Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson on 1 October 2011.
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Number | 163 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dedicated | 14 April 2019 Dale G. Renlund | by ||||||||||||||||||||||
Floor area | 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Rome Italy Temple | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Followed by | Fortaleza Brazil Temple | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Official website • News & images | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
The temple was announced concurrently with the Barranquilla Colombia, Durban South Africa, Star Valley Wyoming, and Provo City Center temples. When announced, this increased the total number of temples worldwide to 166.
A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, took place on 12 February 2016, with Neil L. Andersen presiding. A public open house was held in March 2019.[3] The lead negotiator for the temple, both with the government and with local subcontractors, was Norman Kamosi, a former Air Congo executive and member of the Congolese Parliament. Kamosi joined the LDS Church in Washington DC, after having fled there when Kabile came to power.
Following the public open house, the temple was dedicated on April 14, 2019 by Dale G. Renlund, with the dedicatory prayer given in French.[4] and is the fourth operating temple in Africa.[5]
The temple is a single-story building with a concrete and fill structure and a steel superstructure. Unlike most of the church's other temples, the building is not topped with a statue of the angel Moroni, although the building is designed to support one if added later. The temple is built on a 10-acre site that it shares with other existing buildings owned by the LDS Church, including a meetinghouse and an institute building, the latter also being used for seminary classes.[6]
In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[7]
See also
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
References
- "Ground Broken for First Central Africa Temple: Africa now has three temples in development, three more in operation". Newsroom, United Kingdom. LDS Church. 12 February 2016.
- Walker, Joseph (1 October 2011). "LDS general conference opens with the announcement of six new Mormon temples". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- "Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple". Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- "Kinshasa DRC LDS Temple", Reaveley Engineers + Associates, Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
- Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
Additional reading
- “Continue in Humility” Stories of the Saints in the DR Congo
- Blacklds.org Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
External links
- Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Official site
- Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org