Urdanetta Philippines Temple

Urdaneta Philippines Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

ANNOUNCED
2 October 2010

ANNOUNCED BY
President Thomas S. Monson

GROUNDBREAKING
16 January 2019

GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

DEDICATED
28 April 2024

DEDICATED BY
Elder Dallin H. Oaks

DEDICATION ORDER
190

LOCATION
MacArthur Highway
Barangay Nancayasan
Urdaneta City, 2428 Pangasinan
Philippines

PHONE
(+63) 075-204-6600

Description

The Urdaneta Philippines Temple is a planned temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be constructed in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines. More than 780,000 Latter-day Saints live in the Philippines, spread throughout 1,218 congregations in this country of more than 107 million people. There are ninety-nine stakes and districts in the area. Urdaneta is located approximately 100 miles north of Manila on the island of Luzon. Luzon is the largest and most populated island in the Philippines.

The Urdaneta Philippines Temple will help serve the 99 stakes and districts in the Luzon Island Group currently served by the Manila Philippines Temple.

History

The first Filipino to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aniceta Fajardo, was baptized in 1946, after being introduced to the Church by Latter-day Saint servicemen stationed in the country during World War II. A few other Filipinos joined the Church in the 1940s and 1950s, but missionary work did not begin in earnest until 1961.

The growth of the Church accelerated quickly, and by the end of the 1960s, the Church had a presence on eight major islands. The first stake in the Philippines was organized in Manila in 1974 by Elder Ezra Taft Benson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The faithful service of Latter-day Saints led to the construction of the country’s first temple, dedicated in 1984 in Manila. In addition, the Church began translating materials into multiple Philippine languages.

In the 1990s Church membership grew to over a quarter of a million members, and today there are more than 850,000 Latter-day Saints in the Philippines. Another temple was built in Cebu in June 2010, and the Urdaneta temple was announced in October 2010.

Working closely with community members of many faiths, Latter-day Saints have provided aid to their fellow Filipinos during natural disasters and are working to help those in need. Members of the Church value education and self-reliance and strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ in all they do.

Announcement

On 2 October 2010, during opening remarks at the Saturday morning session of the Church’s 180th Semiannual General Conference, church president Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of a temple in Urdaneta City, Philippines.[1] Taylor, Scott, “President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples”. Deseret News. Retrieved 2010-10-02.

Philippines Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

  • –

Under Construction

  • –

Dedicated

ANNOUNCED ORDER
155

Date2010 10 02
ByThomas S. Monson
RolePresident
ViaGeneral Conference

⮜Preceded by Indianapolis Indiana
Followed by Hartford Connecticut⮞

Groundbreaking Announced

On 19 November 2018 the church announced that the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be held Wednesday, 16 January 2019. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the event.[2]“Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 19 Nov. 2018, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/construction-urdaneta-philippines-temple-january-2019.

Render Released

An Architectural Rendering of the temple design was released on Monday 19 November of 2018.[3]“Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 19 Nov. 2018, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/construction-urdaneta-philippines-temple-january-2019.

Render of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple. Copyright Intellectual Reserve.

Groundbreaking

Senior Church leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with community and interfaith leaders in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines, on Wednesday, 16 January 2019, to break ground for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the ceremony. He was joined by Elder Evan A. Schmutz, Elder Michael John U. Teh and Elder Taniela B. Wakolo of the Philippines Area Presidency. Attendance for the ceremony was by invitation only, with the general public invited to view the proceedings on Facebook Live. [4]”Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 19 Nov. 2018.

GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
172

Date2019 01 16
ByJeffry R. Holland
RoleApostle
Attendees#

⮜Preceded by Abidjan Ivory Coast
Followed by Bangkok Thailand⮞

Open House/Dedication Announced

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the open house and dedication dates for the Layton Utah Temple, the Puebla Mexico Temple and the Urdaneta Philippines Temple on 11 December 2023.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, will preside at the dedication of the Urdaneta Philippines Temple on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Two sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. PHT. The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all congregations in the Urdaneta Philippines Temple District. Additional details regarding the temple dedication will be announced at a future date. [5]“Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Temples in Mexico Philippines Utah.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 11 Dec. 2023, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/open-house-and-dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-philippines-utah.

Open House

A media day for the Temple open house was held Tuesday morning, March 12 2024.

Hosting the media were the three General Authority Seventies who comprise the Church’s Philippines Area presidency — Elder Steven R. Bangerter, president, and his counselors, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi and Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr. Also participating in the day’s events was Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department.

Over several days following Tuesday’s media day, invited guests will tour the temple, with a public open house running from Monday, March 18, through Saturday, March 30, excluding Sundays.

Start Date2024 03 12
End Date2024 03 30
Days63,500
Attendees14
Per day4,535.71

Dedication

President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Urdaneta Philippines Temple on April 28, 2024. The temple was the third dedicated in the Philippines.

For President Oaks, his trip was a welcome visit back to a country he grew to love when he was assigned to preside over the Philippines Area from 2002 to 2004 while serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After missionary work began in 1961, membership growth in the Philippine islands was explosive, springing to around 600,000 by 2002. The purpose of President Oaks’ direct oversight, however, was to increase the number of priesthood ordinations and temple recommends — neither of which had kept pace with membership growth.

