Three Temples Announced

Temples are planned for Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Bangkok, Thailand, President Thomas S. Monson announced during the Sunday morning session of general conference. In each case, the temple will be the first to be built in its country. Exact locations of the temples will be announced at a later date.

“What marvelous blessings are in store for our faithful members in these areas and, indeed, wherever temples are located throughout the world,” President Monson said.

Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple

Haiti is home to more than 20,000 Latter-day Saints in a nation of approximately 10 million people. Missionary work officially began in 1980. The nearest temple is the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. Although located on the same island, that temple is almost a day’s journey away.

Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is home to more than 27,000 Church members in a nation of approximately 20 million people. Missionary work officially began in 1988. The nearest temple is the Accra Ghana Temple, which is 340 miles (550 km) away from Abidjan.

Bangkok Thailand Temple

Thailand is home to about 19,000 Latter-day Saints in a nation of approximately 67 million. The Church was formally organized in Thailand in 1966. The Bangkok Thailand Temple will serve Latter-day Saints in Thailand, as well as all of Southeast Asia. Currently, the nearest temple to Thailand is the Hong Kong China Temple, more than 1,000 miles (1,610 km) away.

Additional Temple News

Open houses, cultural celebrations, and opening dates for five temples have been announced for 2015 in Córdoba, Argentina; Payson, Utah, USA; Trujillo, Peru; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; and Tijuana, Mexico. The remodeled Mexico City Mexico Temple will also be rededicated in 2015.

For the past two years, the Church has concentrated its efforts on completing previously announced temples. In addition to the 3 announced temples, there are 144 temples in operation, 5 being renovated, 13 under construction, and 13 previously announced in various states of preparation before construction begins.