An end-of-the-year look at the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through lists and by the numbers.

Status of the Church’s 231 temples at the end of 2020

• 231 temples dedicated, under construction or announced168 dedicated temples2 temple operating in Phase 3121 temples operating in Phase 225 temples operating in Phase 111 temples “paused” because of local COVID-19 conditions1 temple still closed8 temples under renovation
• 168 dedicated temples2 temple operating in Phase 3121 temples operating in Phase 225 temples operating in Phase 111 temples “paused” because of local COVID-19 conditions1 temple still closed8 temples under renovation
• 2 temple operating in Phase 3
• 121 temples operating in Phase 2
• 25 temples operating in Phase 1
• 11 temples “paused” because of local COVID-19 conditions
• 1 temple still closed
• 8 temples under renovation
• 35 temples under construction
• 28 announced temples in planning and design

Temples dedicated in 2020

• Durban South Africa — Feb. 16

The sunsets on the Durban South Africa Temple in Umhlanga, South Africa, on Feb. 13, 2020.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

NOTE: Conducted just prior to the sweeping global COVID-19 pandemic, the Durban temple dedication makes for the Church’s fewest in one year since 2013, when only one temple was dedicated. Also, 2007 is the last year when no temple dedications were held.

Temple dedications, rededications and open houses postponed in 2020

• Rio de Janeiro Brazil — May 17 dedication
• Winnipeg Manitoba — Nov. 8 dedication
• Washington D.C. — Dec. 13 rededication

The Washington D.C. Temple is photographed on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Sarah Jane Weaver

NOTE: All three have been postponed indefinitely, until large public gatherings can be held safely for open houses, dedications and rededications.

Temple groundbreakings in 2020

Commemorative shovels are lined up at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Moses Lake Washington Temple on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.

Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

• Richmond Virginia– April 11
• Layton Utah – May 23
• Alabang Philippines – June 4
• Auckland New Zealand – June 13
• Feather River California – July 18
• Orem Utah – Sept. 5
• San Pedro Sula Honduras – Sept. 5
• Brasília Brazil – Sept. 26
• Moses Lake Washington — Oct. 10
• Taylorsville Utah — Oct. 31
• Salta Argentina — Nov. 4
• Bentonville Arkansas — Nov. 7
• Red Cliffs Utah — Nov. 7
• Cobán Guatemala — Nov. 14
• Davao Philippines — Nov. 14
• McAllen Texas — Nov. 21
• Antofagasta Chile — Nov. 27
• Bengaluru India — Dec. 2
• Okinawa Japan — Dec. 5
• Harare Zimbabwe — Dec. 12
• Mendoza Argentina — Dec. 17

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Patricia Holland speak to the media following the groundbreaking service for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple in St. George, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020.

Nick Adams, for the Deseret News

NOTES: The 21 total temple groundbreakings in 2020 is the Church’s second-highest total in a single year, topped only by the 32 done in 1999 as part of the late 20th-century push to have 100 temples by the end of year 2000 ... All 21 groundbreakings were done in the final nine months of the year, and because of the pandemic, all were small, invitation-only events adhering to local COVID-19 precautions. ... All but three of the 21 temples for which ground was broken in 2020 were announced by President Russell M. Nelson during his three-year tenure as President of the Church.

Temples announced in 2020

From April 2020 general conference

• Bahía Blanca, Argentina
• Tallahassee, Florida
• Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Syracuse, Utah
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

President Russell M. Nelson announced locations for six new temples during the October 2020 general conference.

Church News graphic

From October 2020 general conference

• Tarawa, Kiribati
• Port Vila, Vanuatu
• Lindon, Utah
• Greater Guatemala City, Guatemala
• São Paulo East, Brazil
• Santa Cruz, Bolivia

NOTE: President Nelson has announced 49 temple locations during his three-year tenure as President of the Church. He has presided over six general conferences in that time, announcing new temple locations in each.

Temple adjustments in 2020’s pandemic

Feb. 21-22: Four temples in the Church’s Asia and Asia North areas close because of the developing pandemic. By the end of that month, 24 temples had closed; within a month, the closures total 111.

The spire, front and entrance plaza of the Frankfurt Germany Temple at dusk on Oct. 18, 2019. A reflection of the Christus statue inside the annex is visible int he lower-right window.

Scott Taylor

March 25: The First Presidency announces the closure of all operating temples worldwide.

May 7: The First Presidency announces “a carefully coordinated, cautious and phased reopening of temples.” On May 11, a group of 17 temples become the first to open in Phase 1, offering limited living husband-and-wife sealings by appointment.

July 20: The First Presidency announces both changes to the temple endowment ceremony and the start of reopened temples to move to Phase 2. Seven days later, the first 12 temples being upgraded to Phase 2 began performing once again all living temple ordinances, by appointment.

Dec. 7: The First Presidency identifies four temples as the first to advance to Phase 3 of the Church’s four-phase reopening plan as early as Dec. 21; also announced are adjustments to accommodate the Phase 3 operations. On that Dec. 21 date, the Taipei Taiwan Temple becomes be the first to have proxy ordinances joining living ordinances as being performed on a limited basis.

Taipei Taiwan Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

NOTE: “We look forward to the day when all worthy members of the Church can again serve their ancestors — and worship — in a holy temple,” said President Nelson at the October 2020 general conference.

Temple renovations in 2020

Crews remove the capstone after the Angel Moroni statue is removed from atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during renovation in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 18, 2020.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

• Eight temples are currently under major renovations
• The Columbus Ohio Temple was the only one of the eight to close in 2020
• The Church provided first-year updates on major renovations to pioneer-era temples — the Salt Lake Temple, including the opening of the capstone positioned under the angel Moroni statute; and the St. George Utah Temple.

The St. George Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is seen from the south on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in St. George. The temple's renovation is expected to be completed in 2022.

Nick Adams, for the Deseret News