Groundbreaking Announced for Urdaneta Philippines Temple
Contributed By Camille West, ChurchofJesusChrist.org Church News
Elder Ronald A. Rasband visits with missionaries during his February 13–26, 2018, trip to the Philippines.
Article Highlights
- The groundbreaking ceremony for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the date for the groundbreaking of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the event, which will include other Church leaders and invited guests of the community. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction.
The Urdaneta Philippines Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson during the October 2010 general conference.
The Manila Philippines Temple—the country’s first temple—was dedicated in 1984. Other cities with currently operating or announced temples are Cebu City, Manila (one constructed, one announced), Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, which was announced in the October 2018 general conference.
Artist rendering of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple.
There are more than 780,000 Latter-day Saints spread throughout 1,218 congregations in this country of more than 107 million people.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles created the 100th stake in the Philippines—the Mandaluyong Philippines Stake, on September 10, 2017. “This is a special place. Do not underestimate who you are. … The most important part of the Philippines is the people,” he said. (See related story.)
“This is just the beginning,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband said during a Facebook Live event in March. The Philippines “is going to be a source of huge strength for the future of this Church,” he said. (See related story.)
When Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited in June, he said the growth of the Church in the Philippines is reflective of the character of the people. “They are very spiritual by nature,” he said.
Dates for the temple open house and dedication will be announced on events.ChurchofJesusChrist.org when the construction of the temple is completed.
