Photo Essay: Artworks of the Davao Philippines Temple by Children and Youth

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mindanao would go to great lengths just to visit the Manila or Cebu Philippines Temple. Several members would take ferry boats taking days before they arrive or pay for costly airline flights. Despite the long journey, faithful members of the Church take the arduous task of going to the temple because of their desire to worship God. Members in Mindanao eagerly await as the Davao Philippines Temple nears completion each day. 

Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where members make formal promises and commitments to God. 

"I know that Heavenly Father loves me because we have many temples around the world. I know that the temple is a holy place. It is the House of the Lord. I love the song “I Love to See the Temple.” I’m excited to enter the Davao Philippines Temple. Now, I will prepare myself to be worthy to enter the House of the Lord." — Alfred Canoneo

"The temple is the House of the Lord. Just by seeing the temple in real life or in pictures, I am reminded of my Savior, Jesus Christ. The temple resembles cleanliness and purity. Whenever I see the temple, I feel the presence of our Savior. It brings me joy and peace when I am in the house of the Lord, for I know that sacred ordinances are done within its walls. Hence, by doing the sacred ordinances in the temple, I can Hear Him." — Elemuel I. Prajenog

"Ever since I was small, I could tell that the temple was a special place. I was taught that temples are sacred places. When I was a child, I enjoyed visiting the temple in Manila. I enjoyed wandering around while my parents were inside. I especially love its beauty and uniqueness from other buildings I had seen."

"Now, I enjoy visits to the temple because I can do baptisms for the dead. By doing proxy baptisms, I can help family members on the other side of the veil. While the temple is still being built here in Davao, I can index names. By doing this, I can #HearHim even if there is a pandemic. I can also #HearHim by ensuring that I am worthy to enter the temple. I am grateful that a new temple is being built here in Davao, and that I will be able to enter it soon. I know that the Lord wants us to be worthy to enter His house. I know that He wants us to help others come unto Him on both sides of the veil. I know He wants us to strive to #HearHim and encourage others to do the same." — Anela Canlas

"I feel closer to Him when I am in the temple because the temple is the house of God, and the Holy Ghost is always there. The temple helps me think about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The temple always makes me happy." — Jamela Rain C. Cortes 

"An artist cannot predict the exact outcome of their own masterpiece, what is certain is the beautiful outcome of their work brought about by patience, diligence, long-suffering, and love These traits teach us the importance of having patience when things do not go our way, diligence with our responsibilities, and long-suffering in spite of loneliness and isolation. I look forward to the the construction of the Davao Philippines Temple. This will be a source of light, hope, and faith amidst crisis." — Love Leah Cuyno

About Temples
Temples are not regular places of Sunday worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are quite different from the thousands of regular chapels or meetinghouses all over the world that are used for Sunday services.

Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church, who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. A member must be observing the basic principles of the faith and attest to that fact to his or her local leaders once every two years in order to enter a temple.

The sacredness of the temple anciently can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Moses had the children of Israel carry with them the Tabernacle (a large, portable temple) as they wandered in the wilderness. King Solomon built and dedicated the great temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. It was rebuilt and later substantially expanded, but again destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. The great Western Wall can still be seen in Jerusalem today, and even after millennia, remains a sacred site for Jews. The New Testament gives an account of Jesus Christ clearing the temples when its sacredness was violated by people using its courts as a common market.

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Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity.

Temples serve as the only place where ceremonies such as baptism and eternal marriage can be performed in behalf of those who have died —a practice that Latter-day Saints believe was followed in New Testament times but that later was lost.

Temples point Latter-day Saints to Jesus Christ and their eventual life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.

Vist Church Newsroom Philippines for updates on the construction and completion of the Davao Philippines Temple.