How Many Mormon Temples Are There?

Understanding Mormon Temples: Numbers, Purpose, and Growth – A Guide for Christian Readers

Friends, all across this beautiful world, you’ll see these truly special and eye-catching buildings – the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). They really stand out! And you know, if you’re not of this particular faith, especially our dear Christian friends, you might look at these amazing temples and feel a sense of wonder and curiosity. This article is here to share some wonderful facts about these Mormon temples. We’ll talk about how many there are, the special purpose they hold in the LDS faith, how quickly they’re appearing all over, and how they’re different from other places of worship, like Christian churches or even the regular LDS meetinghouses. Getting to know these things can give you a clearer picture of something very important to LDS beliefs and how they live their faith. And right from the start, it’s good to know that these temples are incredibly sacred, extra special places for Latter-day Saints, set apart from their everyday chapels where they have their weekly worship services.

How Many Mormon Temples Are There, and Where Are They Located?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on an amazing journey, building many temples all over the world! These beautiful buildings are so important to their faith, and the growing number of them shows just how much.

• Global Temple Statistics: 

      <p> Think about this: as of May 2025, there are a grand total of 382 Mormon temples around the globe, in every stage from being announced to being open and blessing lives! 1 Let’s look at that a little closer:</p></li>
  <li><strong>Dedicated Temples:</strong> 205 of these wonderful places are dedicated. Out of those, 197 are currently open and serving, while 8 are being lovingly renovated.</li>
  <li><strong>Temples with Dedication Dates Announced:</strong> 6 more are getting ready for their special dedication day!</li>
  <li><strong>Temples Under Construction:</strong> A hopeful 50 to 56 are being built right now (the numbers change a bit because things are always moving forward; S6 says 56, S7 says 50, plus 3 more about to start construction).</li>
  <li><strong>Announced Temples (In Planning &amp; Design):</strong> And there’s a vision for 118 to 121 more (S6 mentions 121, S7 mentions 118). At the end of 2024, the Church shared that 194 temples were operating, 59 were being built, and 114 more were announced. It just shows that these numbers are always joyfully growing!</li>

Table 1: Global Summary of Mormon Temples (as of May 2025)(Data sourced from S6, S7)

• Geographical Spread: These temples aren’t just in one place; they’re shining their light on six continents! As we look at early 2025:
• You’ll find temples, or plans for them, in 80 countries.¹
• Here in the United States, 43 states are blessed with temples or will be soon.¹
• Distribution by Continent (All Stages): 1

      <ul>
          <li>North America: A wonderful 211 temples (including 156 in the United States, 27 in Mexico, and 11 in Canada)</li>
          <li>South America: 61 temples (with Brazil blessed with 24 and Peru with 10)</li>
          <li>Europe: 26 temples</li>
          <li>Asia: 32 temples (the Philippines is home to 14)</li>
          <li>Africa: 29 temples (Nigeria has 7)</li>
          <li>Oceania (Pacific): 23 temples (Australia has 7)</li>
      </ul></li>

Isn’t it amazing to see so many of these sacred places, and how quickly they’re spreading across the globe? It truly shows how deeply important they are to the LDS faith today. For many of our Christian the number of such unique, specialized sacred places might be smaller. The way the LDS Church is building temples suggests they want everyone, everywhere, to have access to what they believe are essential blessings, not needing to travel to just one main place for important ceremonies.

And when you see how many are dedicated, being built, or announced – it shows such a vibrant, ongoing expansion. With over 170 temples either announced or being built, the Church is set to bless even more lives with more operating temples in the years to come. This wonderful commitment shows a big vision for the future and a lot of resources being dedicated to temple building. It reflects a belief in continued growth or a lasting need for these special places among their worldwide family of over 17.⁵ million people.

What Do Mormons Believe is the Main Purpose of Their Temples?

For the wonderful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day temples are so much more than just beautiful buildings; they believe these are the most sacred places to worship God on this earth. Every temple is seen as, literally, “the house of the Lord.” You’ll often see inspiring words like “Holiness to the Lord” and “The House of the Lord” near the entrances of these buildings.

• A Place to Draw Closer to God: 

      <p> Temples are special places, set apart from our busy world, where members go to feel a deeper connection with God. They see them as peaceful sanctuaries for learning, inspiration, and receiving personal guidance from God, especially for life’s big decisions. Church teachings tell us, &quot;Everything in the temple leads us to God, who is our Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world.&quot; 4</p></li>
  <li>Sacred Ordinances of Eternal Significance: 
  
      <p> The biggest purpose of temples is to be a dedicated place for sacred ceremonies they call ordinances. These ordinances are performed with what they believe is priesthood authority and are seen as absolutely essential for people to achieve &quot;exaltation in the celestial kingdom&quot;—which they believe is the highest state of glory in the afterlife, living in God&#39;s presence.² </p>
  
