the sixth temple in the state, where more than 282,000 Latter-day Saints now worship in more than 470 congregations.
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Rendering (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
Vancouver Washington Temple Groundbreaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
The Church says temples are distinct from weekly meetinghouses, serving as sacred places where members participate in ordinances and make covenants they believe unite families across generations.
The Church currently operates or has announced 350 temples worldwide.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released new information about the temples in Chihuahua, Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina. They released the location of the Chihuahua temple and a new rendering for the Buenos Aires Temple. Chihuahua Mexico Temple The Chihuahua Temple…
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the groundbreaking date for the Jacksonville Florida Temple, as well as the sites of the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple and the Calabar Nigeria Temple. Groundbreaking services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Elder…
SYRACUSE, Utah (ABC4) — President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially dedicated the Syracuse, Utah Temple on Sunday. The Syracuse Temple is the 24th LDS temple in Utah and the 206th operating temple of the church. President Nelson announced the temple during the…