Temple News & Updates | Week of August 28

September 2, 2022

Latter-day Saint temples continue to be built around the world as the gospel of Jesus Christ rolls forth. Here’s a quick look at temple news and updates from this last week.

President Nelson Presides at the Ephraim Utah Temple Groundbreaking

President Russell M. Nelson, whose family helped settle the Sanpete Valley in 1849, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ephraim Utah Temple on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Explaining his connection to the area, he said: “My dear mother was born in Ephraim, not far from this very temple site. My father was born in Manti. Three of my four grandparents were born here in Ephraim. All eight of my great-grandparents lived in Ephraim.” In his site dedicatory prayer, he prayed, “We are deeply grateful for our ancestors. They have laid a foundation of faith that undergirds our spiritual strength. May we learn who they are, find their qualifying information, and bless their lives with sacred rites offered vicariously in this holy house.”

Major Renovation Announced for the Kona Hawaii Temple

In October 2023, the Kona Hawaii Temple will close for a major renovation that will increase the square footage of the building from 9,500 to approximately 12,000. The exterior appearance of the temple will also be updated. The renovations are expected to be completed by late 2025. During the closure, members of the temple district are encouraged to attend the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Update on the Kyiv Ukraine Temple

As the war continues to rage in Ukraine, one question that’s been asked repeatedly is if the Kyiv Ukraine Temple has managed to escape the bombardments on the city. This week we spoke with someone who was able to visit the temple grounds and take photographs of the temple. The Kyiv Ukraine Temple closed back in February 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite bombings and fighting in and around Kyiv, both the temple and the meeting house located on the grounds remain undamaged. According to the official page for the Kyiv Temple on churchofjesuschrist.org, due to the continuing conflict in Ukraine the temple remains closed and has suspended operations until further notice. A person we spoke with in Kyiv said that Church meetings for the area are still continuing over Zoom. However, only three members of his branch still physically reside in the area. The rest are scattered throughout western Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.

Golden Doors Installed at the Richmond Virginia Temple

The Richmond Virginia Temple has a shiny new addition at the main entrance—golden doors with stained-glass inserts that are currently covered for protection. Trees are being established in the entrance plaza where irrigation tubing is protruding from the garden spaces. Electrical wiring in the fence posts will allow for post cap lights to be added. Landscaping is nearing completion in the northwest portion of the grounds.

Urdaneta Philippines Temple Steeple Unveiled

Scaffolding is coming down from the steeple of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, giving onlookers a better view of the beautiful stone cladding. Members have been looking forward to the completion of the temple since its announcement nearly 12 years ago at the October 2010 General Conference. It will be the third temple to be dedicated in the Philippines, joining the Manila Philippines Temple and the Cebu City Philippines Temple.

South Side Scaffolding Removed from the Orem Utah Temple

Scaffolding has come down from the south side of the Orem Utah Temple, placing the beautiful granite cladding on full display. A delicate leaf pattern is carved into the casing around the upper arched windows, coordinating with the ornamentation in the spandrels and window headers. The ground closest to the temple has been prepared for landscaping, and remediation efforts have been carried out for a small fire that broke out last month.