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Urdaneta Philippines Temple

Coordinates: 15°56′19″N 120°34′55″E / 15.9385°N 120.5819°E / 15.9385; 120.5819
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Urdaneta Philippines Temple
Map
Number190
Dedication28 April 2024, by Dallin H. Oaks
Site15.34 acres (6.21 ha)
Floor area32,604 sq ft (3,029.0 m2)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Additional information
Announced2 October 2010, by Thomas S. Monson[1]
Groundbreaking16 January 2019, by Jeffrey R. Holland[2]
Open houseMarch 15 to 30, 2024
LocationUrdaneta, Philippines
Geographic coordinates15°56′19″N 120°34′55″E / 15.9385°N 120.5819°E / 15.9385; 120.5819
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2
Sealing rooms3
(edit)

The Urdaneta Philippines Temple is the 190th temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 2, 2010, by church president Thomas S. Monson, during the church's general conference. The temple is the third in the Philippines, following those in Manila and Cebu City.[3][4]

The temple has a single spire and a gold statue of the angel Moroni.[5] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify beginning of construction, was held on January 16, 2019.[6] The temple was dedicated by Dallin H. Oaks of the church's First Presidency on April 28, 2024.[7]

The first president of the temple is Roberto W. Yu, with Ofelia G. Manarin Yu serving as the matron.[8]

History

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On October 2, 2010, during the church's general conference, Monson announced the intent to construct a temple in Urdaneta City, Philippines.[9][10]

The temple is located in the southern area of Urdaneta,[11] approximately 100 miles north of Metro Manila on Luzon, the largest and most populated island in the Philippines. The temple will help serve over 50 stakes and districts in the area.[12]

The groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of construction, was held on January 16, 2019, with Jeffrey R. Holland presiding.[2][13] The event was attended by local church members and community leaders, including the mayor of Urdaneta.[6][14] The groundbreaking occurred 8 years after the announcement, with three more temples announced for the Philippines during that time.[15] During construction various challenges were faced, including the temple site’s marshy land, which made it difficult to establish a strong foundation.[16][3] Dallin H. Oaks, who dedicated the temple, previously served for two years as president of the church's Philippines Area while he was a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.[17] Oaks focused his efforts on increasing the number of temples in the country.[17] At the time of his service in 2002, the church in the Philippines was experiencing rapids growth and had 600,000 members, but not enough members had a temple recommend for Oaks to recommend building an additional temple.[18][19] As of 2024, the Philippines has 13 temples either operating or in some form of construction or design.[20] As of April 2024, the church reports having 867,271 members, 23 missions, and 128 stakes in the Philippines.[20]

Temples in the Philippines

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This is the church's third temple in the Philippines, following the Manila (1984) and Cebu City (2010) temples.[21] More temples were announced in 2018 and 2019, with construction underway for the Alabang, Davao, and Bacolod temples.[22] As of February 2024, others have been announced, with no dates set yet for the groundbreaking ceremonies, which will bring the total temples in the Philippines to 13.[23][24][11] The church has experienced rapid growth in the country since missionaries first arrived in 1961. Since then, the church in the Philippines has gained more than 850,000 members, being the fourth most populous country of Latter-day Saints in the world.[25][26]

Design and architecture

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See also: Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)

The temple sits on a 32-acre (13 ha) site, and is constructed with concrete and golden sand granite from China.[16][21] The site was chosen by church leadership due to being in a central location to 200,000 members.[27] Oaks explained that church leaders build temples in the "center of the concentration" of their members, but that it all comes down to a spiritual choice, and the president of the church makes the selection.[25] The overall size of the temple is 32,604 sq ft (3,029.0 m2).[11] The exterior features a rectangular base with rounded corners, long, vertical windows, and a spire with a statue of the angel Moroni.[3] The building is 136 feet (41.6 m) to the top including the angel Moroni statue.[21] The building has both Spanish and Asian influences.[28]

Inside the temple, there are two instruction rooms used for the endowment, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry, each designed to perform specific ordinances sacred to church members.[4] The temple site also features an ancillary building of 22,593 sq ft (2,099.0 m2), and contains a visitors' center, patron housing, apartments for the temple presidency, and a distribution center.[27][21]

