President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued his fervent focus on improving the faith’s temple worship Sunday at the concluding session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference. He read an updated list of questions Church members will be asked when receiving a temple recommend. The new questions are below.
Temple recommend questions have been periodically clarified or adjusted to meet the needs and circumstances of God’s children. These current updates clarify, but do not change, worthiness requirements to enter a temple.
“Nobody has had as much association with temples in my lifetime as President Nelson,” Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said while traveling with the prophet in Brazil in September. “He has a deep, deep understanding and is willing to do whatever the Lord is guiding him to do. And he is getting that guidance from the Lord.”
President Nelson’s actions in 21 months as leader of the Church back that up. Since becoming Church president in January 2018, President Nelson has announced 35 new temples, has authorized the immediate temple marriage (what the Church formally calls a “sealing”) of couples first married civilly, has implemented changes to temple instruction sessions and has modified the ordinance witness policy to enable all members of the Church (including youth and women) more ways to participate in temple worship.
This adjustment to the temple recommend questions highlights some of the things that matter most as Latter-day Saints carefully prepare to enter a temple. Temples differ from the Church’s chapels, where all are welcome to attend Sunday services and other weekday activities. It is in temples that faithful Latter-day Saints participate in sacred rites such as marriages that unite families forever and proxy baptisms in behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have that opportunity.
The Church’s 166 dedicated temples scattered throughout the world are considered the most sacred spaces on earth. It is in these sacred structures—each with the words “house of the Lord” etched onto its exterior—that Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed as members strive to follow His example. Temple worship is therefore a sacred privilege.
The temple recommend permits Latter-day Saint to enter one of the faith’s temples. An adult member of the Church receives two interviews to receive a temple recommend—once by a member of their local bishopric, then by a member of their stake presidency (a regional leader).
This recommend is valid for two years. A limited-use recommend for those 11 years of age and older is obtained through an interview with a local bishop. This allows Latter-day Saints, mostly young men and young women, to participate in temple baptisms. This recommend is valid for one year.
“The crowning jewel of the Restoration [the process of fully establishing the Church of Jesus Christ on earth] is the holy temple,” President Nelson said. “Individual worthiness to enter the Lord’s house requires much individual spiritual preparation. But with the Lord’s help, nothing is impossible.
In some respects, it is easier to build a temple than it is to build a people prepared for a temple. 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.”
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued his fervent focus on improving the faith’s temple worship Sunday at the concluding session of general conference. He read an updated list of questions Church members will be asked when receiving a temple recommend.
- Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
- Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?
- Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
- Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?
- The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (Doctrine and Covenants 42:41). Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior? Do you obey the law of chastity?
- Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
- Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
- Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
- Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
- Are you a full-tithe payer?
- Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
- Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
- Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?
- Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
- Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?
For the first time, the announcement of eight new temples was made on Saturday evening during women’s session of general conference by President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
President Nelson’s announcement brings the total number of operating temples (166) and temples announced or under construction (51) to 217 worldwide.
The new temples will be in the following locations:
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Orem, Utah
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Bentonville, Arkansas
Bacolod, Philippines
McAllen, Texas
Cobán, Guatemala
Taylorsville, Utah
“As the Church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life,” said President Nelson, who was the final speaker of the session. “We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church. Whenever plans are announced to construct a new temple, it becomes an important part of our history.”
Since becoming Church president in January 2018, President Nelson has announced 35 new temples. Last April, he announced eight new temples. Aside from when former Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced some 30 new smaller temples in 1998, no other Church president has announced more temples in such a short period of time.
The new temples will be in the following locations:
Freetown, Sierra Leone
There are more than 21,000 Latter-day Saints and approximately 70 congregations in Sierra Leone. This will be the first temple in Sierra Leone. There are presently eight temples in Africa in operation, under construction or announced including: Accra, Ghana; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Nairobi, Aba, Nigeria; Kenya; Durban, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Harare, Zimbabwe.
