From the intricate moonstones of its towering spires to the hushed reverence of its smallest celestial room, the global footprint of temples for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a story told not only in 368 sacred sites worldwide but also in the astonishing scale, cost, and architectural devotion spanning from a historic $3.5 million investment in 1893 to modern projects exceeding $1 billion.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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.
- Salt Lake Temple first baptisms for dead in 1877.
- Celestial Room in temples symbolizes heaven.
- Sealing rooms perform eternal marriages.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 368 temples announced, under construction, or operating worldwide.
Construction Costs and Time
1Salt Lake Temple construction cost $3.5 million in 1893 dollars.
Verified2Average modern temple costs $50-100 million.
Verified3Provo Utah Temple took 2 years to build (1969-1972).
Verified4Washington D.C. Temple cost $15 million in 1974.
Directional5Nauvoo Illinois Temple reconstruction took 3 years (2002-2007).
Single source6Salt Lake Temple renovation cost over $1 billion.
Verified7Rome Italy Temple construction spanned 6 years (2010-2019).
Verified8Mesa Arizona Temple built in 1.5 years (1919-1927).
Verified9Kinshasa DR Congo Temple cost $20 million.
Directional10Average construction time for new temples is 2-4 years.
Single source11Rome Italy Temple cost approximately $250 million.
Verified12Saratoga Springs Utah Temple took 2.5 years to build.
Verified13Star Valley Wyoming Temple construction 3 years.
Verified14Pocatello Idaho Temple under construction since 2020.
Directional15Layton Utah Temple cost $100 million.
Single source16Red Cliffs Utah Temple built in 2 years.
Verified17Farmington Utah Temple renovation cost undisclosed but major.
Verified18Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple 128,000 sq ft, 2009.
Verified19Taylorsville Utah Temple announced 2023.
Directional20Heber Valley Utah Temple dedicated 2023 after 4 years.
Single source21Meridian Idaho Temple cost $50 million.
Verified22Farmington New Mexico Temple 2 years construction.
Verified23Deseret Peak Utah Temple under construction since 2021.
Verified24Syracuse Utah Temple dedicated 2025 planned.
Directional25Olympia Washington Temple announced 2023.
Single source26Bentonville Arkansas Temple construction 2021-2024.
Verified27Colorado Springs Colorado Temple cost high due to location.
Verified28Eagle Mountain Utah Temple rapid build 2 years.
Verified29Smithfield Utah Temple groundbreaking 2024.
Directional30Providence Rhode Island Temple planned dedication 2025.
Single sourceConstruction Costs and Time Interpretation
From the pioneering splurge on the Salt Lake Temple to today's meticulous and often billion-dollar renovations, the Church's temple construction timeline and budget reveal a fascinating evolution from monumental austerity to a global, bespoke, and logistically complex sacred architecture.
Dedication Dates
1Salt Lake Temple dedicated April 6, 1893.
Verified2Kirtland Temple dedicated March 27, 1836 (earliest).
Verified3Nauvoo Temple rededicated June 30, 2002.
Verified4Provo Utah Temple dedicated February 9, 1972.
Directional5Laie Hawaii Temple first dedicated November 27, 1919.
Single source6Mesa Arizona Temple dedicated October 23, 1927.
Verified7Cardston Alberta Temple dedicated August 26, 1923.
Verified8Bern Switzerland Temple dedicated September 11, 1955.
Verified9London England Temple dedicated September 7, 1958.
Directional10Mexico City Temple dedicated November 2, 1983.
Single source11Idaho Falls Idaho Temple dedicated 1945.
Verified12Los Angeles California Temple dedicated 1956.
Verified13Swiss Temple (Bern) dedicated 1955.
Verified14New Zealand Hamilton Temple 1958.
Directional15London Temple dedicated 1958.
Single source16Alberta Temple (Cardston) 1923.
Verified17Hawaii Temple (Laie) 1927 rededicated 1978.
Verified18Arizona Temple (Mesa) 1927.
Verified19St. George Utah Temple 1877.
Directional20Logan Utah Temple 1884.
Single source21Manti Utah Temple dedicated 1888.
Verified22Endowment House first Nauvoo ordinances 1846.
Verified23Palmyra New York Temple 2000.
Verified24Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple 2001.
Directional25Nashville Tennessee Temple 2000.
Single source26Halifax Nova Scotia Temple 1999.
Verified27Regina Saskatchewan Temple 1999.
Verified28Montevideo Uruguay Temple 2001.
Verified29Adelaide Australia Temple 2000.
Directional30Melbourne Australia Temple rededicated 2000.
Single sourceDedication Dates Interpretation
From its pioneer-era foundations in Kirtland to its bustling, global presence by the millennium, the timeline of LDS temples narrates a story of unwavering dedication that literally built outward from a single point of faith to circle the entire earth.
Number and Distribution
1There are currently 368 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various stages of development as of October 2024.
Verified2The Salt Lake Temple is the largest fully functioning temple with 253,015 square feet.
Verified3189 temples are operating worldwide.
Verified44 temples are scheduled to be dedicated in 2024.
Directional5Temples are located in 80 countries and territories.
Single source6The church announced 17 new temples in 2023.
Verified7Provo Utah Temple was the first built in Utah after the Salt Lake Temple.
