The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the date for the groundbreaking of the Naga Philippines Temple. Church leaders will hold the ceremony on Saturday, August 8, 2026, marking the next step in bringing a temple to members in the region.
According to a Church Newsroom release, Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony. The Church announced plans for the temple in 2022.
Growing Temple Presence in the Philippines
The Philippines is home to more than 900,000 Latter-day Saints who worship in nearly 1,400 congregations across the country. As Church membership has grown, the number of temples serving members has also increased.
The Church currently operates six temples in the Philippines. Three of those temples—located in Alabang, Bacolod, and Davao—were dedicated in 2026. Additional operating temples serve members in Cebu City, Manila, and Urdaneta.
The Naga Philippines Temple will join a growing number of temple projects throughout the country. Church leaders continue to expand temple access for members by dedicating new temples, constructing additional buildings, and announcing future locations.
The Church of Jesus Christ has several temple projects underway in the Philippines. Construction crews are currently building the Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban City Philippines Temples, while the Church has announced temples for Iloilo, Laoag, San Jose del Monte, Santiago, and Tuguegarao City.
The Naga Temple Among Several Ongoing Projects
The announcement of a groundbreaking date places the Naga Philippines Temple among the Church’s active temple developments in the country. Once construction begins, it will become the third temple under construction in the Philippines.
The Church announced the Naga temple in 2022 as part of its continuing effort to provide greater access to temple worship for members. The August groundbreaking ceremony will formally begin the construction phase of the project.
Church leaders have not released additional construction details in the announcement. The release focused on the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony and the temple’s place within the broader growth of temple building in the Philippines.
An exterior rendering accompanying the announcement provided a glimpse of the future temple’s design. The rendering offered members and local residents an early look at the building that will eventually serve the area.
The Purpose of Temples
As the Church continues to build temples around the world, leaders frequently teach about their purpose and importance. In October 2025, President Dallin H. Oaks spoke about the blessings associated with temple worship and sacred ordinances.
“The sealing powers of the priesthood, directed by the keys restored in the Kirtland Temple, bring families together for eternity,” President Oaks said. “They are currently being exercised in a growing number of temples of the Lord throughout the world.”
The Church distinguishes temples from its regular meetinghouses, often called chapels. Local congregations gather in meetinghouses for Sunday worship services and weekday activities, and visitors are welcome to attend those gatherings.
Temples serve a different purpose. The Church teaches that faithful members participate there in sacred ceremonies and ordinances, including those that unite families forever.
Looking Ahead to August 2026
The upcoming groundbreaking ceremony will mark an important step in the development of the Naga Philippines Temple. Church leaders, local members, and invited guests will gather to commemorate the beginning of construction under the direction of Elder Shumway.
The announcement reflects the continued expansion of temple building in the Philippines, where hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints worship and serve in congregations throughout the nation. When completed, the Naga Philippines Temple will add to the growing number of temples that serve Church members across the country.
What temple experience has had the greatest impact on your testimony of eternal families? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
