The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints marked several significant temple updates this month, highlighting steady progress on temples in the Philippines, California, and Texas, according to a Church Newsroom update. Together, these developments reflect both global growth and the persistence required to move forward amid complex local circumstances.
Bacolod Philippines Temple: A Long-Awaited Blessing for Local Members
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced open house and dedication plans for the Bacolod Philippines Temple, which will be one of two temples in the country dedicated in May 2026. According to a Church Newsroom report, a media day is scheduled for April 13, 2026, followed by invited guest tours on April 14 and 15.
The public will be invited to attend an open house from April 16 through May 2, excluding Sundays. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the temple’s dedication on Sunday, May 31, 2026, with the dedicatory session broadcast to all units within the Bacolod Philippines Temple district.
The Bacolod Philippines Temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson in October 2019. In announcing the temple, President Nelson emphasized the central role of temples in the life of the Church, calling them “the most sacred structure in the Church” and linking their expansion to the Church’s continued growth.
The Philippines is home to nearly 900,000 Latter-day Saints worshipping in approximately 1,325 congregations. In addition to Bacolod, the Davao Philippines Temple will also be dedicated in May 2026, with Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding on May 3.
Operating temples in the country are located in Cebu City, Manila, and Urdaneta. Temples currently under construction include Alabang, Bacolod, Cagayan de Or, Davao and Tacloban, while several more have been announced for Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, San Jose del Monte, Santiago and Tuguegarao City.
California Temple Update: San José Temple Renamed for Planned Location
In California, a Church Newsroom report focused not on construction activity but on a naming update for a previously announced temple. The First Presidency announced that the San José California Temple will now be known as the Sunnyvale California Temple, a change intended to reflect the temple’s planned location rather than the broader metropolitan area.
According to the Church, the temple will be built on a 4.73-acre site at 771 West Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale. Plans call for a single-story structure of approximately 30,000 square feet, along with an accompanying distribution center on the same property.
The announcement also placed the project within the broader context of the Church’s presence in California, noting that nearly 730,000 members worship in almost 1,100 congregations statewide. The Sunnyvale temple will join a growing number of California temples that are operating, under construction, or previously announced.
Fairview Texas Temple: Construction Begins After Prolonged Design Dispute
The beginning of construction for the Fairview Texas Temple carries particular significance given the unusually high degree of conflict that surrounded the project’s design and approval. Reaching this milestone is notable and encouraging after a process that was slowed considerably by extended negotiations with city leaders and residents.
Concerns over the temple’s height, scale, and visual impact led to the rejection of the original design and required the Church to substantially revise its plans. The approved design reduced the temple’s overall size by approximately half, reflecting a concerted effort to meet community concerns and reach a compromise that would allow the project to move forward.
Everything’s Bigger in Texas—Including The Fairview Temple Debate
That context is especially important in light of recent national media coverage. A September 2025 Chron article discussing the Fairview project included a photo of the original, rejected design, which featured a significantly larger structure and prominent spire.
Without clarification, such imagery could lead readers to believe the Church moved forward without accommodation. In reality, the current construction reflects a materially different design approved by the city after months of debate and modification.
Taken together, the milestones in Bacolod, California, and Fairview illustrate both the global reach of the Church and the varied challenges associated with temple construction. In Texas, the start of construction represents not only progress on a long-delayed project, but also a moment of forward momentum after a difficult and divisive approval process.
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.
