As the Church continues to keep up with President Nelson’s rapid rate of temple announcements, more and more new temples are reaching important benchmarks each month, like dedications, open houses, location announcements, and more. Here are the seven temple announcements and milestones met in the month of May:
Toronto Ontario Temple to Close for Renovations
On May 1, the Church announced that the Toronto Ontario Temple will close in October for extended renovations. The project is expected to take nine months.
You can read the entire announcement on Newsroom here.
Oslo Norway Temple Location Announced
The Church has reported that the Oslo Norway Temple, which was announced in April 2021, will be built on an eight-acre site located in Hvalstad, Norway. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 10,800 square feet, with patron housing and arrival facilities included. The Oslo Norway Temple will be the first in the country and the fourth in Scandinavia. Latter-day Saints in Norway currently must travel to temples in Copenhagen, Denmark; or Stockholm, Sweden.
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Kumasi Ghana Temple Location Announced
The Church announced earlier in May that the Kumasi Ghana Temple will be built on a 2.08-acre site located at Y11 Suntreso Rd., Bantama, Kumasi. Plans call for a two-story temple of approximately 22,750 square feet, including an arrival center and accompanying an existing meetinghouse.
You can read more about the new temples in Ghana and Norway on Church Newsroom.
Richmond Virginia Temple Dedicated
On Sunday, May 7, President Dallin H. Oaks dedicated the Richmond Virginia Temple.
“Every temple is beautiful, but this is an especially impressive house of the Lord for this great Commonwealth of Virginia,” said President Oaks, as reported by Church News.
Today more than 34,000 Latter-day Saints live in the Richmond area, and more than 96,000 members live in Virginia, making up 22 stakes.
“Temples are essential to our Heavenly Father’s plan for His children,” President Oaks told Church News. “In these Houses of the Lord, we are taught the most important things we can learn in mortality, the knowledge of eternity.”
You can read more about the dedication, the open house, and reactions from local members in Virginia on Church News.
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St. George Utah Temple Rededication Date Announced
On May 8, the First Presidency announced that the historic pioneer temple in St. George, Utah, will be rededicated on Sunday, December 10, 2023. The public open house will begin on Friday, September 15, and continue until Saturday, November 11, excluding Sundays and Saturday, September 30 (general conference).
Read more on Church Newsroom.
Helena Montana Temple Open House Begins
The open house for the new Helena Montana Temple began on May 18, 2023. Montana’s newest temple was announced in April 2021, and just over two years later, the temple will be dedicated in June 2023. The temple’s main structure was assembled on site in just two weeks, the fastest a temple has ever been constructed.
You can read more about the historic speed and process for building new temples on Church Newsroom.
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McAllen Texas Temple Open House and Dedication Announced
On May 15, the Church announced that the McAllen Texas Temple will be dedicated on Sunday, October 8, 2023, by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf. A public open house will start on Friday, August 25, and continue through Saturday, September 9, 2023, excluding Sundays. Both dedicatory sessions on October 8 will be broadcast to all units in the McAllen Texas Temple district. Appointments for living ordinances are expected to be available for scheduling sometime in July, and online scheduling of proxy ordinances will become available closer to September.
Read the full announcement on Church Newsroom.
Charlotte North Carolina Temple Location Announced
The Church announced the location for the new Charlotte North Carolina Temple on May 30. Interestingly, the new temple was just announced less than two months ago at the April 2023 general conference. The temple will be built on a 5.9-acre site in Weddington, North Carolina. Current plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 30,000 square feet.
More details can be found on Church Newsroom.
