“Making Temple Ordinances More Available,” Liahona, July 2022.
Making Temple Ordinances More Available
Throughout history, the Lord has made essential ordinances available in His holy temples. Through these priesthood ordinances and the associated covenants, He binds us to Him and makes exaltation possible.
The Prophet Joseph Smith received revelation foreshadowing the importance of temple ordinances for both the living and the dead before The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was even officially organized in 1830 (see Doctrine and Covenants 2).
The importance of these ordinances in the early days of the Restoration was underscored by the effort to build temples even under difficult circumstances. Since then, their importance can be seen as temples are built ever closer to Church members in locations around the world.
1831: The Lord revealed to the Saints that a temple had been appointed for Independence, Missouri (see Doctrine and Covenants 57:1–3). In 1838, another temple in Far West, Missouri, was also appointed (see Doctrine and Covenants 115:7–16). Because of unrest, these temples were not built at the time. They are not included in the current list of announced temples and are not being actively planned.
Kirtland Temple
1836: The Kirtland Temple was dedicated in March 1836, only six years after the restored Church was organized in 1830. Ownership changed after the majority of members left Kirtland in 1838, and the building is no longer counted among dedicated temples.
Nauvoo Temple
Nauvoo Illinois Temple (reconstructed)
1846: The Nauvoo Temple was originally dedicated in May 1846. It was mostly destroyed by arson in 1848. The Nauvoo Illinois Temple was rebuilt on the original site and dedicated in 2002.
Salt Lake Temple
1847: Brigham Young announced what became the Salt Lake Temple only four days after arriving in the valley. It would take until 1893 for the temple to be dedicated.
St. George Utah Temple
1855: Between the abandonment of the Nauvoo Temple in 1846 and the dedication of the St. George Utah Temple in 1877, there was no dedicated temple. Latter-day Saints could receive their temple ordinances in the Endowment House until it was demolished in 1889.
Mesa Arizona Temple
1945: The Mesa Arizona Temple offered ordinances in Spanish, the first temple in which the ordinances were presented in a language other than English.
1978: With the dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple in 1978, 17 temples were in operation.
1985: During President Spencer W. Kimball’s service as Church President from 1973 to 1985, 31 temples were announced.
1997: President Gordon B. Hinckley announced designs for smaller temples. In 1998, he announced his intention to reach a total of 100 temples in operation by the year 2000.
2000: President Hinckley dedicated four temples in one week (June 11–18): the Fukuoka Japan Temple, Adelaide Australia Temple, Melbourne Australia Temple, and Suva Fiji Temple.
2008: During President Hinckley’s service as Church President from 1995 to 2008, 78 temples were announced.
Arequipa Peru Temple
2018: During President Thomas S. Monson’s service as Church President from 2008 to 2018, 45 temples were announced.
2021: In the first four years of President Russell M. Nelson’s service as Church President from 2018 to the end of 2021, 83 temples had been announced.
2022: By January 1, 2022, 265 temples were announced, under construction, or dedicated.