Two Continents, Two Temples: Construction Moves Forward

In a significant week for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, groundbreaking ceremonies were announced or held for two temples in Singapore and Lagos, Nigeria—marking historic milestones for both regions.

Singapore Temple: First in the Nation

The Church has announced that groundbreaking services for the Singapore Temple will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Elder Kelly R. Johnson, First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency, will preside at the event.

The temple will be constructed on a one-acre site located at 233 Pasir Panjang Road in Singapore. Plans call for a two-story temple of approximately 18,000 square feet, with a meetinghouse and arrival center to be constructed adjacent to the temple.

The Singapore Temple was first announced during the April 2021 general conference by Church President Russell M. Nelson. On a visit to Singapore less than two years previously, in November 2019, President Nelson expressed his hope that the Saints there would have a temple of their own.

Now, for the first time since 1968, when the Church first established a presence in Singapore, that long-awaited blessing is coming to pass.

Lagos Nigeria Temple: Second in the Country

On May 10, 2025, the Church broke ground for the Lagos Nigeria Temple, the second temple to be constructed in the country. Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area and a General Authority Seventy, presided over the event and offered a dedicatory prayer for the site.

The ceremony marked the end of seven years of preparation since the temple was first announced by President Russell M. Nelson in the October 2018 general conference. During this time, Church leaders coordinated efforts with local authorities, legal experts, and project managers to resolve logistical challenges and ensure the project’s success.

The temple, planned for a 2.7-acre site in the Ikoyi neighborhood of Lagos, will cover 19,800 square feet and include two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. Additional facilities will include an arrival center and housing for patrons traveling to the temple.

Elder Christian Chigbundu, who conducted the event under Elder Kyungu’s direction, emphasized that temples are sacred places for making covenants with God. He reminded attendees that temples are not for weekly worship but are dedicated spaces where members can draw closer to Jesus Christ through sacred ordinances.

Sister Uba Ogechci Esther, a local youth, addressed the audience on how to spiritually prepare for temple worship. She noted that personal readiness involves repentance, forgiveness, and seeking spiritual strength to receive temple blessings.

Sister Mercy Fayehun, a member of the Relief Society, spoke about the comfort and guidance that can be found in the temple. She emphasized that the temple offers a place to receive personal revelation and to feel peace amid life’s trials.

President Sunday Oyedeji, Lagos Nigeria Egbeda Stake President, shared memories of attending the Aba Nigeria Temple dedication as a young missionary. He reflected on the enduring spiritual power of temple covenants, calling them “the everlasting covenants that can give us the right of passage even to the presence of God, the Eternal Father.”

In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Kyungu asked for divine protection over those working on the temple and for the spiritual preparation of members in Nigeria and surrounding areas. He prayed, “Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, and under the direction of the President of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson, I now dedicate and consecrate this site for the building of a House of the Lord, the Lagos Nigeria Temple.”

Following the formal groundbreaking, all attendees were invited to take part by turning the soil with ceremonial shovels, symbolizing their unity and support for to the sacred project.

Global Growth and Spiritual Significance

These developments underscore the Church’s ongoing commitment to expanding its presence and providing sacred spaces for worship around the world. The Singapore Temple will serve at least 3,200 members in Singapore, as well as other countries in the region.

The Lagos Nigeria Temple will serve the growing Latter-day Saint population in Nigeria and across West Africa. The area is home to over 256,000 members and is one of the fastest-growing in the Church—membership there increased by an astounding 11,000 in just the first few months of this year.

As construction progresses on these temples, they stand as symbols of faith and dedication for Latter-day Saints in Southeast Asia and West Africa. The temples will provide members with opportunities to participate in sacred ordinances and strengthen their commitment to following Jesus Christ.

Holly Wallace is a storyteller and artist who loves exploring unique perspectives. She uses her BYU degree in Wildlife Management to wrangle four mini Jedi knights, who also masquerade as hobbits, superheroes, and mustachioed plumbers. Her writing is described as “unputdownable” by her husband and “pretty good” by everyone else. Holly dreams of being a crazy chicken lady and enjoys hiking, gardening, and wandering through IKEA.