      <p> Some key temple ordinances are:</p></li>
  <li><strong>Baptisms for the dead:</strong> These are done by a living person on behalf of ancestors who passed away without the chance for an LDS baptism.</li>
  <li><strong>The Endowment:</strong> This is a series of special instructions and promises related to God&#39;s beautiful plan of salvation.</li>
  <li><strong>Sealings:</strong> These are marriages that unite husbands and wives forever, and ceremonies that link children to their parents as eternal families.² Through these ordinances, members make important promises, or covenants, with God.²</li>
  <li>Focus on Jesus Christ and Eternal Families: 
  
      <p> Temple ordinances are designed to &quot;guide us to our Savior and give us the blessings that come to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.&quot; 2 Inside these sacred walls, members learn more about Jesus’s teachings and how to follow His wonderful example. A very important part of temple work is the idea of eternal families. The sealing ordinances show their belief that family bonds can last beyond this life and continue forever, if they are faithful to the promises made.² This is beautifully summed up in their teaching, &quot;Exaltation is a family affair.&quot; 3</p></li>

As the current Church President, Russell M. Nelson, has shared, “Each temple is a beacon of light and hope… A symbol of our faith in life after death and as a stepping stone to eternal life for us and our families.” 4

This focus on temples as vital places for ordinances they believe are necessary for ultimate salvation and keeping families together forever is a different viewpoint compared to many Christian traditions. In many Christian faiths, salvation is understood mainly through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. While church buildings are sacred places for worship and sacraments like baptism and communion, specific saving rituals aren’t usually tied only to unique buildings with restricted access in the same way. The LDS belief in “eternal families” through temple sealings is a very distinct idea, deeply shaping family life and leading to a lot of family history research to find ancestors for whom they can perform these temple ordinances.

How Do Mormon Temples Differ From Their Regular Church Buildings (Meetinghouses)?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two main kinds of buildings for their worship and religious activities: meetinghouses (which many call chapels) and temples. Both are important they have very different jobs and different rules about who can go inside.

• Meetinghouses: Centers for Regular Worship and Community: 

      <p> Latter-day Saint meetinghouses are where most of the weekly worship and church community activities happen. These buildings work a lot like typical Christian church buildings.</p></li>
  <li><strong>Activities:</strong> This is where they have Sunday worship services, including the sacrament (which is similar to communion), Sunday School classes for all ages, youth group meetings, service projects, and other community get-togethers.⁵</li>
  <li><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Everyone is invited to come to Sunday services and most other activities at the meetinghouses. You’ll often see a sign on these buildings that says, &quot;Visitors Welcome.&quot; 7</li>
  <li>Temples: Sacred Spaces for Special Ordinances: 
  
      <p> Temples, on the other hand, have a more specific and very sacred purpose. They are not where regular Sunday worship happens.</p></li>
  <li><strong>Purpose:</strong> Temples are &quot;specially set apart for sacred service and ceremonies,&quot; known as ordinances.⁵ Members believe they are &quot;the most sacred place of worship on earth&quot; and truly &quot;the house of the Lord.&quot; 4</li>
  <li><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Once a temple is dedicated, going inside is limited. Only members of the Church who have a current &quot;temple recommend&quot; (a card showing they are living by certain standards) can enter and take part in the ordinances.⁴</li>

This difference creates a clear two-level system of sacred places in the LDS Church. Meetinghouses are for the community worship and learning that would feel familiar to most Christian friends. Temples, though, are set aside for rituals they see as more sacred and vital for eternal life, and only members who meet certain standards of faith and lifestyle can go in. This separation means that while regular weekly worship is important, it’s different from the “higher” ordinances done only in temples, which they believe have eternal impact. The words used for temples—”most sacred,” “house of the Lord”—are different from how they talk about meetinghouses, showing an extra level of holiness tied to unique ceremonies you can’t find anywhere else.

Who Can Enter a Mormon Temple, and What is a “Temple Recommend”?

Getting into a dedicated Mormon temple is something that’s carefully managed, and this really shows how sacred these places are in the LDS faith.

• Restricted Entry After Dedication: 

      <p> After a temple is officially dedicated, entry is &quot;reserved for members of the Church who have committed to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and are ready to participate in further sacred ordinances.&quot; 4 This means that people just visiting, or even Church members who don’t meet certain standards, can’t go in for the regular temple activities.</p></li>
  <li>The Temple Recommend: 
  
      <p> To go into a dedicated temple, a Church member needs to have a &quot;temple recommend.&quot; 4 This is a little card given by their local church leaders that says the member is worthy and ready to take part in temple ordinances.</p></li>
  <li><strong>Issuance Process:</strong> To get a temple recommend, a member has two private interviews: one with a leader from their local congregation (like a bishop or branch president) and another with a regional leader (like a stake president or mission president).²</li>
  <li><strong>Interview Questions:</strong> The questions asked in these interviews are the same for everyone and are publicly known, so members understand what’s expected.⁸ They talk about things like:
  
