Ground Broken for the Naga Philippines Temple 

Ground was officially broken for the Naga Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 8, 2026, in Naga City, Camarines Sur. 

Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency presided at the event, which was attended by government, community and interfaith leaders, including Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, mayor of Naga City. 

“Everything that is taught in the temple relates to Jesus Christ,” Elder Shumway emphasized as he explained the purpose of temples. “There is no place better to learn about Jesus Christ than in the temple.”

He also taught that families are central to the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

“Essential to our doctrine of the family is the temple,” he said. “It is important to understand that temples exist for the purpose of exalting families.”

Eriberto Cedron Sr., a pioneer Church member from the Sipocot Philippines Stake, expressed gratitude for greater access to temple blessings. 

“I am grateful for the announcement that a temple will be built here in Naga, making it easier for us to receive the ordinances necessary for us to return to our Heavenly Father as a family,” Cedron said.

Other speakers also reflected on the significance of having a house of the Lord in their midst. 

“Every time I go to the temple, I gain an even stronger testimony that our Heavenly Father loves us,” said Milkah Grace Ramil, a young single adult from the Naga Philippines Stake. 

Ten-year-old Jenivee Ruth Jasareno of the Sipocot Philippines Stake added, “I will come to know and love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ even more.”

In the dedicatory prayer, Elder Shumway asked that the site and temple “be a place of peace and sacredness” and invited all to “rededicate our lives to Thee, to Thy Son, and to Thy work.”

The temple will be constructed on a 3.7-hectare site located at the intersection of Almeda Highway and Almeda Avenue in Barangay Concepcion Grande, Naga City. 

When completed, the Naga Philippines Temple will become the seventh temple in operation in the Philippines. Seven additional temples have been announced or are under construction throughout the country, which is home to more than 900,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 1,400 congregations. 

Temples are considered houses of the Lord, where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reaffirmed and where faithful members participate in sacred ordinances and make covenants that, through the power of Jesus Christ, allow families to be united for eternity.