Temples throughout the World

By Judy Edwards

My people are always commanded to build [temples] unto my holy name (D&C 124:39).

Why does the Lord command His people to build temples?

The Lord wants all of His people to have temple blessings. As more temples are built throughout the world, more members of the Church have a chance to go to a temple and receive those blessings.

How many temples of the Church are there in the world today?

There are forty-five temples located in twenty-two countries throughout the world. Eight more temples—in Bogotá, Colombia; Bountiful, Utah (U.S.); Guayaquil, Ecuador; Orlando, Florida (U.S.); St. Louis, Missouri (U.S.); Preston, England; Hartford, Connecticut (U.S.); and Northern Utah County (U.S.)—have been announced or are under construction as of November 1992. And as the membership of the Church increases, even more temples will be built to make temple ordinances available to worthy members.

Instructions

The countries where the temples listed at the bottom of the page are located are shown in color on the map. Match the number (on the map) of each country with its name on the following list. Check your answers on page 26. Then, using the list of temples, draw a dot or star on the map in the country where each temple is located.

a. Argentina ___	g. Germany ___	m. Peru ___	s. Tahiti ___
b. Australia ___	h. Guatemala ___	n. Philippines ___	t. Taiwan ___
c. Brazil ___	i. Japan ___	o. Samoa ___	u. Tonga ___
d. Canada ___	j. Korea ___	p. South Africa ___	v. United States
e. Chile ___	k. Mexico ___	q. Sweden ___
f. England ___	l. New Zealand ___	r. Switzerland ___

These are the temples that are currently operating:

Alberta (Canada)	Jordan River (U.S.)	Provo (U.S.)
Apia Samoa	Las Vegas Nevada (U.S.)	Salt Lake (U.S.)
Arizona (U.S.)	Lima Peru	San Diego (U.S.)
Atlanta Georgia (U.S.)	Logan (U.S.)	Santiago Chile
Boise Idaho (U.S.)	London (England)	São Paulo (Brazil)
Buenos Aires Argentina	Los Angeles (U.S.)	Seattle (U.S.)
Chicago Illinois (U.S.)	Manila Philippines	Seoul Korea
Dallas Texas (U.S.)	Manti (U.S.)	St. George (U.S.)
Denver Colorado (U.S.)	Mexico City (Mexico)	Stockholm Sweden
Frankfurt Germany	New Zealand	Swiss (Switzerland)
Freiberg Germany	Nuku‘alofa Tonga	Sydney Australia
Guatemala City (Guatemala)	Oakland (U.S.)	Taipei Taiwan
Hawaii (U.S.)	Ogden (U.S.)	Tokyo (Japan)
Idaho Falls (U.S.)	Papeete Tahiti	Toronto Ontario (Canada)
Johannesburg South Africa	Portland Oregon (U.S.)	Washington (U.S.)

Sharing Time Ideas

Research the history of the temple in your area and share with the children stories of faith about the building of that temple, or about members who have gone to it. The children could draw pictures of their temple to frame and hang in their homes.
Make two copies each of the outlines of several temples. (See Friend, January 1986, pages 46–47.) On one set, put information such as location, date of dedication, languages spoken there, and who the President of the Church was at the time of dedication, on the backs of the corresponding temple outlines. Play a matching game by placing the pictures facedown on a board. Children take turns picking two pictures, trying to find ones that match. If a child makes a match, have him or her read the information about that temple.
Play a matching game, using pictures of Church buildings and their names. Include pictures of your local temple, other temples, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, a meetinghouse, the Church Office Building, and the Assembly Hall. Explain to the children the differences between temples and other Church buildings.
Using a world map, have children identify the locations of all temples in use now. Discuss the statements by Elder Bruce R. McConkie that “the day will come when temples will dot the earth” and that “this final dispensation is now and in greater measure is yet to be the great era of … temple building” (Mormon Doctrine, pages 781, 723).
Invite children whose family members are currently serving or have served temple missions to bring pictures of those temples and share temple stories with the Primary.
Sing “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, page 95), “We Love Thy House, O God” (Hymns, no. 247), or the song sung at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836, “The Spirit of God” (Hymns, no. 2). Discuss the feelings of joy and gratitude that come to those who are blessed by temple attendance.

Answers:

[map] Illustrated by Steve Dayton