Verified8There are 28 temples in Utah currently operating.
Verified9Nauvoo Illinois Temple was the second temple built after the Salt Lake Temple.
Directional1099 temples are under construction as of 2024.
Single source11There are 368 temples announced, under construction, or dedicated as of October 2024.
Verified1228 temples operating in Mexico.
Verified13First temple outside Utah: St. George Utah 1877.
Verified1417 temples in Brazil operating.
Directional15Palmyra New York Temple dedicated April 6, 2000.
Single source1640 temples in South America.
Verified17Ogden Utah Temple second in Utah, dedicated 1971.
Verified1811 temples under construction in Africa.
Verified1930 temples in Utah operating.
Directional2015 temples announced for Africa since 2018.
Single source21Cebu City Philippines Temple operating since 2010.
Verified2222 temples in the Philippines planned.
Verified23First South American temple: Sao Paulo Brazil 1978.
Verified249 temples in Argentina announced.
Directional25Boston Massachusetts Temple dedicated 2000.
Single source266 temples in Idaho operating.
VerifiedNumber and Distribution Interpretation
The Church is engaged in a truly global, and frankly staggering, spiritual real estate boom, building outward from its Utah cradle at a pace that would make any developer blush, yet all for the same sacred work.
Size and Dimensions
1Salt Lake Temple stands at 210 feet tall.
Verified2Mexico City Mexico Temple covers 127,347 square feet.
Verified3Bern Switzerland Temple is 59,254 square feet.
Verified4Laie Hawaii Temple measures 46,968 square feet.
Directional5Washington D.C. Temple is the second largest at 160,000 square feet.
Single source6Average temple size is about 40,000 to 50,000 square feet for newer ones.
Verified7Hong Kong China Temple is 41,000 square feet over 6 floors.
Verified8Manhattan New York Temple is 47,000 square feet.
Verified9Boise Idaho Temple spire reaches 198 feet.
Directional10Cardston Alberta Temple is 60,000 square feet.
Single source11Jordan River Utah Temple 148,000 sq ft.
Verified12Bountiful Utah Temple 160,000 sq ft.
Verified13Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple 121,000 sq ft.
Verified14Nauvoo Illinois Temple 54,000 sq ft.
Directional15Frankfurt Germany Temple 34,000 sq ft.
Single source16Apia Samoa Temple 28,000 sq ft.
Verified17Stockholm Sweden Temple 32,000 sq ft.
Verified18Cape Town South Africa Temple 49,000 sq ft.
Verified19Columbus Ohio Temple 67,000 sq ft.
Directional20Durban South Africa Temple 49,000 sq ft.
Single source21Sacramento California Temple 94,000 sq ft.
Verified22Newport Beach California Temple 82,000 sq ft.
Verified23San Diego California Temple 83,000 sq ft.
Verified24Medford Oregon Temple 41,000 sq ft.
Directional25Anchorage Alaska Temple 25,000 sq ft.
Single source26Billings Montana Temple 33,000 sq ft.
Verified27Denver Colorado Temple 110,000 sq ft.
Verified28Little Rock Arkansas Temple 28,000 sq ft.
Verified29Tucson Arizona Temple 73,000 sq ft.
Directional30Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple 32,000 sq ft.
Single sourceSize and Dimensions Interpretation
These statistics reveal that while the Church builds for the future with expansive temples in its heartland, it adapts gracefully to the practical and often compact realities of international cities, proving that spiritual grandeur is measured in purpose, not merely in square feet or height.
Unique Features
1Salt Lake Temple first baptisms for dead in 1877.
Verified2Celestial Room in temples symbolizes heaven.
Verified3Sealing rooms perform eternal marriages.
Verified4Baptistry supported by 12 oxen statues.
Directional5Murals in some instruction rooms depict creation.
Single source6Angel Moroni statues atop most spires.
Verified7Holy of Holies in older temples.
Verified8Progressive rooms: creation, garden, world, terrestrial.
Verified9Some temples have film presentation instead of live.
Directional10Some temples feature stained glass windows with biblical scenes.
Single source11Baptistry oxen represent 12 tribes of Israel.
Verified12Endowments performed single-file in some older temples.
Verified13Live actors in some temple films phased out.
Verified14Moroni statue holds trumpets in heralding pose.
Directional15Garden rooms with plants and waterfalls.
Single source16Veils for final ordinance symbolizing transition.
Verified17Temples closed during global pandemic 2020.
Verified18Single spire vs multiple spires in designs.
Verified19Reflecting pools at some temple entrances.
Directional20Some temples have underground parking.
Single source21Christus statue replicas in visitor centers.
Verified22No windows in some endowment rooms for focus.
Verified23Spatially oriented architecture for ordinances.
Verified24Moonstones on Salt Lake Temple exterior.
Directional25Sunstones, starstones, earthstones symbols.
Single source26Waterfalls in celestial rooms for peace.
Verified27Temples open to public during open house.
Verified28Different Moroni poses: trumpeting, holding plates.
VerifiedUnique Features Interpretation
From its first proxy baptisms in 1877 to the statues of trumpet-wielding angels on its spires, every symbolic oxen, mural, and sealed room in LDS temples forms a physical and progressive blueprint for a theology that meticulously maps the journey from earthly ordinance to eternal family.
Sources & References
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