      <ul>
          <li>Their belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.⁸</li>
          <li>Their belief that the gospel was restored through Joseph Smith.⁸</li>
          <li>Supporting current Church leaders, including believing the President of the Church is a prophet.⁸</li>
          <li>Living a morally clean life in thoughts and actions, and following the law of chastity (which means no sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman).⁸</li>
          <li>Following Church teachings in their private and public life.⁸</li>
          <li>Trying to keep the Sabbath day holy, like going to meetings and taking the sacrament.⁸</li>
          <li>Being honest in everything they do.⁸</li>
          <li>Paying a full tithe (10% of their income).⁸</li>
          <li>Living the Word of Wisdom (a health guideline that advises against alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea).⁸</li>
          <li>For those who have already made temple promises, keeping those promises, including wearing a special temple undergarment as instructed.⁸</li>
          <li>Having resolved any serious sins with their church leaders.⁸</li>
      </ul></li>
  <li>Standard of Worthiness: 
  
      <p> The recommend system is there to make sure that people going into the temple are &quot;worthy.&quot; In this sense, &quot;worthy&quot; means they are trying their best to keep God&#39;s commandments and are ready to make and keep the sacred promises that are part of temple worship.² As Church leaders have said, &quot;Individual worthiness requires a total conversion of mind and heart to be more like the Lord, to be an honest citizen, to be a better example and to be a holier person.”⁸</p></li>
  <li>Youth Access: 
  
      <p> Worthy young men and young women, starting at age 12, can get a special limited-use temple recommend. This lets them go into the temple just to do baptisms for those who have passed away.¹⁰</p></li>

The temple recommend system really shows the LDS belief that being part of temple ceremonies requires a big personal commitment and living by specific standards of behavior and belief. This practice makes a clear difference between those who meet these standards and those who don’t, including members who aren’t as active or individuals not currently following all Church teachings. For our Christian whose local churches usually have open doors for everyone at worship services, the idea of a “worthiness interview” to enter a sacred building for certain rituals is a noticeable difference. It highlights the LDS conviction that temple work is for those who are actively living the Church’s teachings. The fact that the recommend questions are public serves as both a clear guide for members and a transparent statement of what the Church expects for its most sacred practices.⁸

What Kinds of Ceremonies or “Ordinances” Happen Inside Mormon Temples?

Inside the sacred walls of Mormon temples, members take part in several special ceremonies called ordinances. An ordinance, in the LDS faith, is a sacred, formal act or ceremony done by someone with what they believe is priesthood authority.¹¹ Some of these ordinances are seen as absolutely necessary for salvation and reaching the highest blessings, and all of them involve making serious promises (covenants) with God.²

Key Temple Ordinances:

• Baptism for the Dead: This is one of the most widely known temple ordinances. Living Church members are baptized by being fully immersed in water, acting as a substitute for people who have died without the chance to be baptized by what Latter-day Saints believe is the correct priesthood authority.³ The belief behind this is that baptism is a vital step to enter God’s kingdom. The Church teaches that people who have passed away still have their freedom to choose and can decide to accept or reject the baptism done for them in the spirit world.² Temple baptismal fonts have a unique design, often resting on the backs of twelve sculpted oxen, which represent the twelve tribes of Israel.¹⁰
• The Endowment: The temple endowment is described as a “gift” of knowledge, power, and blessings from God.² It includes a series of instructions about God’s plan for us, the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and our journey back to God’s presence. Those participating make promises to obey God’s commandments, live righteously, and dedicate themselves to His service.² President Brigham Young said the endowment means receiving all the ordinances in the Lord’s House that are needed to help someone return to the Father’s presence.³ Members usually receive their own endowment when they are getting ready to serve a full-time mission or before getting married in the temple. Some people outside the church have pointed out similarities between parts of the endowment ceremony and Masonic rituals, though the LDS Church doesn’t explain it this way.¹⁴
• Sealing (Marriage and Family): Temple sealings are ordinances that bind families together forever. A man and a woman can be married (sealed) in the temple not just “until death do you part,” but for “time and all eternity.” 13 This eternal marriage is considered essential for the highest blessings. Children born to parents who have been sealed in the temple are thought to be “born in the covenant” and are automatically part of that eternal family. Children not born into such a family can be sealed to their parents in the temple later on.² These sealing ceremonies are also done for deceased ancestors, linking generations together. The sealing power is seen as the “culminating experience of the temple.” 3
• Performance and Atmosphere: 

      <p> All temple ordinances are performed by individuals who hold the necessary priesthood authority, and those taking part must also be considered worthy (usually by having a current temple recommend).¹⁵ There’s a strong focus on reverence, symbolism, and the sacredness of everything that happens. People participating in temple ordinances change from their regular clothes into special white clothing, which symbolizes purity, equality, and being set apart from the world.⁴</p></li>

