Almost immediately after a new Latter-day Saint temple location is announced, the question quickly becomes, “Where will this new temple be built?”
With hundreds of temples currently under construction or announced, the Presiding Bishopric can speak from firsthand experience how the process of choosing a temple site takes place.
A Liahona article from earlier this year has a digital-only sidebar about how temple locations are identified. The answers below come directly from the Presiding Bishop and Liahona article.
How is each new temple city/country chosen?
The First Presidency outlines criteria for determining where temples should be built, including the number of members within an area and the distances they travel to attend a temple.
Based on those criteria, the Temple Department—which is overseen by members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—makes suggestions to the First Presidency of possible temple locations.
Who decides where new temples will be built?
“The First Presidency … [makes] the final determination of where temples should be built,” Bishop W. Christopher Waddell said.
Who selects the site where the new temple will be built?
The Presiding Bishopric and its Special Projects Department identify a specific site within that location and recommend it to the First Presidency. In most cases, once the location and site have been identified, the temple is announced by the First Presidency to the public, usually in general conference.
Who oversees the construction and maintenance of temples once they’re completed?
The Presiding Bishopric works closely with the Church’s Temple Department to build and maintain temples.
Once a building site is determined, the Presiding Bishopric and Special Projects Department propose architectural designs to the First Presidency. Once approved, construction begins on the temple. The Presiding Bishopric oversees the temple’s maintenance once it is dedicated.
You can find the entire Liahona article and more information about new temple site selection on the Church’s website.
If you want to read more about upcoming temple construction projects, check out the articles below:
► Which Latter-day Saint temples are under construction around the world?
► Here are the latest updates on the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square renovation projects
► Who writes temple dedicatory prayers? Where can I read my temple’s dedicatory prayer?
► 3 tips to make visiting a temple open house extra special for your kids