Orem, Utah
The new temple in Orem, located about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, will be Utah’s 22nd house of the Lord. As the Church’s world headquarters, Utah has 2.1 million Church members, which is more than 65% of the state’s population of 3.2 million residents. There are 17 operating temples in the state, including the Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Logan, Jordan River, Manti, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos, Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain, Payson, Provo City Center, Provo, St. George, Salt Lake and Vernal Temples. Announced temples in Utah include the Saratoga Springs Temple, Layton Utah Temple, a temple in Washington County and the Tooele Valley Utah Temple.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
More than 28,000 Latter-day Saints in 80 congregations live in Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. Members of the Church currently attend the temple in Suva, Fiji. The Port Moresby Branch (a small congregation) was organized October 10, 1979. The Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission was created February 13, 1992.
Bentonville, Arkansas
This will be this state’s first temple. There are more than 31,000 Latter-day Saints in Arkansas with approximately 70 congregations. The first meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arkansas was in 1835, led by missionaries Wilford Woodruff and Henry Brown.
Bacolod, Philippines
This temple will be the third house of the Lord in the Republic of the Philippines. The country, made up of more than 7,600 islands, is home to over 785,000 Latter-day Saints. The Manila Philippines Temple was dedicated in 1984 and the second temple, in Cebu City, was dedicated in 2010. Today, there are more than 1,200 congregations and 22 missions in the region.
McAllen, Texas
This will be the fifth temple in the state of Texas. The others are in Dallas, Houston, Lubbock and San Antonio. In 1990, there were more than 154,000 Latter-day Saints; today, there are over 350,000 members in nearly 700 wards and branches.
Cobán, Guatemala
The temple in Cobán, located in the highlands of central Guatemala, will be the country’s third temple. Nearly 278,000 Latter-day Saints in approximately 450 congregations reside in Guatemala. Missionaries first arrived in the Central American country in 1947. There are now seven missions. Two temples are operating in Guatemala, including the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple and the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple.
Taylorsville, Utah
The new temple in Taylorsville, located in metropolitan Salt Lake City, will be Utah’s 23nd house of the Lord. As the Church’s world headquarters, Utah has 2.1 million Church members, which is more than 65% of the state’s population of 3.2 million residents. There are 17 operating temples in the state, including the Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Logan, Jordan River, Manti, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos, Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain, Payson, Provo City Center, Provo, St. George, Salt Lake and Vernal Temples. Announced temples in Utah include the Saratoga Springs Temple, Layton Utah Temple, a temple in Washington County and the Tooele Valley Utah Temple.
“As the Church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life,” said President Nelson, who was the final speaker of the session. “We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church. Whenever plans are announced to construct a new temple, it becomes an important part of our history.” Since becoming Church president in January 2018, President Nelson has announced 35 new temples. Last April, he announced eight new temples. Aside from when former Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced some 30 new smaller temples in 1998, no other Church president has announced more temples in such a short period of time.
Update on Other Temples Under Construction or Renovation
Fourteen temples are currently under construction. Ground will be broken this fall on the Saratoga Springs Temple in Utah and the Puebla Mexico Temple.
The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fortaleza Brazil, Port-au-Prince Haiti and Lisbon Portugal Temples were dedicated this year. Following renovation, the Memphis Tennessee, Oklahoma City Oklahoma and Oakland California Temples were rededicated.
Nine temples are being renovated, including the Raleigh North Carolina (rededication Oct. 13), Frankfurt Germany (rededication Oct. 20), Asunción Paraguay (rededication Nov. 3) and Baton Rouge Louisiana (rededication Nov. 17). Other temples under renovation include the Hamilton New Zealand, Hong Kong China Temple, Mesa Arizona, Tokyo Japan and Washington D.C. Temples. The St. George and Salt Lake pioneer-era temples will close for renovation before the end of the year. Temples undergoing renovation are included in the number of operating temples.
About Temples
Latter-day Saints consider temples to be the “house of the Lord” and the most sacred places of worship on the earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples, however, is for faithful members of the Church to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages that unite families forever and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity while living. Find out more about temples.
President @NelsonRussellM announced plans to build 8 new temples:
1. Freetown, Sierra Leone
2. Orem, Utah
3. Port Moresby, Papa New Guinea
4. Bentonville, Arkansas
5. Bacolod, Philippines
6. McAllen, Texas
7. Cobán, Guatemala
8. Taylorsville, Utah— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) October 6, 2019
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