The ordinances done in LDS temples, especially baptisms for the dead and eternal family sealings, show a unique understanding about salvation, what happens after this life, and the eternal nature of family ties. These ideas often differ quite a bit from what mainstream Christians believe. For example, while Christians highly value baptism and marriage, the LDS practices of doing these ordinances for people who have died and the specific ritual of creating eternal family units through temple sealings are very distinct. This points to a different view of what’s possible after death and the scope of what they call “saving work.” The endowment, as a “gift of knowledge” and a series of promises considered necessary for the highest blessings, suggests a path of spiritual growth and commitment formalized through temple ritual. This is different from Christian ideas where grace and becoming more holy are usually understood to come mainly through faith, scripture, and sacraments available in regular church services. Also, the constant emphasis that these ordinances must be done by “the authority of the priesthood” and only in temples highlights the LDS Church’s view of itself as the only one with divine authority to perform these rites they see as essential.¹²

Why Are Mormons Building So Many Temples, and How Fast is This Happening?

The speed of Mormon temple construction has really picked up in the last few decades! It shows a big commitment by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to give more people access to these sacred buildings all over the world.

Historical Growth in Temple Numbers:

In the Church’s early days, there weren’t many temples, and building them often took a very long time and a lot of hard work. For instance, the famous Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to finish, from 1853 to 1893.¹⁶ For many, many years, only a few temples existed.

A big change happened when Gordon B. Hinckley was President (1995-2008). Under his leadership, the Church started building temples like never before. President Hinckley dedicated 77 temples, and the total number of operating temples more than doubled, going from 47 to 124, while he was president! 16 They even set a special goal to have 100 dedicated temples by the end of the year 2000, and they reached it, partly by building 38 temples with a standard design between 1998 and 2001.¹⁷

This fast pace of announcing new temples has kept going with the current Church President, Russell M. Nelson. By October 2018, the total number of temples – whether operating, being built, or announced – went over 200. This number went past 300 by October 2022, and by the April 2025 General Conference, the total reached an amazing 382! 17

Table 3: Dedicated Mormon Temples – Growth by Decade

17

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left;">

        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left;">
            1950-1959
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left;">
            4
        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left;">

        </td>
        <td style="text-align: left;">

        </td>
    </tr>
</tbody>

(Note: These counts are close estimates based on available lists and might change slightly depending on the exact dates used for each “decade.” The number for the 2020s is up to when the source information was gathered.)

• Reasons for Accelerated Temple Building:
  Several wonderful reasons are behind this rapid expansion:
• Accessibility for Members: A main reason is the desire to make temple ordinances easier for a growing number of members spread all over the world to get to. This is all about bringing temples “to the people,” so they don’t have to travel long distances or spend a lot of money. 18
• Standardized Designs: In 1997, President Hinckley shared plans for smaller temples with a standard design. 16 These designs made building faster and saved money, helping the Church build temples in places with fewer Latter-day Saints. The Monticello Utah Temple was the very first of these new kinds of temples. 18 For a while, many of these temples were a consistent 10,700 square feet. 19
• Theological Imperative: The Church teaches that temple ordinances are vital for the salvation and highest blessings of its members, both those living now and those who have passed on. 2 Building more temples helps them fulfill this core mission.
• Recent Activity:
  The pace is still going strong! For example, sixteen temples were dedicated in the year 2024 alone. 20 And at the Church’s General Conference in April 2025, another 15 new temples were announced! 17

This amazing speed-up in temple building, especially with the smaller, more efficient designs, shows a clear decision to make temple ordinances widely available to members. This helps make these special rituals a regular and reachable part of life for their worldwide family. This isn’t just about putting up more buildings; it’s about making the unique ceremonies performed inside them a normal and accessible part of life for a global membership.

It’s interesting that the current leaders keep announcing temples at such a high rate, even while the overall growth in Church membership has become a bit more moderate compared to earlier times. This might mean that temple building is doing more than just meeting current needs. It could be energizing current members and deepening their commitment, making the Church more visible in different places around the world, and fulfilling what leaders say is a divine instruction to build these sacred places. For our Christian friends, this quick expansion of very specialized sacred buildings, maybe even faster than membership growth in some areas, might make one think about how resources are used and what the main strategies are within the LDS Church. The ability to announce and build temples on such a large scale also shows they have significant financial and organizational capabilities.

Can People Who Aren’t Mormon Ever Go Inside a Temple? (Understanding Temple Open Houses)

A question many people have about Mormon temples is whether folks who aren’t members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can ever step inside and see them. Well, the answer depends on the temple’s current status!

