No new LDS temples for now, but President Monson says more to come

The Gilbert Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated Sunday, March 2.

Photo courtesy of John Power

SALT LAKE CITY LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson did not announce any new temples on Saturday morning during the opening session of the 184th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Monson said the church will focus on completing 28 temples around the world already under construction or that had been announced at earlier conferences.

"Although we are currently concentrating our efforts on completing the previously announced temples and will not be announcing any new temples in the immediate future, we will continue the process of determining needs and of finding locations for temples yet to come," he said. "Announcements will then be made in future general conferences. We are a temple-building and a temple-attending people."

This is the second consecutive conference without an announcement of a new temple. Such announcements had been a common part of the Saturday morning sessions of conferences during a temple building surge that saw the church go from 50 to 142 temples in 27 years.

Already, 85 percent of church members live within 200 miles of a temple, both Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said during talks on Saturday.

President Monson dedicated the church's 142nd operating temple on March 2 in Gilbert, Ariz. President Monson or another church leader will dedicate the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple on May 4.

"Other temples are scheduled to be completed and dedicated later this year," President Monson said. "In 2015 we anticipate completing and dedicating new temples in many parts of the world. This process will continue."

The church has not yet announced dates for any other temple dedications.

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No new LDS temples for now, but President Monson says more to come