Tagbilaran Latter-day Saints Look Forward to New Stake Center

The Tagbilaran Philippines Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held the long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony for its new Stake Center on October 5, 2024, at the construction site along Carlos P. Garcia North Avenue in Tagbilaran City.

In addition to serving as a Stake Center, the building will house the Tagbilaran Institute of Religion and a Family History Center. Experts estimate that construction will be completed within two to three years.

The event was attended by Tagbilaran Mayor Jane C. Yap, who congratulated the Church and expressed her gratitude for choosing Tagbilaran as the site for the new Stake Center. In her remarks, she emphasized the building’s potential benefit to the city. “This ceremony is not just the laying of physical infrastructure, but the laying of hope for the next generation.”

The proposed three-story building will be located near the heart of the city, an area frequented by travelers from nearby towns. Church meetinghouses are used for Sabbath day worship services and weekday activities such as youth groups, socials, service projects, and sporting events. They are open to the public, and visitors are very welcome to observe or respectfully participate.

Joining Mayor Yap were members of the Tagbilaran Stake Presidency, led by President Marben O. Belarmino. In his remarks, President Belarmino expressed gratitude for the support of the city’s leadership and of the local Latter-day Saints. He shared, “As we build chapels, we build faith; as we build faith, we strengthen families; and as we build strong families, we create a God-loving, law-abiding society.”

He added, “As people enter its doors, they will feel the Savior’s love and find a place where the broken are healed, the lost find direction, and the weary find rest.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by many Latter-day Saints from the area, including bishops and other Church leaders. The Tagbilaran Tabernacle Choir, which had prepared for months, provided inspiring music for the event.

Church meetinghouses vary in size and type based on local needs and conditions. They may be Church-constructed or purchased spaces, a member’s home, a local school or community center, a leased space, or another approved option. Once completed, the Tagbilaran Stake Center will be dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ through a dedicatory prayer, signifying its sacred purpose.

For Latter-day Saints, meetinghouses are sacred spaces dedicated to worship, gospel learning, fellowship, and appropriate activities that help bring people to Christ. The use of meetinghouses is considered a privilege, and they are meant to be places where individuals can draw closer to the Savior.

Welcoming people to participate in meetinghouse activities and using these buildings to bless the community are ways to “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

All who use the meetinghouse should be considerate of others, making every effort to accommodate their needs. This includes scheduling the use of spaces, controlling noise levels, and keeping activities within their scheduled time.