• Access After Dedication: 

      <p> As we’ve talked about, once a temple is officially dedicated for its sacred work, going inside is limited. Only members of the Church who have a current temple recommend – which shows they are living by Church standards and are ready for temple worship – are allowed to enter.⁴</p></li>
  <li>Temple Open Houses: An Invitation to the Public: 
  
      <p> But, there’s a special time when everyone from the general public, no matter their faith or age, is warmly invited to take a tour of a temple! This happens before a new temple is dedicated, or after an existing temple has had major renovations and is about to be rededicated.⁴</p></li>
  <li>During these <strong>free public open houses</strong>, anyone is welcome to walk through the temple.⁴</li>
  <li>Usually, there are guides to walk with visitors, explain what the different rooms are for, and answer questions about why temples are so important to Latter-day Saints.¹⁰</li>
  <li>This wonderful practice lets the community see the beautiful craftsmanship and understand the sacred purpose of the building before it becomes a dedicated place for ordinances. For example President Russell M. Nelson gave a worldwide invitation for the open house of the historic Salt Lake Temple, which is planned for 2027 after its big renovation.²¹</li>
  <li>major Public Interest: 
  
      <p> Temple open houses often bring in a lot of visitors, which shows that many people are very curious about them!</p></li>
  <li>The Provo City Center Temple open house in 2016 had over 800,000 visitors during its seven-week run! 22</li>
  <li>The Bountiful Utah Temple open house in 1994 welcomed 870,000 visitors.²²</li>
  <li>Even smaller temples or those being rededicated can see a lot of people; the Suva Fiji Temple rededication open house in 2016 had over 22,000 visitors in just one week.²²</li>
  <li>All together, in 2015, about 810,000 people toured seven LDS temples during open houses around the world.²²</li>
  <li>The upcoming Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 is expected to be a huge event, with hopes for 3 to 5 million visits over its six-month period! This kind of attendance is thought to bring about 22,000 extra daily visitors to downtown Salt Lake City and create around $320 million for local businesses.²¹</li>

Temple open houses are a really important way for the LDS Church to connect with the public and share information. They give a chance to take some of the mystery away from these often grand buildings and to share their beliefs about their sacred purpose with everyone, including Christians and people of other faiths. Since access is restricted after dedication, these open houses are the main way non-members can see what a temple looks like inside.¹⁰ This practice itself shows how the Church tries to balance things: keeping temple worship sacred and restricted, while also helping the public understand and feel good about them. The huge number of visitors, especially for historically important temples like the one in Salt Lake City, shows that people are interested not just for religious reasons also because of history, architecture, and local culture.

What Are Some Interesting Facts About Temple Design and Construction?

Mormon temples are well-known for their unique architecture, careful construction, and features full of meaning. Here are some amazing facts:

• Size and Scale: 

      <p> Temples come in many different sizes! The historic Salt Lake Temple, which is being renovated right is one of the biggest, with a huge floor area of 382,207 square feet.¹⁶ On the other hand, the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple is one of the smallest, at just 6,800 square feet.¹⁹ The average size for all LDS temples is about 38,135 square feet, and the median (or middle) size is 26,969 square feet.¹⁹ It&#39;s interesting that between 1999 and 2002, the Church built a series of 32 smaller, standardized temples, and many of them were exactly 10,700 square feet.²³</p></li>
  <li>The Angel Moroni Statue: 
  
      <p> A statue of the angel Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, often covered in gold leaf, is a familiar sight on top of many temples, usually holding a trumpet.²³ But not every temple has this statue. One source that keeps track of these things says that 168 temples (in all stages of development) have an Angel Moroni, while 129 do not.²³</p></li>
  <li>The famous Salt Lake Temple was the first one to have a <em>standing</em> Angel Moroni statue, created by sculptor Cyrus Edwin Dallin.¹⁸</li>
  <li>The earlier Nauvoo Temple from the 1840s had a horizontal, flying angel figure (not specifically called Moroni back then) that also worked as a weathervane.¹⁸</li>
  <li>Although they often face east, the Angel Moroni statues on several temples face different directions because of how the land is situated or where the spire is placed.¹⁸</li>
  <li>White Clothing Inside Temples: 
  
      <p> A practice you’ll find in all dedicated temples is that people change from their everyday street clothes into all-white clothing before they take part in temple ceremonies.⁴ This white clothing represents purity, reverence, and being equal before God.²⁵ When everyone is dressed alike in white, you can’t tell who has a high position or social standing; &quot;The most senior apostle and the newest member are indistinguishable when dressed in the same way.&quot; 25</p></li>
  <li>Construction Materials and Timelines: 
  
      <p> Temples are built with top-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship, designed to last for many, many years.²⁶ The Salt Lake Temple, for example, has walls made of quartz monzonite (which looks like granite) that came from Little Cottonwood Canyon nearby; these walls are nine feet thick at the bottom! 24 </p>
  
      <p> Building modern temples usually takes about 24 to 48 months28 though it can take longer, especially for temples built outside the United States.²⁸ Way back, some temples took much longer; the Salt Lake Temple took 45 years from when it was announced until it was dedicated, and the Los Angeles California Temple took 19 years! 29</p></li>
  <li>Architectural Styles and &quot;Firsts&quot;: 
  
