Exciting developments are underway within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and you won’t want to miss these significant updates! From temple dedications to renaming ceremonies, the Church is expanding its sacred spaces to bring eternal blessings to more families. But here's where it gets even more fascinating—while some temples are being celebrated, others are sparking conversations about their locations and names. Let’s dive into the details.
The First Presidency has announced the long-awaited dates for the open house and dedication of the Bacolod Philippines Temple. Mark your calendars! A media day will kick things off on April 13, 2026, followed by exclusive tours for invited guests on April 14–15. The public is warmly invited to explore this sacred space during the open house from April 16 to May 2, excluding Sundays. And this is the part most people miss—Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside over the temple dedication on May 31, 2026, at 10 a.m., with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m. This event will be broadcast to all units in the Bacolod Philippines Temple district.
President Russell M. Nelson first announced this temple in October 2019, emphasizing, ‘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.’ With nearly 900,000 Latter-day Saints in approximately 1,325 congregations across the Philippines, this temple is a testament to the Church’s commitment to its members. Interestingly, the Bacolod Philippines Temple is one of two temples in the Philippines set to be dedicated in May 2026. The Davao Philippines Temple will be dedicated on May 3, with Elder Dale G. Renlund presiding.
But here’s a question to ponder: With so many temples under construction or announced in the Philippines, how will this impact local communities and their spiritual practices? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Currently, operating temples in the Philippines include those in Cebu City, Manila, and Urdaneta. Temples are also under construction in Alabang, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Tacloban, with announcements for Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, San Jose del Monte, Santiago, and Tuguegarao City.
Now, let’s shift gears to California. The San José California Temple has been renamed the Sunnyvale California Temple, a move that has sparked curiosity among members. This temple, to be built on a 4.73-acre site at 771 West Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale, will feature a single-story 30,000-square-foot structure and an accompanying distribution center. California, home to nearly 730,000 Church members in almost 1,100 congregations, will soon boast 12 temples—either operating, under construction, or announced. These include temples in Bakersfield, Feather River, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, Newport Beach, Oakland, Redlands, Sacramento, San Diego, and Yorba Linda.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should temples be named after the cities they’re closest to, or does the original name hold more significance? Let us know your opinion!
Lastly, preliminary infrastructure work is set to begin on the Fairview Texas Temple, located on an eight-acre Church-owned property at 681 East Stacy Road. While groundbreaking and construction dates are yet to be announced, the Church expresses gratitude for the Town of Fairview’s cooperation in permitting this project. Remember, temples differ from meetinghouses—while all are welcome at local chapels for Sunday services and weekday activities, temples are reserved for faithful members to participate in sacred ceremonies that unite families forever.
As these sacred spaces come to life, they remind us of the Church’s mission to bring eternal blessings to families worldwide. What do you think about these developments? Are you excited to visit any of these temples? Share your thoughts below!
