Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

During his opening remarks at the April 2011 annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced that Canada's ninth temple would be built in Winnipeg, the capital, and largest city of Manitoba, Canada. In Manitoba, there are 4,700 Latter-day Saints organized in 14 local congregations. The closest temples for these Church members are the Regina Saskatchewan Temple and the Bismarck North Dakota Temple.

There are currently eight temples in Canada to serve the 194,000 Latter-day Saints. The other temples are located in Calgary, Cardston, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Regina, Toronto and Vancouver. The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will serve members of the Winnipeg area who currently travel 400 miles (600 kilometers)—a 6½-hour drive—to the Regina Saskatchewan Temple. The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will be the first temple built in Manitoba.

The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will stand on a beautiful tract of land at the entrance to The Neighbourhoods of Bridgwater located in the southwestern portion of the city. The design for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple draws inspiration from the churches of old Winnipeg. It features a red brick exterior, slate roof, and gold-colored spire over the main entrance. Original art glass windows will depict the prairie crocus. Plans include the use of Manitoba Tyndall stone.

When the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is built, it will include a baptistry; one ordinance room (stationary), where members learn about the purpose of life and the role of Jesus Christ; one sealing room, where marriages take place; and a celestial room, a room that represents eternal life with God. The 16,100 square foot edifice will be located on 2 Centre Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Temple worship is an important aspect of religious life for members of the Church. It helps them gain a big picture perspective, feel peace, receive answers to their prayers, and recommit to living moral, virtuous lives. The temple is also important because it is where families are sealed together for eternity.

Early Missionary Work in Manitoba

The Church first came to Manitoba at the end of the 19th century. In 1896, the president of the Church’s Canadian Mission wrote to John Sherman, a member of the Church who had immigrated from Alberta to Manitoba, asking if he would like missionaries sent to the area. A month later, seven missionaries were called to the area. Many early converts to the Church in Manitoba immigrated to areas with greater Church membership, but gradually membership grew from 37 members in 1909 to approximately 4,000 members today.

One of the largest gatherings of members in the province was held 4 August 1998, when President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed an audience of over 1,500 members who had gathered in the Winnipeg Manitoba Stake Center to hear the Prophet's words. He said, "I have asked your stake president how far you go to the temple. Some drive 14 hours." He continued, "Sometime you will have a temple. But not now. Keep on driving. I urge every one of you, don't wait for it.” At the conclusion of his remarks, he told the people, "Every man, woman, boy and girl in this Church is important. The Lord will bless you as you serve Him in righteousness."

Groundbreaking and Site Dedication Announced

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are welcoming the announcement of the groundbreaking date for the first Latter-day Saint temple in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Church leaders announced on 17 November 2016 that the event will be held on Saturday, 3 December 2016 at 12:00 pm. The temple site is located on 7.7 acres of land at 2 Center Street in Winnipeg.

The ceremony will be under the direction of Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Larry Y. Wilson, of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department. Community, government, and interfaith leaders will also be in attendance. Due to limited space, attendance at the event is by invitation, with the general public invited to view the proceedings live from local Church meetinghouses.

Ground Breaking Ceremony

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with community leaders in Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday, 3 December 2016, to break ground for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. This will be the ninth temple constructed in Canada.

Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department presided at the ceremony. Several local Latter-day Saint and community and civic leaders also attended.

In his remarks, Elder Wilson said, "The temple helps us prepare to be better people, to choose good over evil, to be more kind, more loving, more like Jesus Christ. This is a unique design. There is not another temple in the world that looks like this."

City councilor for South Winnipeg, St. Norbert Ward, Janice Lukes said, "The temple will definitely be an iconic building here in Winnipeg. Each faith community is a tremendous asset to the greater community."

Terry Duguid, a member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, expressed appreciation for the Church’s community service efforts and stated, "While attending your event on behalf of Winnipeg Harvest I felt the spirit of your generosity."

Belle Jarniewski, President of Manitoba Multi-Faith Council, said the new temple "will be a place to reflect, to share the peacefulness of the grounds and reflect on the beauty of the building itself."

Public Open House, Youth Devotional, and Dedication Dates Announced

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for the public open house, dedication, and youth devotional for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple.

