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President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors in the First Presidency, President Henry B. Eyring and President D. Todd Christofferson, just announced a new temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an unexpected way.
Announcements of new temples over the past 17 years generally have been made at the pulpit in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the church’s two annual general conferences.
For example, President Russell M. Nelson made 199 of his 200 new temple announcements at general conferences. His predecessor, President Thomas S. Monson, announced 40 of 45 new temples during general conferences.
So a recent announcement of the Portland Maine Temple during a stake Christmas fireside in Portland stunned and thrilled the Latter-day Saints who braved a snowstorm to attend.
The First Presidency sent a letter announcing the temple. It was read at the fireside by the Northeast Area President, Elder Allen D. Haynie, a General Authority Seventy.
“Such an announcement by a member of an area presidency has never occurred before,” Elder Haynie said. “Tonight will be the first.”
He also shared what led to the temple announcement.
He said that in a recent First Presidency meeting, a decision was reached that “when directed by the First Presidency, the announcement of the construction of a new temple should be made on location by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or a member of an area presidency.”
Announcements outside of general conference have been made in the past. Every church president before Presidents Monson and Nelson announced more temples outside of general conferences than they did during them.
Here are the last three times temples were announced outside general conference:
- Sunday: Elder Haynie reads the First Presidency letter announcing the Portland Maine Temple.
- May 1, 2021: President Nelson announced the Ephraim Utah Temple during a special broadcast for church members in 27 stakes in the Manti Temple District in central Utah. He announced the renovation of the pioneer-era Manti Temple at the same time.
- Jan. 25, 2010: President Monson announced the Payson Utah Temple in a news release.
President Hinckley announced more than 50 of 78 new temples in his presidency outside of general conference settings.
In some cases, his First Presidency simply sent letters to local priesthood leaders. He also used special broadcasts to announce temples to church members in large regional meetings.
My recent stories
I am on an early Christmas vacation to reunite our family in Denver for the holidays. I will be back next week.
About the church
Learn about the three words Sister Kristen Oaks uses to describe her husband, President Dallin H. Oaks.
The church issued wide-ranging updates to the General Handbook:
- A new section reflects recent church statements about artificial intelligence, including that it cannot replace “divine inspiration.” Other key updates include:
- The Handbook now includes an expanded list of preferred English-language translations of the Bible. It previously recommended only the King James Version.
- Other updates include information about temple clothing and abortion. Read more here.
The church also announced it will begin preliminary work that will prepare the ground for construction of the Fairview Texas Temple. An official groundbreaking date has not yet been released.
There are now three new temples in the Philippines scheduled to be dedicated in 2026.
When the First Presidency announced a temple in Sunnyvale, California, it originally directed that it would be called the San Jose California Temple. Now it has changed the name to the Sunnyvale California Temple.
What I’m reading
- BYU researchers using national data sets found that Latter-day Saints are retaining faith in a secularizing age at uniquely high levels.
- How a promise led this artist to write “My Own Sacred Grove” in six days.
- This is fascinating. Past BYU football players and former BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe are participating in an infrared light therapy study that appears to show the therapy promotes brain rehabilitation and healing.