On January 21, 2016, the First Presidency made an exciting announcement: three temples currently under construction or renovation will be opening later this summer. The First Presidency extended an invitation to Latter-day Saints and others throughout the world to visit the newly completed Philadelphia Pennsylvania and Sapporo Japan temples as well as the recently renovated Freiberg Germany Temple.
Here are the details of when and how you can attend the open houses, as well as when these temples will be dedicated as holy houses of the Lord.
Sapporo Japan Temple
Announced: October 3, 2009
Groundbreaking: Saturday, October 22, 2011, by Elder Gary A. Stevenson
Open House: Friday, July 8, 2016, to Saturday, July 23, 2016
Dedication: Sunday, August 21, 2016, and will be broadcast to meetinghouses in Japan.
The Sapporo Japan Temple will be the eighth temple in Asia and the third in Japan. Currently, there are temples in Tokyo and Fukuoka, which were dedicated in 1980 and 2000 respectively.
Freiberg Germany Temple
Announced: October 9, 1982
Groundbreaking: April 23, 1983, by President Thomas S. Monson
Original Dedication: June 29-30 1985, by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Open House: Friday, August 12, 2016, to Saturday, August 27, 2016
Rededication: Sunday, September 4, 2016, and will be broadcast to meetinghouses in Germany.
A historic building, the Freiberg Germany Temple was the first to be built in a communist nation as well as the first temple built on German soil.
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple
Announced: October 4, 2008
Groundbreaking: September 17, 2011, by President Henry B. Eyring
Open House: Friday, August 5, 2016, to Saturday, September 3, 2016
Dedication: Sunday, September 18, 2016, and will be broadcast to all members in the Philadelphia Temple district.
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple will be the first temple in Pennsylvania and is one among 81 temples operating or under construction in the United States.
For more information, check out the Mormon Newsroom.