Newsroom announced on Jan. 16 the groundbreaking for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the ceremony. Senior Church leaders and local community leaders in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, were also in attendance.
The Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be the third temple in the country, joining the Manila Philippines Temple and the Cebu City Philippines Temple. The Urdaneta temple will serve Church members residing in the Pangasinan province and in Northern Luzon.
Three additional temples will be constructed in the Philippines in the near future. In April 2018 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple, and in October 2018 general conference he announced the Davao Philippines Temple. President Thomas S. Monson also announced the Greater Manila Philippines Temple in April 2017 general conference.
Of the recently announced temples, 85 percent are international. Here's a temple timeline of how things have changed over the years.
During a multi-stake conference held in the Philippines earlier this week, Elder Holland pleaded with members to stay strong in their faith.
"Do not be driven by every wind that blows," he said. "Do not be tossed about by every wave of the sea. Be strong. Be steadfast. Be firm and filled with faith."
