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Urdaneta Philippines Temple construction to begin in 2019. Here's a quick look at the Church's growth in the country

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday, Nov. 19, that the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be held on Jan. 16, 2019.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is scheduled to preside at the groundbreaking ceremony and although attendance will be by invitation only, the ceremonial proceedings will be transmitted to designated meetinghouses throughout the proposed temple district, according to Newsroom.

Learn more about the 12 temples that were announced during October 2018 general conference.

The Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be the third temple in the Philippines, with three more announced in the greater Manila area and Cagayan de Oro, as announced in April 2017 and April 2018 general conferences, and one in Davao, as announced in October 2018 general conference. The Urdaneta temple was announced in October 2010 general conference by President Thomas S. Monson.

The Pacific nation was opened for missionary work in 1961 and, since then, membership has grown to over 765,000.

“This is just the beginning,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told members when he visited in March. “The Lord has great plans in store for the Church in the Philippines.”

When Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited the Philippines in June, he said the growth of the Church in the Philippines is reflective of the character of the people. “They are very spiritual by nature,” he said.

Dates for the temple open house and dedication will be announced when construction of the temple is completed.

Read the full story on Newsroom here.

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