Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency will preside at the event, marking the formal start of construction for this long-awaited house of the Lord.

A Growing Presence in the Philippines

The Naga temple, first announced in 2022, serves as a testament to the thriving faith of over 900,000 Latter-day Saints across the nation. It will become the third temple currently under construction in the country, joining the sites in Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban City.

This announcement comes during a year of unprecedented growth for the Church in the Philippines. With the dedication of the Alabang, Bacolod, and Davao temples earlier in 2026, there are now six operating houses of the Lord in the country, complementing those in Cebu City, Manila, and Urdaneta.

A Sanctuary for Families

While all are welcome to join Sunday worship services at local meetinghouses, the primary purpose of temples is to provide a sacred space for members to participate in ceremonies that unite families for eternity.

As President Dallin H. Oaks shared in October 2025, “The sealing powers of the priesthood… bring families together for eternity.” The upcoming temple in Naga will offer a beautiful, permanent sanctuary for members to experience these blessings, deepening their connection to heaven and to each other.

To read more about this news, visit Church Newsroom.

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“The temple is a powerful symbol of the light of Jesus Christ that has now come to Davao,” Elder Kopischke shared during the media preview. “It is a symbol of peace and understanding.”

To help you make the most of this historic season, he extended five heartfelt invitations to every visitor who walks through these sacred gates.

1. Look Beyond the Structure

While the craftsmanship is breathtaking, Elder Kopischke invites us to look past the physical beauty of the brick and mortar. The temple is more than a landmark; it is a testament to the eternal nature of the soul and the strength of the families it serves.

2. Take Time to Ponder

The temple grounds are a refuge from the noise of the world. Use this visit as a rare opportunity to be still. We encourage you to reflect, listen to your heart, and bring your questions—we are here to answer them and seek truth alongside you.

3. Feel the Light and Peace

There is a unique spirit found within these walls and throughout the surrounding gardens. You are invited to simply feel. In this environment of love, many find a sense of calm and clarity that is difficult to find anywhere else.

4. Ask the Most Important Question

As you tour the rooms, Elder Kopischke suggests asking yourself: “What is Jesus Christ offering me?” This temple is a physical representation of His grace, His promises, and His desire to be part of our daily lives.

5. Be a Channel of Invitation

If you feel something special during your visit, don’t keep it to yourself. Use your own voice and your own channels to invite as many people as possible. Help others experience the same peace and beauty that you found here.

Plan Your Visit The Philippines Davao Temple Open House runs from March 26 to April 10, 2026. Everyone—regardless of faith or background—is warmly invited to attend. Bring a friend, bring your family, and come experience the peace for yourself.

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Sacred vs Secret

There is a vast difference between sanctity and secrecy. Those who perform ordinances inside Mormon temples do not divulge the activities to the public because they are sacred. These are available only to those who are worthy and have sincere intent. They are not secret because they need to be kept hidden. These ordinances are sacred because they need to be kept pure and undefiled. The blessings of temple ordinances are available to all. There is no bias or prejudice. Mormons follow specific steps to be worthy to enter temples. This process is a form of purification through which those who seek to come to the temple find joy and have their lives blessed.

So what goes on inside Mormon Temples?

Endowment

This ordinance is a beautiful reminder of who we are and why we are here on earth. Heavenly Father prepared a beautiful plan for us even before the world was created and the endowment teaches this eternal truth. This is a beautiful reminder that good will always prevail over evil. This session gives specific instructions to help us in this mortal life and as we prepare for the eternities. We make sacred covenants and become spiritually renewed in the process.

Eternal Marriage

Mormons perform eternal marriages inside temples. During the ceremony, a couple is bound for time and all eternity. The marriage performed here rises above “til death do us part”. As a man and a woman make sacred vows to each other, they also make covenants with the Lord. Couples married inside the temple are to put highest priority on their spouses, second only to their relationship with the Lord. Mormons believe that eternal marriage allows them to have their spouse and their future children bound to them forever as they are obedient to the laws of the Lord.

Family Sealing

Those whose parents were not originally married in the temple will have the same opportunities as those who have been through the ordinance of eternal marriage. This is called the sealing ordinance. Married couples are sealed for time and all eternity and if there are children, they too are sealed to their parents through this sacred ordinance. This ordinance binds families together so strongly that even death cannot separate them for long, giving them the precious promise that they can be together again in the next life, if they follow the commandments the best they can during their lives. Mormons put great importance on family relationships.

Vicarious Work

Mormons perform ordinances for the dead in temples. Those who have already departed no longer have the chance to perform sacred ordinances in the temple for themselves. They need the love and effort of those who are living. Inside the temple, this beautiful proxy work is possible. Living family members or friends of deceased persons perform baptism, confirmation, endowment, marriage, and sealing for the departed. They do all these ordinances in behalf of the dead. Mormons believe that the mercy and the love of God reaches even the afterlife. The vicarious work done in Mormon temples is a beautiful example of this.

As we look at the things that go on inside Mormon temples, we see how the Lord has prepared a way for His children to find joy and peace in this world. We see that He is mindful of the individual lives of His children. He has the perfect remedy for all our struggles and worries. Mormon temples are oases for personal healing and a source of strength for families. With these available to everyone, what goes on inside Mormon temples is no secret at all. It is a loving reminder that what is most important in this life is worth all of our effort and preparation.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlwRyYTEUic

In the bible, there are various accounts where the Lord commanded his people to build temples where he could teach, guide and bless them. In the 25^th chapter of the Book of Exodus, while the Israelites were travelling in the wilderness, the Lord spoke unto Moses saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering…and let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25: 2,8) Moreover, in the days of King Solomon, Son of David, spoke to Huram, the King of Tyre, saying, “Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the solemn feast of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.” (2 Chronicles 2:4) We learn from these scripture verses that even in the times of old, building of sacred temples has been a commandment from the Lord and these temples are built to perform saving ordinances. In our day, the Lord commands to build temples for the same purpose – to perform sacred rites for the salvation of men.

In the olden times and even today, not everyone can enter into these temples. It requires worthiness and faithfulness to the Lord’s commandments of Church members. When a temple building is finished, the public are invited to visit inside the temple where explanations concerning the work done in each room are given.  However, after the temples are dedicated and sacred activities have already begun, public visits are no longer permitted.

Sacred ordinances performed in the temple unite family relationships beyond the grave for time and all eternity. Mormon temples are built both for the living and the dead. Some ordinances performed in temples are baptism for the dead, institution of marriage which unites a husband and wife, and the sealing of families together for eternity.

If you’d like to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its beliefs, please contact us.

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