      <p> Temple designs have changed over time, from the early, unique &quot;castle-like&quot; buildings in Utah to smaller, often standard designs, and more recently to a wider variety of styles.³⁰</p></li>
  <li>The Cardston Alberta Temple (dedicated in 1923) was the very first temple built outside of the United States.¹⁸</li>
  <li>Other &quot;firsts&quot; include the Bern Switzerland Temple (first in Europe, 1955), São Paulo Brazil Temple (first in South America, 1978), Tokyo Japan Temple (first in Asia, 1980), and Johannesburg South Africa Temple (first in Africa, 1985).¹⁸</li>
  <li>The Vernal Utah Temple (dedicated in 1997) was the first one made by renovating an existing Church building (an older tabernacle).¹⁸</li>
  <li>The Helena Montana Temple (dedicated in 2023) was the first temple built using modular construction methods – how innovative! 18</li>
  <li>The Syracuse Utah Temple (dedication planned for 2025) is special because it’s the first to be built with two baptistries.¹⁸</li>
  <li>Cost of Construction: 
  
      <p> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hasn&#39;t officially shared the costs of building individual temples since 1981.²⁶ But people estimate that temples can cost anywhere from $7 million to $70 million, depending on their size, where they are, and how complex the design is.²⁶ An analysis in mid-2024 looking at the temples waiting to be built estimated an average cost of about $34.⁶ million for temples currently being worked on and $25.² million for those still in the planning stages.³¹ Temples are mostly paid for by tithing (donations of 10% of income) from Church members, and the Church says it doesn’t go into debt to build temples.²⁶</p></li>

The way temple design has changed, from huge, one-of-a-kind projects to a more flexible approach—including standard models and modular building—shows a smart strategy to quickly give more people around the world access to ordinances, while still keeping high standards of quality and meaning. The consistent use of symbolic things like the Angel Moroni and white clothing helps reinforce core LDS beliefs about the gospel being restored, purity, and equality. The large amount of money involved, coming from member donations, really shows how high a priority the Church and its members place on these sacred buildings and the ceremonies performed inside them.

How Does the LDS Church View the Historical Significance of Temples, from Biblical Times to Today?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sees its modern efforts to build temples as carrying on and restoring a divine practice that goes all the way back to biblical times!

• Continuity with Ancient Temples: 

      <p> LDS teachings highlight that God has asked His people to build temples at different times in history.⁴ They point to examples in the Old Testament, like the Tabernacle built by Moses and the temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem, as early examples of dedicated sacred places. Modern temples are seen as having similar purposes to these ancient ones: being places to connect with God, learn, find spiritual peace, and perform sacred ceremonies.⁴ The Church teaches that it is bringing back the practice of temple worship as it was in ancient times.</p></li>
  <li>The Concept of Restoration: 
  
      <p> A core belief of the LDS faith is in a &quot;Restoration&quot; of the original Christian church. This includes believing that the priesthood authority, doctrines, and ordinances—including those connected with temple worship—that Jesus Christ and His apostles set up were gradually lost from the earth after their time (an event they often call the Great Apostasy). Latter-day Saints believe that this authority and these practices have been brought back in our modern times through Joseph Smith, the Church&#39;s founding prophet. So, temples are seen as a very important part of this restored gospel.</p></li>
  <li>LDS Perspective on Differences from Biblical Temples: 
  
      <p> Although they see connections to ancient temples, the LDS Church knows that its modern temples and the ceremonies performed in them have unique features. These include specific ceremonies like the endowment, the practice of sealing families together forever, and especially performing baptisms and other ordinances for those who have passed away.³² These aren&#39;t described in the Bible as practices of the ancient Israelite temples in exactly the same way. Also, the LDS Church builds many temples all over the world, which is different from the single, central temple in ancient Jerusalem.³³ The reason for this is to make temple blessings available &quot;to the people&quot; wherever they live.¹⁸</p></li>
  <li>Acknowledging Christian Counterpoints: 
  
      <p> For our Christian friends reading this, it’s good to know that mainstream Christian theology often sees the meaning of the biblical temple differently. Many Christian theologians teach that the need for a physical temple and its specific rituals, like animal sacrifices, was completed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The New Testament itself describes believers, both as individuals and together as the as being the &quot;temple of God&quot; or &quot;temple of the Holy Spirit&quot; (you can see this in places like 1 Corinthians 3:16). From these viewpoints, the LDS focus on building physical temples for specific saving ordinances, including work for the dead or eternal sealings as Latter-day Saints practice them, is often seen as not having a direct biblical basis for the Christian era. For example, one source that looks at this critically notes, &quot;Mormonism&#39;s multiplication of temples has no biblical precedent,&quot; and &quot;There was no work for the dead...in the biblical temple.&quot; 33</p></li>

The LDS Church’s belief that it is restoring ancient temple worship is a key part of its identity and its claim to divine guidance. This view frames modern temples not as something new as a return to God-given patterns, giving members a feeling of connection with sacred history. For Christian readers, this claim is usually looked at alongside their own understanding of how to interpret the Bible, especially regarding the role of the Jerusalem Temple and how it was ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The main point where views often differ is the LDS belief in newly restored ordinances and priesthood keys, which they see as essential for the highest blessings, versus the common Christian belief that Christ’s sacrifice was the complete and final act for salvation, and that the community of believers (the Church) now makes up God’s spiritual temple on earth.³²

How Does Temple Growth Relate to the Overall Growth of the LDS Church?

