Latter-day Saint prophet announces construction of 17 new temples, including 10 in Idaho in Coeur d’Alene

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) — During Sunday’s session of the final 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson announced that 17 new temples will be built around the world, including one in Coeur d’Alene , which will be the faith’s tenth temple in Idaho.

New temples will be built in the following locations:

• Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico
• Santa Ana, El Salvador
• Medellín, Colombia
• Santiago, Dominican Republic
• Puerto Montt, Chile
• Dublin, Ireland
• Milan, Italy
• Abuja, Nigeria
• Kampala, Uganda
• Maputo, Mozambique
• Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Queen Creek, Arizona
• El Paso, Texas
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Summit, New Jersey
• Price, Utah

The newly announced temples bring the total number of temples worldwide to 367, including those that have been dedicated, those to be dedicated, and those that are under construction or renovation.

“My dear brothers and sisters, do we see what is happening before our eyes?” said President Nelson. “I pray that we do not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.”

According to a church press release, there are more than 475,000 Latter-day Saints in Idaho who worship in more than 1,200 congregations. It will be the first faith temple in northern Idaho.

Other temples operating or under construction in the state include the Boise Idaho Temple, Burley Idaho Temple, Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, Meridian Idaho Temple, Montpelier Idaho Temple, Pocatello Idaho Temple, Rexburg Idaho Temple, Teton River Idaho Temple, and Twin Falls Idaho Temple.

The release said Coeur d’Alene has a population of more than 50,000 and the church also has a temple in Spokane, Washington.

“Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented rate?” President Nelson asked during his announcement. “Why? Because the Lord has commanded us to do so. The blessings of the temple help gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help prepare people who will help prepare the world for the second coming of the Lord!”

President Nelson announced that 185 temples would be built as of 2018, representing more than half of all temples in the church. He also announced an extensive renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, which according to the latest forecasts will be completed by the end of the 2026 calendar year.

“We build temples to honor the Lord” – President Nelson at the rededication of the Manti Utah Temple in April. “They are built for worship, not for show. Within these holy walls we make sacred covenants of eternal significance.”

First-time temples in the regions include newly announced structures in New Jersey, home to 35,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 60 congregations; Wisconsin, home to more than 28,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 65 congregations; Uganda, which boasts more than 22,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 40 congregations; Ireland, where almost 4,000 church members live in 13 congregations; and southern Chile, where the Puerto Montt temple will join temples in Santiago, Antofagasta, Concepción, Santiago West and Viña del Mar.