Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with community leaders in Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday, December 3, 2016, to break ground for a new temple. This will be the ninth temple in Canada.
- Winnipeg Temple groundbreaking
- Winnipeg Temple groundbreaking
- Winnipeg Temple groundbreaking
- Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
- Winnipeg Temple groundbreaking
| 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 |
Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department presided at the ceremony. Several local Latter-day Saint and community and civic leaders also attended.
“The temple helps us prepare to be better people, to choose good over evil, to be more kind, more loving, more like Jesus Christ,” said Elder Wilson. “This is a unique design. There is not another temple in the world that looks like this.”
Janice Lukes, city councilor for South Winnipeg, St. Norbert Ward, said, “The temple will definitely be an iconic building here in Winnipeg. Each faith community is a tremendous asset to the greater community.”
Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, expressed appreciation for the Church's community service efforts. “While attending your event on behalf of Winnipeg Harvest I felt the spirit of your generosity.”
Belle Jarniewski, president of Manitoba Multi-Faith Council, said the new temple will add a new dimension for the inter-faith community. “It will be a place to reflect, to share the peacefulness of the grounds and reflect on the beauty of the building itself.”
The temple was announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson at the Church’s April 2011 general conference.
Once construction of the new temple begins, it will take approximately two years to complete.
To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are the “house of the Lord,” the most sacred places on earth. Unlike meetinghouses, where Sabbath worship and weekly activities take place, temples are open throughout the week and closed on Sundays.
Temple services bind families together forever, teach the purpose of life and explain God’s plan of salvation. Temple attendance emphasizes personal spiritual growth and strengthens Latter-day Saints’ commitment to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
There are currently 155 operating temples throughout the world with another 22 temples under construction or announced, and four are being renovated.