Announcement of the Benin City Nigeria Temple
President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the Benin City Nigeria Temple on April 5, 2020, during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2020 general conference. A third temple for this West African nation was one of eight announced worldwide at the conference.
Learning of a sacred edifice for the southern municipality known as Benin City came 15 years after Nigeria’s first temple in Aba was dedicated by then-Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. Rereading the dedicatory prayer’s words uttered by President Hinckley on Aug. 7, 2005, would likely give Nigerian members strength — and reasons to rejoice:
“In the spread of Thy work over the earth, we have in this good land and in other nations of Africa, strong stakes of Zion with disciples of great faith, obedient to Thee, and with a desire to carry eternal truth to many more. Bless this nation that it may rise in strength and freedom among the nations of Africa. Bless its leaders that they may look with favor upon Thy Saints and safeguard their rights, property and privileges.”
Architecture and Design of the Benin City Nigeria Temple
According to site plans released by the Church on Sept. 11, 2023, the Benin City Nigeria Temple will be a two-story building of approximately 30,700 square feet. The edifice will stand on a 2.17-acre site in Benin City, in Edo State in central-southern Nigeria. Construction plans include an arrival center and patron housing.
