The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground on the Ephraim Utah Temple on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. President Russell M. Nelson presided at the event. Photo credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
EPHRAIM, Utah — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground on the Ephraim Utah Temple on Saturday.
Church President Russell M. Nelson presided and spoke at the event.
“The history of this area includes my own family,” President Nelson said during Saturday’s event. “My dear mother was born in Ephraim, not far from this very temple site. My father was born in Manti. Three of my four grandparents were born here in Ephraim. All eight of my great-grandparents lived in Ephraim.”
President Nelson was accompanied at the event by his wife, Wendy. Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, and their wives were also in attendance.
Among the invited guests was Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who was raised in nearby Fairview.
The temple will be built near the intersection of 200 N. 400 East in Ephraim on 9.16 acres of land. The temple will be a three-story structure and will be roughly 39,000 square feet.
The Ephraim Utah Temple was first announced in May 2021 by President Nelson. It is the second temple to be built in Sanpete County. The first temple to be built in Sanpete County is in Manti. However, that temple is currently under renovation and is expected to be rededicated sometime next year.
In Utah, the church has 28 temples that are either in operation, under construction/renovation or have been announced.
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