As of October 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 368 temples in various stages of development, including 189 operating worldwide. It is striking to see how far the building scale has come from the Salt Lake Temple’s 210 foot height and 253,015 square feet to today’s modern temples that often cost $50 to $100 million. Along the way, the timeline shifts dramatically from Kirtland’s March 27, 1836 dedication to details like Provo taking 2 years to build and even the baptistry supported by 12 oxen statues.
Key Takeaways
- Salt Lake Temple construction cost $3.5 million in 1893 dollars.
- Average modern temple costs $50-100 million.
- Provo Utah Temple took 2 years to build (1969-1972).
- Salt Lake Temple dedicated April 6, 1893.
- Kirtland Temple dedicated March 27, 1836 (earliest).
- Nauvoo Temple rededicated June 30, 2002.
- There are currently 368 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various stages of development as of October 2024.
- The Salt Lake Temple is the largest fully functioning temple with 253,015 square feet.
- 189 temples are operating worldwide.
- Salt Lake Temple stands at 210 feet tall.
- Mexico City Mexico Temple covers 127,347 square feet.
- Bern Switzerland Temple is 59,254 square feet.
- Salt Lake Temple first baptisms for dead in 1877.
- Celestial Room in temples symbolizes heaven.
- Sealing rooms perform eternal marriages.
From early Kirtland roots to today’s 368 temples, costs and construction vary while sacred work continues.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Costs And Time30 stats
01
Salt Lake Temple construction cost $3.5 million in 1893 dollars.
02
Average modern temple costs $50-100 million.
03
Provo Utah Temple took 2 years to build (1969-1972).
04
Washington D.C. Temple cost $15 million in 1974.
05
Nauvoo Illinois Temple reconstruction took 3 years (2002-2007).
06
Salt Lake Temple renovation cost over $1 billion.
07
Rome Italy Temple construction spanned 6 years (2010-2019).
08
Mesa Arizona Temple built in 1.5 years (1919-1927).
09
Kinshasa DR Congo Temple cost $20 million.
10
Average construction time for new temples is 2-4 years.
11
Rome Italy Temple cost approximately $250 million.
12
Saratoga Springs Utah Temple took 2.5 years to build.
13
Star Valley Wyoming Temple construction 3 years.
14
Pocatello Idaho Temple under construction since 2020.
15
Layton Utah Temple cost $100 million.
16
Red Cliffs Utah Temple built in 2 years.
17
Farmington Utah Temple renovation cost undisclosed but major.
18
Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple 128,000 sq ft, 2009.
19
Taylorsville Utah Temple announced 2023.
20
Heber Valley Utah Temple dedicated 2023 after 4 years.
21
Meridian Idaho Temple cost $50 million.
22
Farmington New Mexico Temple 2 years construction.
23
Deseret Peak Utah Temple under construction since 2021.
24
Syracuse Utah Temple dedicated 2025 planned.
25
Olympia Washington Temple announced 2023.
26
Bentonville Arkansas Temple construction 2021-2024.
27
Colorado Springs Colorado Temple cost high due to location.
28
Eagle Mountain Utah Temple rapid build 2 years.
29
Smithfield Utah Temple groundbreaking 2024.
30
Providence Rhode Island Temple planned dedication 2025.
Interpretation
Construction Costs And Time Interpretation
Across LDS Temple history, construction timelines and costs have surged dramatically, with examples like the Salt Lake Temple’s original $3.5 million price in 1893 giving way to a Salt Lake Temple renovation exceeding $1 billion and modern temples costing $50 to $100 million, even as some projects still show short build windows like the Provo Utah Temple’s 2 years from 1969 to 1972.
02 · Category
Dedication Dates30 stats
01
Salt Lake Temple dedicated April 6, 1893.
02
Kirtland Temple dedicated March 27, 1836 (earliest).
03
Nauvoo Temple rededicated June 30, 2002.
04
Provo Utah Temple dedicated February 9, 1972.
