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SALT LAKE CITY -- Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground this weekend for a new temple to be built in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
This will be the church's second temple in Florida. The other, built in 1994, is located in Orlando.
In a news release, the church said Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy presided over the Saturday groundbreaking. He was joined by Elder William R. Walker, executive director of the Church's Temple Department, in addition to several local Church leaders.
Plans for the temple were first announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson in October 2009. The temple will serve about 25,000 church members from in and around the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Once construction is complete, a public open house will be scheduled. Then the temple will be formally dedicated.
There are currently 134 operating temples worldwide and 26 announced or under construction.