Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated two new temples on Sunday — the Davao Philippines Temple and Lindon Utah Temple.
President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Lindon Utah Temple — the 216th dedicated temple of the church, the 25th in Utah and the 7th in Utah County. Including temples that are under construction, announced or undergoing renovation, the Beehive State has or will have 32 houses of the Lord.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Davao Philippines Temple — the 215th Latter-day Saint temple, the fifth in the Philippines and the first on the country’s southernmost island of Mindanao. And at the end of this month, a sixth temple will be dedicated in the Philippines, with nine more in various stages of planning in a country of more than 905,000 Latter-day Saints, the fourth-largest in the worldwide church.
Lindon Utah Temple
Before dedicating the Lindon temple, President Eyring testified to members of the temple district that the Lindon temple is the house of the Lord. Feelings of peace felt there come from the Lord by the power of the Holy Ghost.
For the 24 stakes that make up the temple district, the Lindon temple can be “a refuge” and a “place of peace,” promised President Eyring, who dedicated the temple in a single session.
“That which we experience in the temple increases our desire to submit our hearts and our wills to God, as his humble children. When we obey what we are taught in the temple with all our hearts, it makes possible our receiving the gift of peace,” President Eyring said.
He also taught that it is only by following the Savior that individuals can find peace and serenity in the trials that will come to them.
Each time patrons return to the temple, they will, by the Spirit, learn more about Jesus Christ and his father, President Eyring promised members of the temple district. And the sweet feelings of peace can go with them into their busy lives if they are faithful to the covenants made there.
“Trials, challenges and heartaches will surely come to all of us. None of us are immune from ‘thorns of the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7). Yet, as we attend the temple and remember our covenants, we will feel peace from the Lord,” he said.
Elder Steven R. Bangerter, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the church’s Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Susan A. Bangerter; and Elder Jorge T. Becerra, General Authority Seventy and member of the Utah Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Debbie I. Becerra, also attended Sunday’s dedication, which was broadcast to meetinghouses throughout the temple district.
This new temple is nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. To the northeast stands the imposing, snow-capped Mount Timpanogos. To the west, the valley stretches out to the shores of Utah Lake.
Lindon’s new temple is closely sandwiched between two other operating temples — the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple, roughly six miles to the north, and the Orem Utah Temple, about seven miles to the south.
During the media day prior to the open house, Elder James R. Rasband, a General Authority Seventy and then an assistant executive director of the Temple Department, noted this temple would enable local members to make temple attendance part of their regular worship, not just an occasional occurrence.
The Lindon temple is also the second in the church to be dedicated with two baptistries, the other being the Syracuse Utah Temple. “I think the fact that there’s a temple here, and the fact that it has two baptistries, is a reflection of the faithfulness of the Saints in this area,” said Wayne Corbridge, the temple open house and dedication coordinator.
Lindon Utah Temple facts
Address: 800 E. Center St., Lindon, Utah 84042
Announced: Oct. 4, 2020, by President Russell M. Nelson
Groundbreaking: April 23, 2022, presided over by Elder Kevin W. Pearson, a General Authority Seventy and Utah Area president
Public open house: March 12 through April 11, 2026, excluding Sundays and general conference
Dedicated: May 3, 2026, by President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency
Property size: 12.63 acres
Building size: 83,140 square feet
Building height: 224 feet above ground level
Davao Philippines Temple
Elder Renlund dedicated the Davao temple on a weekend that included both hot, searing sunshine and intense rainstorms.
“I have found the faithful Filipino Saints resilient, cheerful, exemplary. If I could spend eternity with people like the faithful Saints in the Davao temple district, I would count myself eternally blessed,” Elder Renlund said.
More than these numbers are the blessings that will come to the individual lives of Latter-day Saints through the covenants they make inside the house of the Lord, Elder Renlund said.
With a temple in Davao, he said the Latter-day Saints can attend and worship more often, but not to cloister themselves from the world. “What we do in the temple gives us strength outside the temple.”
Elder Renlund was accompanied in Davao by his wife, Sister Ruth Renlund. Joining them for the dedication weekend were Elder Erich W. Kopischke, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director in the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Christiane Kopischke; and Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., General Authority Seventy and president of the Philippines Area, and his wife, Sister Marites F. Revillo.
This is a return to the Philippines for Elder and Sister Renlund, who have been there several times in the past on ministry assignments and love the country and people. Church President Dallin H. Oaks also has a great love for the Philippines, having served as its area president when he was an Apostle and returning for the Urdanetta Philippines Temple dedication almost exactly two years ago, on April 28, 2024.
“In these times when we have been at these temple dedications, it is one of the choicest blessings. And so to have this assignment to be here, in a place that President Oaks loves, and a place that we love, is extra special,” Elder Renlund said.
April 28 is the anniversary of the church in the country. Sixty-five years ago, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and who later was church president, offered a prayer on the land, and official missionary efforts began. Faithful pioneers stayed true to the gospel and following generations grew up in the church as others entered the waters of baptism.
Sister Renlund said the last time she and Elder Renlund were in the country, they talked with the members about all of the temple announcements.
“These people have been preparing for years to be worthy and ready to enter the temple. So to see that day here for Davao is just a thrill,” she said.
A blessing that comes from frequent worship in the temple is gaining an eternal perspective and having a greater disposition to do God’s will, said Elder Renlund.
“We know what is going to happen if we choose to follow the Savior. That should give us the greatest optimism in the world,” he said. “That is what these Filipino Saints do — they get the big picture.”
The Davao Philippines Temple is located in Ma-a Road and Anahaw Road, Brgy Ma-a, Davao City, and features design elements inspired by the embroidered piña fabric of the Philippines. An elementary school is next door, various businesses are across the street, and homes climb up the mountain behind.
Donna Pareja, a member of the temple open house committee, said how grateful she was to have a temple nearby.
“I am overjoyed to finally have a temple here in Davao City,” she said. “In the past, we traveled to Cebu or Manila to attend the temple. Now it is only a few minutes away.”
The Cebu City Philippines Temple is about 250 miles northwest and across the Bohol Sea, while the Manila Philippines Temple is even farther north and requires a plane ride of around 2 hours.
Davao Philippines Temple facts
Address: Ma-a Road and Anahaw Road, Barangay Ma-a, Davao City 8000, Philippines
Announced: Oct. 7, 2018, by President Russell M. Nelson
Groundbreaking: Nov. 14, 2020, presided over by Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, a General Authority Seventy
Public open house: March 26 through April 10, 2026, excluding Sundays
Dedicated: May 3, 2026, by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Property size: 2.7 acres
Building size: 1,714 square meters (18,450 square feet)
Building height: 37.3 meters (122 feet)