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Excitement is building in Mandarin as the stage is set for a significant milestone: the groundbreaking of a new temple. The ceremony will take place on January 24, 2024, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated project for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the construction of this temple is slated to commence in early 2026. The Church officially announced on Tuesday that the Jacksonville Florida Temple will break ground on Saturday, January 24, 2026, setting the wheels in motion for this major development.
The temple will stand on a 29,000 square-foot plot at 3323 Loretto Road in Mandarin. This project was first unveiled three years ago, in October 2022, when Church President and Prophet Russell M. Nelson revealed plans for 17 new temples worldwide, from Mexico to Korea. At that time, he emphasized the Lord’s efforts in expanding temple accessibility, accelerating construction, and enhancing spiritual opportunities for individuals and communities.
“Let us never lose sight of what the Lord is doing for us now,” President Nelson remarked during the announcement. “He is making His temples more accessible. He is accelerating the pace at which we are building temples. He is increasing our ability to help gather Israel. He is also making it easier for each of us to become spiritually refined.”
The upcoming ceremony will be a private event, with Elder Massimo De Feo, First Counselor in the United States Southeast Area Presidency, presiding over the select gathering. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Church in Jacksonville, promising a future filled with spiritual growth and community enrichment.
Elder Massimo De Feo, First Counselor in the United States Southeast Area Presidency, is scheduled to preside at the ceremony over an invite-only crowd.
Once built, Florida will have five temples:
- Tallahassee
- Fort Lauderdale
- Orlando (under renovation)
- Tampa (under construction)
- Jacksonville (to be constructed)
According to a Church spokesperson, the state is home to nearly 180,000 Latter-Day Saints in around 280 congregations. Many of them gather at local Church meetinghouses for everyday worship open to all, but the temples differ in purpose. They are used for sacred ceremonies, such as marriages, and entry is more restricted.
