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Carole Mikita reporting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will build two more temples in its headquarters city to accommodate the increasing number of members attending the current temples.
The new temple will be built in the Daybreak development, in western South Jordan. It will be the fourth in the Salt Lake area, the 13th in Utah. This came in President Hinckley's opening remarks.
General Conference sessions began with recognition that this year, Latter-day Saints are commemorating the 175th anniversary of their church's organization and the 200th anniversary of the birth of their church founder, Joseph Smith.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “The growth of the Church from its infancy to its present stature is phenomenal, and we have only scratched the surface..."
An indication of that growth, he said, is the number of operating temples: 122. But some, especially in Utah, are crowded.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "We have two other excellent sites in the west and southwest areas of the valley, the first one on which we will build is in the so-called daybreak development..."
That property sits in South Jordan where a community is under development. It will be the church's 4th in the Salt Lake area. The fifth will be in the southwestern part of the valley. The exact location, President Hinckley says, will be announced soon.
Other temples under construction: Rexburg and Twin Falls, Idaho, Sacramento, Ca., Helsinki, Finland, Panama City, Panama and Curitiba, Brazil
A number of church leaders spoke of natural disasters. One of the apostles traveled to refugee centers in three southern states and found what people wanted most: their families.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "We call upon our own church members to reach out in love to neighbors and friends of other faiths and include them in the use of many resources the church has to help families."
Elder Ballard also called on internet providers and website creators to be more responsible in helping protect children from violence and pornography.
At tonight's meeting for the men of the faith, President Hinckley talked of the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Those of many denominations have accomplished wonders."
He thanked the Latter-day Saint men and boys, who by the thousands, poured into several southern states to help with relief and clean-up.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Many have worn shirts that say 'mormon helping hands'. They have won the love and respect of those they have assisted."
He also thanked those who had contributed time and money to the Church's humanitarian efforts.
