President Monson Announces Plans for Three New Temples
President Thomas S. Monson announced during the Sunday morning session of the 185th Annual General Conference on April 5 plans to build three new temples.
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President Thomas S. Monson announced during the Sunday morning session of the 185th Annual General Conference plans to build new temples in Bangkok, Thailand; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“For the past two years as we have concentrated our efforts on completing previously announced temples, we have held in abeyance plans for any additional temples,” President Monson explained. “This morning, however, I am very pleased to announce three new temples. … What marvelous blessings are in store for members in these areas and indeed wherever temples are located through the world.”
Abidjan Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) Temple
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is home to approximately 20 million people, including more than 22,000 Church members. The Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple will be the first in the country, where missionary work officially began in 1988. Church members in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s second most populous city, currently attend temple services in Accra, Ghana, which is a 12-hour drive.
Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple
Haiti is home to approximately 10 million people, including more than 19,000 Latter-day Saints. The Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple will be the first in the country, where missionary work officially began in 1980. Church members in Haiti currently attend temple services in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which is almost a day’s journey away.
Bangkok Thailand Temple
The Bangkok Thailand Temple will be the first in this Asian nation. The Church was formally organized in Thailand in 1966. There are now approximately 18,000 Church members in 38 congregations in Thailand. The Bangkok Thailand Temple will serve Latter-day Saints in Thailand, as well as all of Southeast Asia. Currently, the nearest temple to Thailand is Hong Kong, more than 1,000 miles from Bangkok.
