A NEW TEMPLE Rises

On April 2, 2017, Thomas S. Monson, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke the following words during the Sunday morning session of the church’s April 2017 General Conference:

“My dear brothers and sisters, I greet you most warmly as we are met again in a great general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before I begin my formal message today, I would like to announce five new temples which will be built in the following locations: Brasília, Brazil; greater Manila, Philippines, area; Nairobi, Kenya; Pocatello, Idaho, USA; and Saratoga Springs, Utah, USA.”

It was the last time President Monson would speak in General Conference, and the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple was the last temple he would announce before his death on Jan. 2, 2018.

The announcement came just one year after the dedication of the Provo City Center Temple, a project that created a temple out of the ashes of a fire that destroyed the former Provo Tabernacle. Because of the unique construction techniques used for the Provo City Center Temple and the love church members had for the former tabernacle, this temple’s construction was eagerly followed by church members not only in Utah Valley but across the world.

With that new temple having opened so recently in the valley, the announcement of another temple in Utah Coun-