The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced new details for two temples, including a groundbreaking date for the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple and the location, exterior rendering and groundbreaking date for the Victoria British Columbia Temple. According to a Church Newsroom release, the Church of Jesus Christ plans to move both projects forward with groundbreaking ceremonies on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
President Dallin H. Oaks taught that temple covenants hold a central place in the Church’s doctrine and purpose. “The purpose of the doctrine and policies of this restored Church is to prepare God’s children for salvation in the celestial glory and, more particularly, for exaltation in its highest degree,” President Oaks said. “The covenants made and the blessings promised to the faithful in the temples of God are the key.”
Tulsa Oklahoma Temple Groundbreaking Set for August 2026
The Tulsa Oklahoma Temple site location.The Church will hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Elder Pedro X. Larreal of the United States Southwest Area Presidency will preside at the event.
The Church announced the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple in 2023. It will become the second temple in Oklahoma, joining the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple.
Plans for the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple
An artistic rendering of the exterior of the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple.The Church plans to construct the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple on a 25.7-acre site at the northwest corner of 51st St. and 136th E Avenue in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The planned single-story temple will measure approximately 29,600 square feet.
The Church Newsroom release also included an artistic rendering of the temple’s exterior. Nearly 54,000 Latter-day Saints live in Oklahoma and meet in around 100 congregations.
Victoria British Columbia Temple Details Released
A map showing the location of the Victoria British Columbia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The First Presidency also announced the site, exterior rendering and groundbreaking date for the Victoria British Columbia Temple. The Church plans to construct the temple on a 4.7-acre site along Mantle Heights Road in Langford, British Columbia, Canada.
The planned single-story temple will measure approximately 11,400 square feet and include an accompanying patron waiting area. The Church Newsroom release also included an exterior rendering of the Victoria British Columbia Temple.
A New House of the Lord for British Columbia
An exterior rendering of the Victoria British Columbia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The Church will hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Victoria British Columbia Temple on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Elder James E. Evanson of the Canada Area Presidency will preside at the event.
The Church announced the Victoria British Columbia Temple in April 2024. Canada is home to more than 211,000 Church members who meet in around 500 congregations.
Temples Across Canada
Canada already has several dedicated houses of the Lord. The Church lists the Calgary Alberta Temple, Cardston Alberta Temple, Edmonton Alberta Temple, Halifax Nova Scotia Temple, Montreal Quebec Temple, Regina Saskatchewan Temple, Toronto Ontario Temple, Vancouver British Columbia Temple and Winnipeg Manitoba Temple among the dedicated temples in the country.
The Church also continues work on the Lethbridge Alberta Temple, which remains under construction. The Victoria British Columbia Temple will add another house of the Lord for Church members in Canada after the Church completes the project and dedicates it for worship.
Why Latter-day Saints Worship in Temples
The Church Newsroom release explained several reasons Latter-day Saints worship in temples. Church members go to temples to feel God’s love and peace, learn more about God’s plan for His children and the gospel of Jesus Christ, make promises with God and with one’s husband or wife, and use Christ’s power to help unite families for eternity.
Those purposes connect both temple announcements to the broader worship of Latter-day Saints around the world. As the Church prepares for the Tulsa and Victoria groundbreaking ceremonies, each project reflects the continuing role of temples in the lives of Church members.
What are your thoughts about these new temple updates? Share with us 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.
