Ground Is Broken for Lethbridge Alberta Temple

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with community representatives in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, to break ground for a new temple. More than 550 guests attended the groundbreaking event, including 100 community, interfaith, government, business and Indigenous leaders.

Elder Randall K. Bennett, General Authority Seventy and president of the North America Central Area, presided at the ceremony. “My prayer today is that no matter how close or how far away you live, you’ll be intentional about scheduling time to be in the temple,” said Elder Bennett. “I promise you it will change your life.”

Area Seventy Elder David C. Stewart emphasized, “The temple is for everyone. The grounds will be open to the public, and you can come at any time; sit on the grounds in the middle of a chaotic world. You can take a few minutes and talk to your God. Spend a few minutes in contemplation and private meditation.”

Elder Stewart spoke of the blessing of having a temple in Lethbridge for Latter-day Saints. He shared a story of his friend Tim Hamilton, who uses a mechanical wheelchair. When Hamilton learned a temple would be built in Lethbridge, he said, “That’s a big deal for someone like me. It’s hard for me to get to the nearest temple in Cardston [Alberta]. A HandiBus will not pick me up in Lethbridge and take me to Cardston, but a HandiBus will pick me up and take me to West Lethbridge and come back and get me.”

General Authority Seventy Elder James E. Evanson said, “We should never lose sight of what the Lord is doing now as He is making his temples more accessible and accelerating the pace at which temples are being built, … making it easier for everyone to become spiritually refined.”

Richard Low, Lethbridge communication director for the Church, added, “We know that wherever there is a temple, it brings a spiritual strength to the whole community. Whether it is a Muslim mosque, a Sikh temple, a Catholic cathedral or a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the message is that we celebrate religious diversity in a peaceful and unifying way.”

Blood Tribe Indigenous Elder Floyd Big Head attended the event and said he was deeply honoured to be included. He described feeling the Spirit of God “very strongly.” Big Head gave a spontaneous blessing on the temple, a praise song to “honour the people and recognize the big accomplishment.” He prayed for the members of the Church and that the land and building would be “a place of unity” and lead people to the “good life.”

Latter-day Saint Clayne Steed of the Raymond Alberta Stake described the occasion as a day of joy and gladness. “I know the temple will fill our lives and the lives of those in this community with light,” he said.

Jinnie Salmon, a Church member from the Medicine Hat Alberta Stake and speaker at the groundbreaking, expressed, “As we spend time in the temple, our loving Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost will be closer to us. I believe this is why temples are being built in these latter days.”

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said he was grateful to be >part of such a meaningful day. He added, “I can’t wait to see [the temple’s] completion.”

To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are “houses of the Lord,” the most sacred places on Earth. Latter-day Saints worship in temples for several reasons: to feel God’s love and peace, to learn more about God’s plan for His children and the gospel of Jesus Christ, to make promises with God and with one’s husband or wife and to unite families in this life and the next through sacred ordinances. Temple attendance emphasizes personal spiritual growth and strengthens Latter-day Saints’ commitment to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the Lethbridge Alberta Temple at the Church’s April 2023 general conference. It will be Canada’s 10th temple and one of 11 temples operating or announced in Canada, including the Calgary Alberta Temple, Cardston Alberta Temple, Edmonton Alberta Temple, Halifax Nova Scotia Temple, Montreal Quebec Temple, Regina Saskatchewan Temple, Toronto Ontario Temple, Vancouver British Columbia Temple, Victoria British Columbia Temple and Winnipeg Manitoba Temple.

There are currently 195 operating temples throughout the world, with another 187 temples under construction, under renovation or announced.

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