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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced several updates regarding new temple projects in the United States and Nigeria.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jacksonville Florida Temple is scheduled for January 24, 2026. Elder Massimo De Feo, First Counselor in the United States Southeast Area Presidency, will preside over the event, which will be by invitation only. President Russell M. Nelson had previously announced this temple in October 2023. At that time, he said, “The ordinances and covenants of the temple are of eternal significance. We continue to build more temples to make these sacred possibilities become a reality in each of your lives.”
Florida currently has nearly 180,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across about 280 congregations. The Jacksonville Florida Temple will be the fifth temple in the state. Existing temples are located in Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee; the Orlando Florida Temple is under renovation, and construction on the Tampa Florida Temple began earlier this year. The new Jacksonville temple will have approximately 29,000 square feet and will be built on a 6.6-acre site at 3323 Loretto Road in Jacksonville.
In Idaho, church officials have revealed both the location and an exterior rendering for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple. It will be constructed on a 10.91-acre site at Hanley Avenue and Coeur Terre Boulevard in Coeur d’Alene. Plans include a single-story building with about 29,630 square feet, as well as a meetinghouse and ancillary facilities. Idaho has more than 480,000 members in almost 1,300 congregations statewide. Ten other temples have been announced or are operational throughout Idaho’s cities such as Boise, Burley, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Montpelier, Pocatello, Rexburg, Teton River and Twin Falls.
President Nelson first announced plans for the Coeur d’Alene Idaho Temple during the October 2024 general conference: “Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple,” he stated then. “You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.”
Additionally, church leaders have released details for another project: The Calabar Nigeria Temple’s location has been selected at Atekong Drive in Calabar (Cross River State), with an exterior rendering made public as well. This temple was originally announced by President Nelson in October 2023 when he remarked on its spiritual purpose: “The Lord is directing us to build these temples to help us think celestial,” he said then.“God lives.Jesus is the Christ.His Church has been restored to bless all of God’s children.”
The Calabar Nigeria Temple is planned as a single-story structure with approximately 26,000 square feet on seven acres; it will also feature patron housing and arrival facilities alongside a meetinghouse.Nigeria counts over250,000 church members across840 congregations.The country already hosts one operating temple (Aba), two under construction (Lagos,Benin City),and three others announced (Eket ,Abuja ,Uyo).
Temples differ from regular meetinghouses or chapels used for Sunday worship; they are regarded by members as houses of God where teachings are reaffirmed,families united,and individuals can seek guidance or make covenants.