The connection between the increasing number of Mormon temples and the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an interesting topic, showing both past trends and current approaches.

LDS Church Membership and Growth Statistics:

• By the end of 2024, the LDS Church reported a worldwide family of 17,509,781 members.²⁰
• In 2024, the Church welcomed 308,682 new converts through baptism.²⁰
• In its history, the Church had times of very fast percentage growth, especially in its early years (10-25% each year in the mid-1800s) and again in the mid-20th century (around 6% annually near 1960).³⁴
• Since 1990, the average annual growth rate has generally become more moderate. For the decade ending in 2015, it was about 2.2%.³⁴ In the 21st century, the growth rate hasn’t gone above 3% per year and has generally slowed down since 2012.³⁴
• More recent annual growth rates reported were 1.21% in 2018, 1.54% in 2019, 0.60% in 2020 (which was likely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic), 0.85% in 2021, 1.17% in 2022, and 1.49% in 2023.³⁴
• Juxtaposing Temple and Membership Growth: 

      <p> As we talked about earlier (Q6), the announcement and building of temples have really sped up in recent decades, especially under the leadership of Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley and Russell M. Nelson.¹⁶ With 382 temples in different stages (operating, being built, or announced) for a membership of about 17.⁵ million, that’s like having one temple for every 45,837 members around the world. </p>
  
      <p> The rate of announcing new temples, particularly in the last few years, seems quite high when you compare it to the overall percentage growth rate of Church membership. For example, the 114 temples listed as &quot;announced&quot; at the end of 2024 show a big future expansion compared to the 194 that were operating then.²⁰</p></li>
  <li>Interpreting the Relationship: 
  
      <p> We can look at the connection between temple expansion and membership growth in a few ways:</p></li>
  <li><strong>Serving a Growing Flock:</strong> Historically, a big reason for building more temples was to serve an increasing number of Latter-day Saints spread across more countries, making it easier for them to get to temple ordinances.</li>
  <li><strong>Fostering Commitment:</strong> Going to the temple is a very important part of being an active member in the LDS Church. Building more temples, and making them easier to get to, can be seen as a way to encourage deeper spiritual commitment and involvement among current members.</li>
  <li><strong>Strategic Presence:</strong> Temples are often very noticeable buildings. Placing them in new areas can strengthen the Church&#39;s presence, be a central point for local members, and maybe even be seen as paving the way for or helping future growth in those areas.</li>
  <li><strong>Fulfilling a Prophetic Direction:</strong> Church leaders often say that temple building is a responsibility given by God and a sign of the Church&#39;s ongoing mission.</li>

While building temples has historically gone along with membership expansion, the recent increase in temple announcements alongside more moderate overall membership growth rates might suggest a strategy with many parts. It’s possible that temples are meant not only to meet current needs but also to strengthen the commitment of existing members, make the Church more visible around the world, and fulfill what they see as a divine instruction.

Having more and more temples compared to the number of active, temple-going members in some areas could, over time, lead to thinking about how to run them efficiently and manage resources if membership growth in those specific places doesn’t keep up with the new temple facilities. Some people watching this have noted that the large number of announced temples might mean some will only be open for limited hours or by appointment, though this isn’t an official Church statement from the information we have.³¹

For our Christian the LDS Church’s strong and quickening focus on expanding its unique network of temples—even with changing membership growth—really shows how absolutely central these specific buildings and their exclusive ordinances are to how Latter-day Saints define faith, worship, and the path to eternal life. This is different from many Christian denominations where growth and outreach might be shown more through starting new congregations, sharing the gospel, or social programs, without a similar focus on building lots of restricted-access sacred sites for specific, exclusive rituals.

Conclusion: A Proliferation of Sacred Spaces

The presence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is increasingly marked by its beautiful temples. With an amazing 382 temples operating, being built, or announced worldwide as of early 2025 1, their impact is clear and growing ever faster. Just imagine, sixteen temples were dedicated in 2024 alone, and 15 more were announced in April 2025 – what a wonderful commitment to this expansion! 17

For Latter-day these buildings are so much more than just symbolic structures; they are seen as actual “Houses of the Lord,” specially set apart for performing sacred ordinances they believe are vital for salvation and for families to be together forever.⁴ These ordinances—like baptisms for those who have passed on, endowments, and eternal sealings—are believed to be ancient practices that have been restored, and are necessary for people to make promises with God and move towards the highest blessings.² Getting into these temples is carefully managed through a “temple recommend” system, making sure that those who participate are members in good standing who are living by the Church’s teachings and standards.⁴

While everyone is welcome to tour new or renovated temples during open houses before they are dedicated, the main activities of the temple are for worthy members.⁴ This difference from their more open meetinghouses, where regular Sunday worship happens, shows the unique and most important role of temples in LDS beliefs.⁵

For our Christian friends observing this, the growing number and specific purposes of Mormon temples show a distinct way of looking at sacred places, rituals, and what is needed for salvation. The strong focus on continuing to build temples, even as worldwide membership growth has become more moderate, highlights the deep theological importance the LDS Church places on these buildings and the work done inside them. Understanding these numbers, their purposes, and this amazing rate of growth gives us a clearer insight into a defining characteristic of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its vision for its members all over the world.

