LDS Church breaks ground on 2 temples, Fiji temple dedicated

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently announced progress updates for two new temples and rededicated another. The Church currently has 149 temples in operation, with another 29 announced, under construction or being renovated.

Durban South Africa Temple

The groundbreaking for the Durban South Africa Temple will be Saturday, April 9, 2016. Those attending the groundbreaking will need to be invited, but the ceremony will be transmitted live to church meetinghouses in the temple district, according to the LDS Church.

There are three LDS temples currently in operation in Africa, including the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, dedicated in 1985; the Accra Ghana Temple, dedicated in 2004; and the Aba Nigeria Temple, dedicated in 2005. Ground was broken February 12, 2016, for the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple. The Abidjan Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) Temple has been announced.

Following the construction of the temple, the church will announce temple open house dates for the public to tour the building prior to its dedication.

Barranquilla Colombia Temple

Feb. 20, ground was broken for Colombia's second temple, the Barranquilla Temple.

Presiding over the ceremony was Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Quorum of the Seventy and president of the South America Northwest Area Presidency of the LDS Church. Elder Hernando Camargo of the Quorum of the Seventy was also in attendance.

"Heaven rejoices because we are starting to build a temple," Elder Uceda said. "There are no coincidences in the time of the Lord. This groundbreaking ceremony coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment on the church in Colombia."

"We believe that families can maintain their unity after leaving this world. We believe in eternal families," Elder Camargo said.

The church will announce open house and dedication dates following the temple's completion.

Suva Fiji Temple

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of the LDS Church rededicated the Suva Fiji Temple on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Cyclone Winston, a powerful Category 5 storm, caused damage to the city of Suva, but Latter-day Saints arrived safely at the temple rededication after the cyclone passed.

Fiji Suva Mission President LaMar L. Layton confirmed that all the LDS missionaries were safe and were able to participate in the rededication.

Also in attendance of the rededication was Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Kent F. Richards of the Quorum of Seventy, members of the Pacific Area Presidency and the temple presidency.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, arrives at the Suva Fiji Temple for rededication services. (Photo: © 2016 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved)

The cyclone hit Fiji the night of Feb. 20. The cultural celebration for the rededication of the temple was rescheduled for the afternoon rather than the evening and was moved indoors.

More than 1,000 youths performed in the cultural celebration, which honored LDS Church pioneers and the early pioneers of the Pacific.

"I join with you," President Eyring said, "in celebrating the great contributions of so many who have built up the kingdom of God in these islands. You will touch hearts that will transform those in this audience with feelings of love for the Lord and gratitude for all that Heavenly Father has done for us."

According to the LDS Church, the cyclone was "the strongest tropical disturbance ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere" and winds reached nearly 220 miles per hour in some areas. As of Feb. 24, 42 people were reported dead.

Elder Adolf Johansson, a local LDS leader, confirmed all the missionaries in Fiji were safe, none of the Latter-day Saints in the area were reported to have been killed or injured, all church properties were being assessed for damage and the Suva Fiji Temple was not damaged.

The Suva Fiji Temple (Photo: © 2016 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved)

"Members are moving into church meetinghouses as the need arises," Elder Johansson said. "The members in the Nausori and Lautoka Stakes (local units of the church) are affected by flooding, and some are cut off as bridges have been washed away. Suva and Suva North Stakes have damages to property, mainly from falling trees. But members are in good spirits, although power has been cut throughout the country for three days."

LDS Church leaders were asked to continue to assess local needs with a primary focus on "sustaining life and reporting on any major welfare needs," according to the LDS Church.