At the conclusion of the final session of general conference, President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced eight new temples to be built in the following locations:
- Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Benin City, Nigeria
- Syracuse, Utah
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
President Nelson acknowledged, “It may seem odd to announce new temples when all our temples are closed for a while.” But he proceeded to encourage members of the Church to draw upon the power of their covenants, to live worthily of entering the temple and to talk about the temple in their homes.
President Nelson also quoted President Wilford Woodruff who spoke of a day like ours when he dedicated the Salt Lake Temple in 1893.
“Heavenly Father, when Thy people shall not have the opportunity of entering this holy house to offer their supplications unto Thee, and they are oppressed and in trouble, surrounded by difficulties or assailed by temptation and shall turn their faces towards this Thy holy house and ask Thee for deliverance, for help, for Thy power to be extended in their behalf, we beseech Thee to look down from Thy holy habitation in mercy and tender compassion upon them, and listen to their cries. Or when the children of Thy people, in years to come, shall be separated, through any cause, from this place, and their hearts shall turn in remembrance of Thy promises to this holy Temple, and they shall cry unto Thee from the depths of their affliction and sorrow to extend relief and deliverance to them, we humbly entreat Thee to turn Thine ear in mercy to them; hearken to their cries, and grant unto them the blessing for which they ask.” (President Wilford Woodruff, Dedicatory Prayer for the Salt Lake City Utah Temple, 1893).
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