05
Laie Hawaii Temple first dedicated November 27, 1919.
06
Mesa Arizona Temple dedicated October 23, 1927.
07
Cardston Alberta Temple dedicated August 26, 1923.
08
Bern Switzerland Temple dedicated September 11, 1955.
09
London England Temple dedicated September 7, 1958.
10
Mexico City Temple dedicated November 2, 1983.
11
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple dedicated 1945.
12
Los Angeles California Temple dedicated 1956.
13
Swiss Temple (Bern) dedicated 1955.
14
New Zealand Hamilton Temple 1958.
15
London Temple dedicated 1958.
16
Alberta Temple (Cardston) 1923.
17
Hawaii Temple (Laie) 1927 rededicated 1978.
18
Arizona Temple (Mesa) 1927.
19
St. George Utah Temple 1877.
20
Logan Utah Temple 1884.
21
Manti Utah Temple dedicated 1888.
22
Endowment House first Nauvoo ordinances 1846.
23
Palmyra New York Temple 2000.
24
Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple 2001.
25
Nashville Tennessee Temple 2000.
26
Halifax Nova Scotia Temple 1999.
27
Regina Saskatchewan Temple 1999.
28
Montevideo Uruguay Temple 2001.
29
Adelaide Australia Temple 2000.
30
Melbourne Australia Temple rededicated 2000.
Interpretation
Dedication Dates Interpretation
Looking at the dedication dates, LDS temples span from the earliest in 1836, when the Kirtland Temple was dedicated on March 27, to major later milestones like the Provo Utah Temple in 1972 and the Nauvoo Temple rededication in 2002, showing that this category reflects a long, continuing tradition over more than 160 years.
03 · Category
Number And Distribution26 stats
01
There are currently 368 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various stages of development as of October 2024.
02
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest fully functioning temple with 253,015 square feet.
03
189 temples are operating worldwide.
04
4 temples are scheduled to be dedicated in 2024.
05
Temples are located in 80 countries and territories.
06
The church announced 17 new temples in 2023.
07
Provo Utah Temple was the first built in Utah after the Salt Lake Temple.
08
There are 28 temples in Utah currently operating.
09
Nauvoo Illinois Temple was the second temple built after the Salt Lake Temple.
10
99 temples are under construction as of 2024.
11
There are 368 temples announced, under construction, or dedicated as of October 2024.
12
28 temples operating in Mexico.
13
First temple outside Utah: St. George Utah 1877.
14
17 temples in Brazil operating.
15
Palmyra New York Temple dedicated April 6, 2000.
16
40 temples in South America.
17
Ogden Utah Temple second in Utah, dedicated 1971.
18
11 temples under construction in Africa.
19
30 temples in Utah operating.
20
15 temples announced for Africa since 2018.
21
Cebu City Philippines Temple operating since 2010.
22
22 temples in the Philippines planned.
23
First South American temple: Sao Paulo Brazil 1978.
24
9 temples in Argentina announced.
25
Boston Massachusetts Temple dedicated 2000.
26
6 temples in Idaho operating.
Interpretation
Number And Distribution Interpretation
With 189 Latter-day Saint temples already operating across 80 countries and territories and 368 in various stages as of October 2024, the church’s number and distribution data show a broad, global expansion rather than a slow, centralized buildout.
More related reading
04 · Category
Size And Dimensions30 stats
01
Salt Lake Temple stands at 210 feet tall.
02
Mexico City Mexico Temple covers 127,347 square feet.
03
Bern Switzerland Temple is 59,254 square feet.
04
Laie Hawaii Temple measures 46,968 square feet.
05
Washington D.C. Temple is the second largest at 160,000 square feet.
06
Average temple size is about 40,000 to 50,000 square feet for newer ones.
07
Hong Kong China Temple is 41,000 square feet over 6 floors.
08
Manhattan New York Temple is 47,000 square feet.
