A look at Russell M. Nelson's legacy through temples
Russell M. Nelson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a former
In the April 2018 General Conference session, Nelson’s first session as President of the Church, he stated that they had 159 functioning temples throughout the world and then announced that seven new ones would be constructed.
That announcement reflected what Nelson would emphasize throughout his presidency in the Church. In the seven years as prophet, President. Russell M. Nelson announced the construction or planning of 200 new temples and the renovation of several others.
To put this into perspective, President Nelson announced 52% of all of the temples announced, planned, in construction, or dedicated throughout church history.
Notably, during the Church’s first General Conference after Nelson’s death, no new temples were announced. President Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, another church leader, said, “With the large number of temples now in the very earliest phases of planning and construction, it is appropriate that we slow down the announcement of new temples.”
We have compiled a list of some of the most notable temples announced during President Nelson’s tenure.
Utah has the greatest number of temples in any single region in the world, and the headquarters for the church is based in Salt Lake City.
Between April of 2018 and October of 2025, Nelson announced that new temples would be built in the following Utah cities and areas: Layton, Washington County, Orem, Taylorsville, Syracuse, Lindon, Smithfield, Heber Valley, West Jordan, Lehi, Price, and Spanish Fork.
President Nelson also announced plans to renovate several Utah temples. Those temples included the Manti temple, originally dedicated in 1888; the Logan temple, originally dedicated in 1884; the Provo Rock Canyon temple, originally dedicated in 1972 as the Provo Temple and is being rebuilt. Nelson also announced that the Salt Lake Temple would be renovated.
Some of the most notable Utah temples include the following:
Salt Lake Temple: The Salt Lake Temple is perhaps one of the most well-known temples inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with its prominence in downtown Salt Lake City at Temple Square. Though parts of Temple Square and the Salt Lake temple are being renovated, millions of visitors reportedly visit the area each year.
The Salt Lake temple is undergoing renovations to make it more seismic-proof and to restore the interior.
Orem, Utah Temple: Of the temples that Nelson announced, one of the most notable is the one in Orem, Utah, which was dedicated in January of 2024 and is one of three temples near Brigham Young University. Reportedly, while the temple was announced in 2019, the land that the temple was built on was bought by the church in 2004. The interior also incorporates cherry blossom designs that pay homage to the fruit orchard it was built on, according to the Church.
Heber Valley Temple: While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ temples are typically regarded as beautiful, the Heber Valley Temple has been notably controversial. In 2023, Heber City residents filed a lawsuit asking that Wasatch County disallows the construction of the Heber Valley Temple. The lawsuit, which is still ongoing, argues that the temple will lead to light pollution, increased disturbances, and would block valley views.
Fairview, Texas: Like the proposed Heber Valley Temple, the Fairview Texas temple, announced in October 2022, was the subject of a lawsuit, with several homeowners alleging that town representatives should not have approved the building permits. While the temple has been approved for construction, some individuals also expressed concerns about the height of the temple.
Cody, Wyoming: The Cody Wyoming Temple, also announced in October of 2022, was also the subject of controversy, after an unincorporated organization called ‘Preserve Our Cody Neighborhoods’ (POCN) argued that the temple’s spire should have been shorter and did not meet special exemption rules. Because POCN did not file the appeal in time, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Church and has allowed construction to continue.
Shanghai People’s Republic of China Temple: While this temple is reportedly not as widely controversial as others on the list, its April 2020 announcement was still unique due to the local laws. When the temple is complete, only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who are also Chinese citizens will be allowed inside.
During his announcement, President Nelson said, “Expatriate and Chinese congregations will continue to meet separately. The Church’s legal status there remains unchanged. In an initial phase of facility use, entry will be by appointment only. The house of the Lord in Shanghai will not be a destination place for tourists from other countries.”
During his tenure as Church President, Russell M. Nelson also announced the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ temples for several locations across the world. He announced the first temples in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
In the rest of the world, the countries or regions that have had their first temples announced are as follows:
In previous addresses to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson often encouraged them to visit the temple and emphasized the religious meaning. He said, “Please make time for the Lord in His holy house. Nothing will strengthen your spiritual foundation like temple service and temple worship.”
When he dedicated the 200th temple in Church History, President Russell M. Nelson said, “The temple is a place of peace and power, and spending time there will literally change a person’s life.”
More information on Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ temples can be found here.
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