The interior of the temple uses a variety of materials from outside the Philippines. The flooring is tile from Israel and Palestine, instruction room carpeting from the United States, with rugs from Thailand and New Zealand. Tiling in the baptistry is from Italy, and the oxen are made of painted fiberglass. Light fixtures were fabricated in Hong Kong, with furniture and seating from Vietnam. Millwork and doors of the temple are made from African mahogany.[21]

The landscaping around the temple features six acacia trees, as well as a number of palm trees and shrubs.[3][16] One of the motifs of the temple include the Sampaguita flower, which has symbolism to the Filipino people of humility, purity, strength and simplicity.[27] Another motifs of the temple is the mango.[21]

Art glass seen from the exterior of the temple features the sampaguita flower with three vertical bands. When viewed on the inside, the art glass gives the flowers purple and green highlights.[21]

Admittance and use

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On December 11, 2023, the church announced a public open house, which was held from March 15-30, 2024 (excluding Sundays). This allowed individuals of all faiths to experience the temple's architecture and learn about the ordinances to be performed inside.[29] The temple was dedicated in two sessions by Dallin H. Oaks on April 28, 2024.[30] Entry into the temple is available to church members holding a valid temple recommend.[31]

See also

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Temples in the Philippines, Luzon Region
= Operating
= Under construction
= Announced
= Temporarily Closed

References

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  1. ^ Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved 11 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019". Newsroom. LDS Church. 19 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Urdaneta Philippines Temple | Church News Almanac". Almanac. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  4. ^ a b "Urdaneta Philippines Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  5. ^ "See photos of the Angel Moroni statue being lifted to the steeple of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple". Deseret News. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  6. ^ a b "'It will be majestic': Filipino Latter-day Saints celebrate groundbreaking of new temple". Church News. 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  7. ^ "President Oaks dedicates Urdaneta Philippines Temple for faithful Filipino members who 'believe these things' and 'do them'". Church News. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  8. ^ "Meet the new leaders of the Caracas Venezuela and Urdaneta Philippines temples". Church News. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  9. ^ Deseret News: President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples
  10. ^ "Urdaneta Philippines Temple construction to begin in 2019. Here's a quick look at the Church's growth in the country". Church News. 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  11. ^ a b c Jones, Mark (2024-04-28). "President Oaks dedicates the Urdaneta Philippines Temple". KSLTV.com. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  12. ^ "President Oaks Dedicates Urdaneta Philippines Temple". news-ph.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  13. ^ "Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Ground Broken by Church Leaders", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2019-01-16
  14. ^ "Urdaneta Philippines Temple Groundbreaking | News | RCHITECTS, Inc. | Architectural Firm Philippines". www.rchitects.ph. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  15. ^ "Urdaneta Philippines Temple ready for open house, dedication". Church News. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  16. ^ a b c "Latest News on the Urdaneta Philippines Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  17. ^ a b "As President Oaks prepares to dedicate the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, he reflects on his service in the Southeast Asian nation". Church News. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  18. ^ "President Oaks dedicates Urdaneta Philippines Temple for faithful Filipino members who 'believe these things' and 'do them'". Deseret News. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  19. ^ "As President Oaks prepares to dedicate the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, he reflects on his service in the Southeast Asian nation". Church News. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  20. ^ a b "Urdaneta Philippines Temple ready for open house, dedication". Church News. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "Urdaneta Philippines Temple ready for open house, dedication". Church News. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  22. ^ "First Presidency Announces Groundbreaking Date for 4th Temple in PH", Church News, 24 January 2020. Retrieved on 5 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Temples in Mexico, the Philippines and Utah: Groundbreaking announced for Knoxville Tennessee Temple and location released for the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, 11 December 2023
  24. ^ This includes temples planned for Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, Santiago, Tacloban City, Tuguegarao City.
  25. ^ a b Resurreccion, Lyn (2024-05-12). "Latter-day Saints new temple to serve 200,000 members around Pangasinan | Lyn Resurreccion". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  26. ^ "Public invited to tour new Urdaneta Temple". Business Mirror. March 24, 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "Photo gallery: President Oaks dedicates the Church's 190th temple in Urdaneta, Philippines". Church News. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  28. ^ "Latter-day Saints new Pangasinan temple to be dedicated on April 28". April 21, 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Temples in Mexico Philippines Utah". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  30. ^ "Urdaneta Philippines Temple ready for open house, dedication". Church News. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  31. ^ "Church Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
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