09
Boise Idaho Temple spire reaches 198 feet.
10
Cardston Alberta Temple is 60,000 square feet.
11
Jordan River Utah Temple 148,000 sq ft.
12
Bountiful Utah Temple 160,000 sq ft.
13
Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple 121,000 sq ft.
14
Nauvoo Illinois Temple 54,000 sq ft.
15
Frankfurt Germany Temple 34,000 sq ft.
16
Apia Samoa Temple 28,000 sq ft.
17
Stockholm Sweden Temple 32,000 sq ft.
18
Cape Town South Africa Temple 49,000 sq ft.
19
Columbus Ohio Temple 67,000 sq ft.
20
Durban South Africa Temple 49,000 sq ft.
21
Sacramento California Temple 94,000 sq ft.
22
Newport Beach California Temple 82,000 sq ft.
23
San Diego California Temple 83,000 sq ft.
24
Medford Oregon Temple 41,000 sq ft.
25
Anchorage Alaska Temple 25,000 sq ft.
26
Billings Montana Temple 33,000 sq ft.
27
Denver Colorado Temple 110,000 sq ft.
28
Little Rock Arkansas Temple 28,000 sq ft.
29
Tucson Arizona Temple 73,000 sq ft.
30
Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple 32,000 sq ft.
Interpretation
Size And Dimensions Interpretation
From the Size and Dimensions perspective, LDS temples vary widely in footprint, with newer ones averaging about 40,000 to 50,000 square feet while standout examples reach 127,347 square feet in Mexico City and 160,000 square feet in Washington D.C.
05 · Category
Unique Features28 stats
01
Salt Lake Temple first baptisms for dead in 1877.
02
Celestial Room in temples symbolizes heaven.
03
Sealing rooms perform eternal marriages.
04
Baptistry supported by 12 oxen statues.
05
Murals in some instruction rooms depict creation.
06
Angel Moroni statues atop most spires.
07
Holy of Holies in older temples.
08
Progressive rooms: creation, garden, world, terrestrial.
09
Some temples have film presentation instead of live.
10
Some temples feature stained glass windows with biblical scenes.
11
Baptistry oxen represent 12 tribes of Israel.
12
Endowments performed single-file in some older temples.
13
Live actors in some temple films phased out.
14
Moroni statue holds trumpets in heralding pose.
15
Garden rooms with plants and waterfalls.
16
Veils for final ordinance symbolizing transition.
17
Temples closed during global pandemic 2020.
18
Single spire vs multiple spires in designs.
19
Reflecting pools at some temple entrances.
20
Some temples have underground parking.
21
Christus statue replicas in visitor centers.
22
No windows in some endowment rooms for focus.
23
Spatially oriented architecture for ordinances.
24
Moonstones on Salt Lake Temple exterior.
25
Sunstones, starstones, earthstones symbols.
26
Waterfalls in celestial rooms for peace.
27
Temples open to public during open house.
28
Different Moroni poses: trumpeting, holding plates.
Interpretation
Unique Features Interpretation
Across LDS temples’ unique features, the Salt Lake Temple’s 1877 start of first baptisms for the dead and the enduring focus on heaven and eternal marriage through celestial and sealing rooms suggest a consistent long-term pattern, reinforced by details like 12 oxen supporting the baptistry and angel Moroni spires.
report visual · Key figures
Global Latter-day Saint temple footprint (as of Oct 2024)
Temples span many countries and are in multiple stages of development—hundreds are announced, under construction, or dedicated, with most already operating.
368
There are 368 temples announced, under construction, or dedicated as of October 2024.
368
There are currently 368 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various stages of development as o
189
189 temples are operating worldwide.
99
99 temples are under construction as of 2024.
80
Temples are located in 80 countries and territories.
4
4 temples are scheduled to be dedicated in 2024.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Lds Temple Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lds-temple-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Lds Temple Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/lds-temple-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Lds Temple Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lds-temple-statistics.
Sources & references
14 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level