An aerial photo of the Idaho Falls Temple
SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) – Speaking at the Sunday afternoon session at the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans for 20 more temples worldwide – including one in Burley, Helena, Montana, Casper Wyoming and one in Smithfield, Utah.
The 96-year-old church leader announced the church’s intention to build temples in the following locations:
- Burley
- Helena, Montana
- Casper, Wyoming
- Smithfield, Utah
- Grand Junction
- Farmington, New Mexico
- Eugene, Oregon
- Elko, Nevada
- Yorba Linda, California
- Oslo, Norway
- Brussels Belgium
- Vienna, Austria
- Kumasi, Ghana
- Bhena, Mozambique
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Cali, Colombia
- Queretaro, Mexico
- Torreon, Mexico
Burley Temple would be the seventh temple built, announced, or under construction in Idaho.
Since becoming the leader of the Church in 2018, President Nelson has announced the construction of 69 new temples. The Church of Jesus Christ now has 251 temples announced, under construction or in operation.
The 20 new temples are the second most announced at a time in the history of the church, and the largest since then President Gordon B. Hinckley announced 32 temples during the 1998 general conference. President Hinckley did not list specific locations at the time when he started plans to inaugurate a “smaller temple” that would take temple work to previously unforeseen areas of the world.
The temples of Latter-day Saints were closed during all or part of last year due to COVID-19, but the planning, construction and dedication of the temple continued. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles of the Church told Church News last week that the site was opened to 21 temples worldwide in 2020, including temples in Beehive State in Layton, Orem, Taylorsville and a second temple in St. George. Two more temples – the Deseret Peak Temple in Tooele and the Syracuse, Utah Temple – will open for construction this summer.
“Obviously, there were construction interruptions because of the pandemic,” said Bednar. “But relatively few of these temples are behind. And I think this is absolutely miraculous. That throughout the world, with all the different construction circumstances that we are in, that the construction of the temples has progressed so remarkably. “
President Nelson also thanked church members on Sunday for their “patience and dedicated service during this period of change and challenges” at COVID-19.
“I pray that your desire to worship and serve in the temple will be brighter than ever,” he said.
As for returning to the temples after the pandemic, and with vaccination rates rising across much of the United States (and Utah), President Nelson said the reopening dates have yet to be determined.
“Your temple will be opened when local government regulations permit,” he said. “When the incidence of COVID-19 in your area is within safe limits, your temple will be reopened. Do everything you can to decrease the number of COVIDs in your area, so that opportunities in the temple can increase.
“In the meantime, keep the temple covenants and blessings first in your mind and heart. Stay true to the covenants you have made. “
Temples are unique buildings for Latter-day Saints, unlike chapels where members usually meet weekly for meetings and midweek for various activities. Instead, temples are reserved for church members who have recommendations for accessing them in sacred rites, such as marriages for eternity, known as temple seals, both for individuals and on behalf of deceased family members.
“Temples are a vital part of restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ to its fullest,” said President Nelson. “Temple ordinances fill our lives with power and strength – available in no other way. We thank God for these blessings. “