In the News

Location Announced for New Temple in Salt Lake Valley

The Church’s 12th temple in Utah and 3rd in the Salt Lake Valley will be built in Draper, a community in the southeast of the valley and one of the fastest growing in the state. The temple will share a large site with a stake center already under construction.

In a letter read to local members, the First Presidency noted that the temple “will be a blessing to the many faithful Saints in this rapidly growing area” and will accommodate overcrowding at the Jordan River Utah Temple.

No groundbreaking date has been set.

Members in Philippines Battered by Multiple Deadly Storms

Over the period of four weeks last November and December, five tropical storms inundated the Philippines, making 2004 the nation’s worst storm year since 1991. More than 1,000 were killed in the storms, including two members of the Church who lost their lives during the heavy flooding and widespread landslides.

As of press time more than 500 people were still missing, but none of the other 517,000-plus Church members in the country had been reported missing or dead. Many had to be rescued from rising floodwaters, including two missionaries who were rescued from a rooftop. All missionaries are reported safe.

More than 100,000 homes were totally or partially destroyed; among them were many members’ homes. More than 800,000 people in nine provinces were significantly affected by the storms. Hardest hit was the Quezon province. Aside from the torrential rains, the storms brought winds with gusts of up to 165 mph (270 kph) and coastal waves of up to 33 feet (10 m) high.

The Church authorized emergency relief for those affected and designated 33 meetinghouses as emergency response locations.

About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines each year.