Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a three-part series on temple milestones in 2022.
While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down many events, activities and efforts, what didn’t slow down in recent years was the ongoing construction of new temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In fact, the 16 temple groundbreaking services this past year was about an average annual effort during the three pandemic years of 2020, 2021 and 2022. Add the 16 to the 21 groundbreakings in 2020 — the most in more than two decades — and the 12 in 2021, and the three-year total of 49 works out to more than 18 per year.
That makes for the most temple construction starts over a three-year period in more than 20 years, since the 49 total groundbreakings in 1998 (17) and 1999 (32), when the Church was answering the charge of then-President Gordon B. Hinckley to have 100 dedicated temples by the end of the year 2000, or the end of the 20th century.
Tack on the two temple groundbreakings in 1997 or the three in 2000 to the 49 in 1998 and 1999, and you get either 51 or 54 — just a couple more than the 49 of 2020-2022.
With construction labeled as “critical trade” and “essential work,” temple building continued throughout the pandemic — ongoing construction, renovations and new builds.
This second part of a three-part series on 2022’s temple milestones looks specifically at temple groundbreakings as well as temples under construction or closed for major renovations.
Part 1 focused on temple dedications and rededications in 2022; Part 3 will treat temple announcements in 2022 as well as previously announced temples still in planning and design.
At the end of 2022, the Church currently has 300 total temples, including:
- 175 dedicated temples, including four under renovation
- 56 under construction
- 69 announced that are still in planning and design.
Temple groundbreakings in 2022
Of the 16 temple groundbreakings in 2022, three groundbreakings were held in Central American countries, two in African nations, one on the South American continent and 10 in the United States — six of those in the state of Utah.
Presiding over most groundbreakings were General Authority Seventies — members of the corresponding area presidency for each temple. However, President Russell M. Nelson led two of the Utah groundbreakings, with Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Gary E. Stevenson, both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at a third. Also, Elder Brent H. Neilson of the Presidency of the Seventy presided at the groundbreaking in his hometown of Burley, Idaho.
The following groundbreakings were held:
- Freetown Sierra Leone Temple, March 19, 2022, with Elder Hugo E. Martinez presiding.
- Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple, April 9, 2022, with Elder Joaquin E. Costa presiding.
- Grand Junction Colorado Temple, April 16, 2022, with Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong presiding.
- Lindon Utah Temple, April 23, 2022, with Elder Kevin W. Pearson presiding.
- Farmington New Mexico Temple, April 30, 2022, with Elder Anthony D. Perkins presiding.
- Elko Nevada Temple, May 7, 2022, with Elder Paul B. Pieper presiding.
- Burley Idaho Temple, June 4, 202, with Elder Brent H. Nielson presiding.
- Smithfield Utah Temple, June 18, 2022, with Elder Quentin L. Cook presiding.
- Yorba Linda California Temple, June 18, 2022, with Elder Mark A. Bragg presiding.
- Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, Aug. 20, 2022, with Elder Matthew L. Carpenter presiding.
- Ephraim Utah Temple, Aug. 27, 2022, with President Russell M. Nelson presiding.
- Heber Valley Utah Temple, Oct. 8, 2022, with President Nelson presiding.
- Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, Oct. 29, 2022, with Elder Valeri V. Cordón presiding.
- Managua Nicaragua Temple, Nov. 26, 2022, with Elder Taylor G. Godoy presiding.
- Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, Dec. 3, 2022, with Elder Patricio M. Giuffra presiding.
- Torreón Mexico Temple, Dec. 10, 2022, Elder Hugo Montoya presiding.
The 16 temples that had groundbreakings in 2022 are among the Church’s 56 temples under construction. That number also includes the three that have been scheduled for dedication in 2023 — the San Juan Puerto Rico, Richmond Virginia and Saratoga Springs Utah temples.
The 37 other temples currently under construction, with pre-2022 groundbreakings, are:
Utah: Deseret Peak, Layton, Orem, Red Cliffs, Syracuse and Taylorsville temples.
Elsewhere in the United States: Bentonville Arkansas, Casper Wyoming, Feather River California, Helena Montana, McAllen Texas, Moses Lake Washington, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Tallahassee Florida temples
Central America: Cobán Guatemala, Puebla Mexico and San Pedro Sula Honduras temples.
South America: Antofagasta Chile, Brasília Brazil, Lima Peru Los Olivos, Mendoza Argentina, Salta Argentina and Salvador Brazil temples.
Africa: Abidjan Ivory Coast, Harare Zimbabwe and Nairobi Kenya temples.
Asia: Alabang Philippines, Bacalod Philippines, Bangkok Thailand, Bengaluru India, Davao Philippines, Okinawa Japan, Phnom Penh Cambodia and Urdaneta Philippines temples.
Oceania: Auckland New Zealand, Neiafu Tonga and Pago Pago American Samoa temples.
Groundbreakings scheduled for 2023
One temple groundbreaking service has been scheduled for the coming year — the Querétaro Mexico Temple, on Jan. 7, 2023, with Elder Adrián Ochoa, General Authority Seventy, presiding.
Temples currently under renovation
Besides the Columbus Ohio Temple, which is scheduled for rededication on June 4, 2023, three pioneer-era temples are currently closed for extensive renovations. The three are:
- St. George Utah Temple, which closed in November 2019.
- Salt Lake Temple, which closed in December 2019.
- Manti Utah Temple, which closed in October 2021.
Temples scheduled for renovation
An additional three dedicated and operating temples have been scheduled for closure and extensive renovations. The three are:
- Provo Utah Temple, with its extensive renovation and redesign to be scheduled after the rededication of the under-construction Orem Utah Temple.
- Kona Hawaii Temple, with a scheduled October 2023 closure.
- Stockholm Sweden Temple, with a yet-to-be-announced date in 2023.
