Church announces twelve new temples worldwide

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the construction of 12 new temples at the conclusion of the Sunday afternoon session of the Church’s 188th Semiannual General Conference.

The announcement, delivered by Church President Russell M. Nelson, is the largest number of new temples ever announced on the same day. It brings the total number of Latter-day Saint temples operating, announced or under construction to 201.

“Building and maintaining temples may not change your life, but spending your time in the temple surely will,” President Nelson said to the crowd gathered at the Conference Center in Temple Square. “Each of us needs the ongoing spiritual strengthening and tutoring that is only possible in the house of the lord.”

The 12 new temples will be constructed in the following cities:

• Mendoza, Argentina
• Salvador, Brazil
• Yuba City, California
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Praia, Cape Verde
• Yigo, Guam
• Puebla, Mexico
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Davao, Philippines
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Washington County, Utah

President Nelson also announced several upcoming renovation efforts.

“With the passage of time, temples are inevitably in need of refreshing and renewal,” he said. “To that end, plans are now being made to renovate and update the Salt Lake Temple and other pioneer generation temples.”

Renovation plans will be shared as they are developed.

President Nelson encouraged all members to make the temple a priority in their lives.

“If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make a regular appointment with the lord to be in his holy house, and then to keep that appointment with exactness and joy,” he said. “I promise you the lord will bring the miracles he knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in his temples.”