People of all faiths, including children, are invited to attend an open house of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Admission is free, and no reservations are required. An open house will be conducted starting on Thursday, 22 October 2020, through Saturday, 31 October 2020. An open house will not be conducted on Sunday, 25 October 2020. Persons wishing to attend the open house should dress modestly. Parking attendants will direct people to an available parking space.

Open house tours begin in the church next to the temple with a short video providing an overview of temples and why they are significant to members of the Church. Following the video, a tour host will escort you on a walking tour of the temple.

A youth devotional will be held on the evening prior to the dedication, on Saturday, 7 November 2020. Youth ages 12–18 are invited to hear from Church leaders. The devotional will be held in the meetinghouse next to the temple and will be broadcast to other meetinghouses in the temple district.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple on Sunday, 8 November 2020, in three sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m. All sessions will be broadcast to meetinghouses in the temple district.

Open House and Temple Dedication Postponed

On 1 September 2020, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that, because of concern for the effects of COVID-19, the open house, youth devotional, and dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple are postponed until large public gatherings are deemed safe.

First Presidency Announces New Open House, Youth Devotional, Dedication Dates for Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

After a year-long delay due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and precautions, the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will become the first temple to be dedicated for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in more than a year and a half.

On Monday, 30 August 2021, the First Presidency announced the new dates for the Winnipeg temple's public house, youth devotional, and dedication. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate Canada's ninth temple on Sunday, 31 October 2021, in four sessions — at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2 p.m., with an additional session if needed. All dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to meetinghouses in the temple district.

When dedicated, the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will be the 169th operating temple worldwide — the first to be dedicated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the latest being the Durban South Africa Temple in February 2020.

The free open house is scheduled to run from Saturday, 9 October 2021 through Saturday, 23 October 2021, with the exception of the two Sundays, 10 and 17 October 2021, and Monday, 11 October 2021 — Canada's Thanksgiving Day holiday.

A devotional for youth ages 12-18 will be held a week prior to the dedication of the temple, on Sunday, 24 October 2021. The 6 p.m. devotional will be broadcast throughout the temple district.

Provincial COVID-19 protocols will be followed throughout all the announced events.

Dedication of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at Sunday’s four dedicatory sessions of the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. He was joined by Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong and Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, both General Authority Seventies, and their wives: Sister Susan Gong, Sister Carol Wong, and Sister Silvia Valenzuela.

The traditional temple cornerstone ceremony was held a day earlier on Saturday, 30 October 2021.

Elder Gong told the Church News, "Every temple is a blessing to people in their respective areas — and all their generations on both sides of the veil. The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is the ninth temple in Canada and the 169th temple in the Church. For the people of this area, it is a blessing that they have hoped for but never knew if it would come. Now this blessing has come." He added that President Russell M. Nelson has "taught everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people comes together in the temple."

If time permitted, Elder Gong would enjoy sitting down with every Latter-day Saint living in the new Winnipeg temple district. His counsel for each one would be the same:

We hope each member has a valid temple recommend and that he or she uses it often to bless others. Find joy on the covenant path. You will find the Savior at the center of everything connected to the temple. Become part of the wonderful excitement and blessing of the work of salvation for family members and friends on both sides of the veil.

Sister Gong commented, "The youth already have an understanding of the importance of the temple and an appreciation for what the temple is. They all have plans to participate in ordinances here. We hope that they can always keep that vision — and then pass that on to their children and their children’s children, so that the sacred nature of the temple can be real in their lives through generations.

Elder Valenzuela said, "The rising generation will have the opportunity to come often to the temple and be strengthened in their testimonies. It is beautiful to have the house of the Lord in your own town." Sister Valenzuela added that young Latter-day Saints in the Winnipeg temple district now have a new refuge. She said, "Here they can feel peace and the love of the Lord. That can change their hearts to be better."

The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is the first temple the Church that has been dedicated since 16 February 2020, when Elder Ronald A. Rasband presided over the dedication of the Durban South Africa Temple. Then the COVID-19 outbreak placed temple dedications on hold.

Other Temples in Canada

• Calgary Alberta Temple
• Cardston Alberta Temple
• Edmonton Alberta Temple
• Halifax Nova Scotia Temple
• Lethbridge Alberta Temple
• Montreal Quebec Temple
• Regina Saskatchewan Temple
• Toronto Ontario Temple
• Vancouver British Columbia Temple
• Victoria British Columbia Temple
• Winnipeg Manitoba Temple