Work on Temples Begins, Ends around World

The Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple is set to reopen following renovations, ground has been broken for the Kiev Ukraine, Tegucigalpa Honduras, and Vancouver British Columbia Temples, and a new temple has been announced in Manaus, Brazil. There are now 124 operating temples in the world, with 12 under construction or announced.

Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple

The newly renovated Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple was rededicated in November, following months of preparatory work.

The open house began on September 29, 2007, and continued through October 20, excluding Sundays. Following the open house, two rededicatory sessions were held on November 4, 2007, to accommodate Latter-day Saints in the area who will be served by the temple. A cultural celebration was held on November 3, 2007.

The Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple, first dedicated in August 1983 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, serves Latter-day Saints throughout Tonga and the Line Islands of the Pacific Ocean. Tonga now has some 52,400 members.

Kiev Ukraine Temple

Groundbreaking services for the Kiev Ukraine Temple took place on Saturday, June 23, 2007.

Presiding over the service was Elder Paul B. Pieper, President of the Europe East Area. Elder Aleksandr N. Manzhos, Europe East Area Seventy, conducted the ceremony.

The temple, the first to be built in Ukraine, was first announced in July of 1998. Since 1992, Latter-day Saints in Ukraine have had to travel 30 hours one way to attend the nearest temple. Ukraine now has more than 9,900 members in one stake and five districts.

Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple

Elder Spencer V. Jones, then President of the Central America Area, presided as Church leaders broke ground for the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple on June 9, 2007.

Currently, members in Honduras must travel some 12 hours to attend the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple. Honduras now has more than 116,400 members.

The temple is the first in Honduras and will be the fourth operating temple in Central America after the Guatemala City Guatemala, Panama City Panama, and San Jose Costa Rica Temples. The Panama City temple is nearing completion. A temple has also been announced in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

Vancouver British Columbia Temple

The Church held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Vancouver British Columbia Temple on Saturday, August 4, 2007. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy presided at the services.

Announced on June 2, 2006, the temple will be the first in British Columbia. British Columbia has more than 28,400 members in 8 stakes and 1 district. Altogether, Canada has more than 166,000 members and 6 temples—the Cardston Alberta, Edmonton Alberta, Halifax Nova Scotia, Montreal Quebec, Regina Saskatchewan, and Toronto Ontario Temples.

Ground was broken for the Vancouver British Columbia Temple on August 4, 2007.