Construction of two Latter-day Saint temples — one in the United States and the other in Canada — began Saturday, Aug. 22, with groundbreaking ceremonies.
The two future temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began construction in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Victoria, British Columbia. They are the second announced temples for their respective states and provinces.
Elder Pedro X. Larreal of the church’s United States Southwest Area presidency presided over the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony.
“I know this temple is going to help this community,” Elder Larreal said during the ceremony. “It’s going to bless this state, helping people to feel the Holy Ghost in their life.”
Elder Larreal dedicated the temple site, praying for the future Tulsa temple to “serve as a light for everyone” in the city.
“Please bless us so that thy Spirit may be with us and with everyone involved in this project,” he prayed.
Plans to build the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple were first announced in 2023. The Tulsa temple is planned to be a single-story structure of approximately 29,600 square feet.
The temple will be located on a 25.7-acre site in Oklahoma’s second-largest city and will help serve the state’s nearly 54,000 Latter-day Saints.
Elder James E. Evanson of the church’s Canada Area presidency presided at the Victoria British Columbia Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony and blessed the temple site to point individuals to Jesus Christ.
“May this sacred land and temple be a reminder that Jesus Christ has the power to raise us unto eternal life through his grace,” Elder Evanson said in prayer as he dedicated the temple site.
During the ceremony, Elder Evanson also spoke of the purpose and blessings of temples.
“This building will bring a spirit of peace, devotion, compassion and joy to the community,” he said. “It will become a beacon of peace and a place where we can know that there is a God in heaven who loves us, and that we are all his children.”
The Victoria British Columbia Temple was first announced in 2024 and will be a single-story structure of approximately 11,400 square feet. An onsite patron waiting area will also be on the temple’s 4.7-acre site.
Located in Langford, British Columbia, Canada, the Victoria temple will join others in serving Canada’s more than 211,000 Latter-day Saints.
Learn more about the Tulsa Oklahoma Temple, Victoria British Columbia Temple and other temples worldwide on the Church News’ temple almanac.
