A groundbreaking ceremony for the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Elder Denelson Silva, First Counselor in the Africa South Area Presidency, presided at the event accompanied by Elder Dwayne J. van Heerden, Area Seventy, and other local leaders and dignitaries. Full news report here.
Soil turning at the groundbreaking of the Madagascar Antananarivo Temple, 15 March, 2025.
Soil turning at the groundbreaking of the Madagascar Antananarivo Temple, 15 March, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.As Elder Silva began his remarks, his deep love and gratitude for the members of Madagascar resonated through his words. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, he asked, “How can we prepare ourselves to meet God?” He explained that true preparation means being ready, regardless of circumstances, and always striving to be worthy before God. 'Thirty-five years ago, in 1990, the idea of a temple in Madagascar was merely a dream. But now, on this historic day, that dream has become a reality,” he declared with joy.
Elder Silva also imparted a simple yet profound truth: 'The temple is the house of the Lord.' He emphasized that the temple is a place of faith, learning, growth, and order—a true house of God.
- Elder-Denelson-Silva-with-dignitaries-and-members-of-all-ages-at-the-groundbreaking-of-the-Madagascar-Antananarivo-Temple,-15-March,-2025.
- Elder-Denelson-Silva-saying-the-dedicatory-prayer--at-the-groundbreaking-of-the-Madagascar-Antananarivo-Temple,-15-March,-2025.
- Attendance-at-the-groundbreaking-of-the-Madagascar-Antananarivo-Temple,-15-March,-2025.
- Construction-will-now-begin-at-the-groundbreaking-of-the-Madagascar-Antananarivo-Temple-which-took-place-on-15-March,-2025.
- A-mother-shows-her-child--the-rendering-of-the-Madagascar-Antananarivo-Temple-during-the-groundbreaking-which-took-place-on-15-March,-2025.
.jpg){kind=link}
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Elder Silva further encouraged the congregation to remain worthy of the temple, regardless of its distance. 'The opportunity to attend the temple is a blessing,' he said, 'but it is also a responsibility to live worthy to enter.'
At the conclusion of his remarks, Elder Silva offered a heartfelt dedicatory prayer in Malagasy—the primary language spoken in Madagascar. Though Elder Silva, a native Portuguese speaker with limited knowledge of Malagasy, spoke with such deep emotion that his prayer, lasting over 12 minutes, was received with overwhelming gratitude by the people of Madagascar as it spoke to their hearts.
For excerpts from the dedicatory prayer, please see the local area website feature article, here.