“They are a loyal, wonderful, obedient, faithful, Christian people,” President Oaks said of Filipinos.

“There were many things that changed,” recalled Sister Kristen M. Oaks. “You talked about the culture, you talked about tithing, you talked about Church attendance, you made a huge difference. And they did it.”

It was really rather simple, she said. When the faithful Filipino Latter-day Saints learn what the Lord expects of them, “they do it.”[6]Weaver, Sarah Jane. “President Oaks Dedicates the Urdaneta Philippines Temple.” Church News, 19 Dec. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/04/28/president-dallin-h-oaks-dedicates-urdaneta-philippines-temple-kristen-oaks.

DEDICATION ORDER
190

Date2024 04 28
ByDallin H. Oaks
Role1st Counselor
Sessions2
Attendees#

⮜Preceeded by Red Cliffs Utah
Followed by Puebla Mexico⮞

Dedicatory Prayer

Construction Duration

SpanDuration
Announced
to
Groundbreaking		8 y,
3 m,
14 d
Groundbreaking
to
Dedication		5 y,
3 m,
12 d
Announced
to
Dedication		13 y,
6 m,
26 d

Dedicatory Order

GLOBAL

190

REGION
ASIA
11

COUNTRY
PHILIPPINES
3

STATE
PANGASINAN
1

COUNTY
–
–

CITY
URDANETA
1

Summary

The Urdaneta Philippines Temple will be the third temple built in the Philippines, following the Manila Philippines (1984) and Cebu City Philippines (2010) temples.

Detail

Groundbreaking Scheduled

Announced

Dedication Scheduled

Under Construction

Under Renovation

Renovation Sheduled

Presidents

Temple PresidentTemple MatronYears Served
Roberto Baylon YuOfelia Garin Manarin Yu2024–

Details

Location

The temple site is located in Barangay Nancayasan, Urdaneta City, fronting MacArthur Highway.

Location

Latitude#
Longitude#

Phone

Elevation

FeetMeters

Site

AcresHectares

Exterior

text

Cladding

text

Water Course
Windows

text

Spandrel panel

Exterior Finish

text

Architectural Features

text

Specifications

FeetMeters
Height##
To Shoulder##
Width##
Length##
Footprint##

Symbolism

Inscription

text

text

Order
Location
Language
Type
Color
Setting
Font
Glyph
Church Name
Temple Name
Dates
Cornerstone

text

text

Location
Faces
Material
Set
Edge
Type
Finish
Language

Spires and Finial

Spires

text

Spire Details

Spires#
Location#
Finish#
Type
shape#
Tower shape
Moroni

text

Sculptor:Karl Quilter
Commissioned:1978
Completed:1985
Material:Fiberglass
Height:10 ft (3.2 m)
Weight:~400 lbs (136.1 kg)
Currently On:51 temples
Finish:Gold
Placed:2022 06 14
Faces:West

Interior

text

Entry

text

Area32,240 f2
(2,995.19 m2)
Floors above grade
Floors below Grade
Baptistries
Initiatories
Endowment Rooms
Sealing Rooms
Baptistry

text

Baptistries:
Location:
Exterior Windows:
Artwork:
Artwork Type:
Oxen:
Type:
Hoof:
Color:
Layout:
Font Exterior:
Interior:
Shape:
Bowl Shape:
Pillar:
Stairs:
Font Well:
Initiatory Spaces

text

Styledetached, attached, combined
Typestationary, progressive
Rooms#
*Estimated
Instruction Rooms

text

te

Rooms#
Type#
Capacity#
Muralsy/n
Total Muraled Rooms#
Mural Type
*Estimated
Celestial Room

text-images

Sealing Room

text-images

Sealing Rooms
Largest Capacity

Individuals and Contractors

Manager   
Also Did   
Contractor  
Also Did   
Manager  
responsability  

Region

TEMPLES IN ASIA by country

Cambodia1Phnom Penh
China2Hong Kong · Shanghai
India1Bengaluru
Indonesia1Jakarta
Japan4Fukuoka · Okinawa · Osaka · Sapporo · Tokyo
Mongolia1Ulaanbaatar
Philippines14Alabang · Bacolod · Cagayan de Oro · Cebu City · Davao · Iloilo · Laoag · Manila · Naga · San Jose del Monte · Santiago · Tacloban City · Tuguegarao City · Urdaneta
Singapore1Singapore
South Korea1Seoul · Busan
Taiwan2Kaohsiung · Taipei
Thailand1Bangkok

Sources and Links

References

References
↑1 Taylor, Scott, “President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples”. Deseret News. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
↑2, ↑3 “Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 19 Nov. 2018, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/construction-urdaneta-philippines-temple-january-2019.
↑4 ”Construction of Urdaneta Philippines Temple Will Begin in January 2019,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 19 Nov. 2018.
↑5 “Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Temples in Mexico Philippines Utah.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 11 Dec. 2023, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/open-house-and-dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-philippines-utah.
↑6 Weaver, Sarah Jane. “President Oaks Dedicates the Urdaneta Philippines Temple.” Church News, 19 Dec. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/04/28/president-dallin-h-oaks-dedicates-urdaneta-philippines-temple-kristen-oaks.

Last updated on: 20 January 2026