In 2024, President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced 32 total locations for new temples — the fourth time in as many years that he identified 30 or more cities for future houses of the Lord.
The 32 locations in 2024 — 15 coming in the April 2024 general conference and 17 more in the October 2024 general conference — followed 35 new locations in both 2022 and 2023, with 34 announced in 2021.
In his seven-year tenure leading the Church, President Nelson has announced a total of 185 temple locations, more than half of the Church’s 367 houses of the Lord that are dedicated, under construction or in planning.
This year’s new locations are spread across 10 states in the United States — including three in Utah and two each in Arizona and Texas — and in 16 other countries, including two for Mexico.
Among the newly announced temples were the first in the states of Iowa, Wisconsin and New Jersey and the first in Scotland, Ireland and Uganda.
15 in April 2024 general conference
On April 7, in the concluding session of the April 2024 general conference, President Nelson said: “The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us, for the temple is the only place on earth where we may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham.
“That is why we are doing all within our power, under the direction of the Lord, to make the temple blessings more accessible to members of the Church. Thus, we are pleased to announce that we plan to build a new temple in each of the following 15 locations.”
- Uturoa, French Polynesia
- Chihuahua, Mexico
- Florianópolis, Brazil
- Rosario, Argentina
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Brisbane, Australia (south area)
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Yuma, Arizona
- Houston, Texas (south area)
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- West Jordan, Utah
- Lehi, Utah
- Maracaibo, Venezuela
Sites have already been identified for the Lehi Utah, West Jordan Utah, Cincinnati Ohio and Des Moines Iowa temples, with renderings also released for the last two.
17 in October 2024 general conference
And six months later, on Oct. 6, in his closing remarks of the October 2024 general conference, President Nelson explained that the Church is building temples at such an unprecedented pace because of the instructions from the Lord and the blessings of the temple that help gather Israel on both sides of the veil.
“These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord,” he said, declaring that “now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.”
As part of his concluding message, President Nelson announced 17 new locations for temples:
- Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico
- Santa Ana, El Salvador
- Medellín, Colombia
- Santiago, Dominican Republic
- Puerto Montt, Chile
- Dublin, Ireland
- Milan, Italy
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Kampala, Uganda
- Maputo, Mozambique
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Queen Creek, Arizona
- El Paso, Texas
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Summit, New Jersey
- Price, Utah
President Nelson emphasized the importance of regular temple worship.
“In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance. We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.”
The Prophet concluded his emphatic counsel on worship and ordinance work in the house of the Lord.
“Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.”
