Church Pauses New Temple Announcements

In a significant departure from what had become a semiannual tradition, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced there will be no new temples revealed during the 195th Semiannual General Conference. The announcement was made by President Dallin H. Oaks, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, during the concluding session on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

This marks the first conference in years without a list of new temple locations, a practice that had defined the presidency of the late President Russell M. Nelson. President Nelson, who passed away on September 27, 2025, just a week before the conference, made the announcement of new temples a capstone event for members worldwide. During his nearly seven-year ministry as president, he announced an unprecedented 200 new temples.

President Oaks, presiding at the conference following President Nelson's death, directly addressed the expectations of church members. "He loved to announce new temples at the conclusion of each general conference, and we all rejoiced with him," President Oaks said of President Nelson.

He then provided the reasoning for the change in course, stating that the decision was made with the approval of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "However, with the large number of temples now in the very earliest phases of planning and construction, it is appropriate that we slow down the announcement of new temples," President Oaks announced.

The move signals a strategic shift to focus resources and attention on the extensive pipeline of projects already underway, which as of April 2025, brought the church's total number of temples operating, under construction, or announced to 382. While no new temples were named, President Oaks assured members that the church would "move forward in providing the ordinances of the temple to members of the Church throughout the world, including when and where to announce the construction of new temples."

• The Nelson Era of Temple Building
  The presidency of Russell M. Nelson, from January 2018 to September 2025, was characterized by the most rapid acceleration of temple building in the church's history. He announced 200 temples, an average of nearly 29 per year.
• A Substantial Backlog of Projects
  The sheer volume of announcements has created a significant backlog of projects. Of the 200 temples announced by President Nelson, only 28 were dedicated and operating by October 2025. At that time, 56 were under construction, while a combined 110 were in various stages of planning, with 64 of those still awaiting a specific site announcement.

This prolific pace included several historic moments, such as the announcement of 20 new temples in April 2021, a record for the most locations named in a single conference. This was followed by another 20 temples in October 2023 and 15 more as recently as the April 2025 General Conference.

This data underscores the official rationale for the pause: to allow the Church's Temple Department and construction crews to make progress on the numerous projects already in the pipeline.

• A Deliberate and Strategic Pause
  President Oaks was clear that the decision was a deliberate one, made by the presiding quorum of the church to manage the current workload. His statement that it is "appropriate that we slow down" suggests a practical, logistical consideration rather than a permanent halt to expansion.

This move was met with understanding by many online observers, who noted the strain that such rapid announcements must place on the departments responsible for site selection, design, and construction management.

• Shift in Conference Tradition
  For many Latter-day Saints, the reading of new temple locations at the end of General Conference had become a cherished and highly anticipated moment. President Nelson's announcements often generated significant excitement and joy, particularly for members in regions named for a future temple.

President Oaks acknowledged this tradition in his remarks, framing the pause as a tribute to the success of President Nelson's efforts while also managing future expectations.

• Leadership and Governance Context
  The announcement occurred during a unique period of church governance. Following the death of a church president, the First Presidency is automatically dissolved, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles becomes the presiding body, led by its most senior member.

As President of the Quorum, Dallin H. Oaks is serving as the presiding authority for the church until a new First Presidency is formally reorganized, making this temple announcement one of his first major public statements in that capacity.

• Global Construction Logistics
  Building temples across the globe is a complex undertaking that involves far more than an initial announcement. Each project requires navigating local zoning and permitting laws, acquiring suitable land, developing architectural plans that are culturally and environmentally appropriate, and securing skilled labor and materials.

A pause in new announcements allows the church to dedicate its full attention to the 62 temples currently under construction and the many more in planning and design phases.

• Historical Perspective on Temple Expansion
  While the Nelson era is unprecedented, it builds on a legacy of expansion. President Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008) initiated a previous period of rapid growth, famously announcing plans in 1998 to construct as many as 32 new temples, though he did not list all the specific locations at that time.

The recent pause reflects a recurring pattern in church history where periods of intense growth are followed by periods of consolidation and focus on completing existing work.