Bibliography:

1. Geographical List of Temples – Mormonism, The Mormon Church …, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.mormonwiki.com/Geographical_List_of_Temples
2. Temples – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/temples?lang=eng
3. Chapter 10: Covenants, Ordinances, and Temples in the Plan of …, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/introduction-to-family-history-student-manual/chapter-10?lang=eng
4. Inside Temples – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/inside-temples?lang=eng
5. Why Latter-day Saints Build Temples, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/why-latter-day-saints-build-temples?lang=eng
6. en.wikipedia.org, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meetinghouse_(LDS_Church)#:~:text=Latter%2Dday%20Saints%20use%20meetinghouses,specific%20rites%20by%20faithful%20members.
7. ISSUES OF FAITH: What’s the difference between a church and a temple?, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/life/issues-of-faith-whats-the-difference-between-a-church-and-a-temple/
8. Church Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions, accessed May 30, 2025, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend
9. 31. Interviews and Other Meetings with Members – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/31?lang=eng
10. Questions and Answers about the Temple – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2009/10/questions-and-answers-about-the-temple?lang=eng
11. Ordinances – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/ordinances?lang=eng
12. http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/ordinances?lang=eng#:~:text=In%20the%20Church%2C%20an%20ordinance,are%20essential%20to%20our%20exaltation.
13. Commonly Asked Questions – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2010/10/commonly-asked-questions?lang=eng
14. Mormon Temple Rituals – Christian Research Institute, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.equip.org/perspectives/mormon-temple-mormon-temple-rituals/
15. 18. Performing Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/18-priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings?lang=eng
16. Temple (LDS Church) – Wikipedia, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_(LDS_Church)
17. List of temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints …, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
18. Temple Interesting Facts | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org, accessed May 30, 2025, https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/library/facts/
19. Dimensions, number of rooms, and acreage of Temples provided by “Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” – B. H. Roberts Foundation, accessed May 30, 2025, https://bhroberts.org/records/Mn1dAc-H3DoNb/dimensions_number_of_rooms_and_acreage_of_temples_provided_by_temples_of_the_church_of_jesus_christ_of_latter_day_saints
20. 2024 Statistical Report of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 30, 2025, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2024-statistical-report
21. Salt Lake Temple’s 2027 open house could bring over 3 million more visitors downtown, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.ksl.com/article/51267260/salt-lake-temples-2027-open-house-could-bring-over-3-million-more-visitors-downtown
22. Provo City Center Temple open house drew more than 800K visitors | KSL.com, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.ksl.com/article/38832046/provo-city-center-temple-open-house-drew-more-than-800k-visitors
23. Temple Architectural Feature Statistics …, accessed May 30, 2025, https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/statistics/features/
24. Architecture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Wikipedia, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
25. The Temple Garment and is Sacred to Latter-day Saints – Church Newsroom, accessed May 30, 2025, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-garments
26. Cost of Temples – Mormonr, accessed May 30, 2025, https://mormonr.org/qnas/kZAWn/cost_of_temples
27. The Design, Construction, and Role of the Salt Lake Temple | Religious Studies Center, accessed May 30, 2025, https://rsc.byu.edu/salt-lake-city-place-which-god-prepared/design-construction-role-salt-lake-temple
28. The Process of Building a Temple – Church Newsroom, accessed May 30, 2025, https://news-ph.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-process-of-building-a-temple
29. 6 Mormon temples that took longer than 10 years to complete – The Daily Universe, accessed May 30, 2025, https://universe.byu.edu/2018/03/22/10-mormon-temples-more-than-10-years-1/
30. Temple architecture (LDS Church) – Wikipedia, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_architecture_(LDS_Church)
31. As of mid-2024, 52 temples in-process (~1.6M sqft & ~2.6B estimated cost to build). Continuing our analysis of LDS temples, we offer a new report tracking temple construction & announced backlog, – Reddit, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1dj0f3z/as_of_mid2024_52_temples_inprocess_16m_sqft_18b/
32. Mormon temples and the gospel – CARM.org, accessed May 30, 2025, https://carm.org/mormonism/mormon-temples-and-the-gospel/
33. 10 Reasons why the Multiple LDS Temples Have Nothing to do with the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem – Mormonism Research Ministry, accessed May 30, 2025, https://mrm.org/10-temple
34. Membership history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Wikipedia, accessed May 30, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membership_history_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
35. Chronological List of Temples – Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion – MormonWiki, accessed May 30, 2025, https://www.mormonwiki.com/Chronological_List_of_Temples