Four new Temples for Africa were announced in the 193 semi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference takes place simultaneously across the globe, but was held in person in Salt Lake City, USA on 1 October 2023.
New Temples for Africa were announced in:
- Calabar, Nigeria
- Cape Coast, Ghana
- Luanda, Angola,
- Mbuji-Mayi, DRC
"This will bring Temples even closer to the people," said Elder Dale G Renlund, Apostle of the Church who lived in Africa for a season. He was speaking at the conference.
There are currently 19 Temples announced, under construction or dedicated on the African continent and its islands. This includes Madagascar and Cape Verde.
Only 5 are operating in Kinshasa DRC, Aba Nigeria, Johannesburg South Africa, Durban South Africa and Accra Ghana.
- Members-attending-the-Temple-in-Accra-Ghana
- Temples-are-considered-Houses-of-The-Lord-by-members-of-The-Church
| 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 |
“Spending more time in the temple builds faith. And your service and worship in the temple will help you to think celestial. The temple is a place of revelation. There you are shown how to progress toward a celestial life. There you are drawn closer to the Savior and given greater access to His power. There you are guided in solving the problems in your life, even your most perplexing problems," said Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking at the conference.
Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity.
Temples serve as the only place where ceremonies such as baptism and eternal marriage can be performed in behalf of those who have died — a practice that Latter-day Saints believe was followed in New Testament times but that later was lost.
Temples point Latter-day Saints to Jesus Christ and their eventual life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.