Jacksonville Florida Temple Groundbreaking Marks Decades of Faith and prophecy Fulfilled
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A long-awaited milestone for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was reached on January 24,2026,with the groundbreaking for the Jacksonville Florida Temple,a project rooted in a prophecy dating back to 1947. The ceremony signifies not only the expansion of the Church in the Southeastern United States but also the culmination of nearly eight decades of dedicated growth and unwavering faith within the Florida community.
A Prophecy Realized: From Stake to Temple
The origins of the Jacksonville Temple can be traced back to January 19, 1947, when Elder Charles A. Callis and Elder Harold B.Lee of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles established Florida’s first stake in Jacksonville. This event was especially meaningful as it represented the first stake of the Church in the entire South. According to a recounting at the groundbreaking ceremony by Elder Massimo De Feo, Elder Callis “prophesied that many other stakes would be organized in this land,” and specifically, “that one day, a house of the Lord would be built here.”
That prophecy is now becoming reality, thanks to the dedication of generations of members. “I want to thank the members, you dear brothers and sisters, for your faithfulness, because you are making this possible – because you are allowing the Lord to fulfill His promises because of your faithfulness,” Elder De Feo stated during the ceremony.
First of Many in 2026, Part of a Growing Florida presence
Elder De Feo, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the United States Southeast Area presidency, presided over the Jacksonville temple’s groundbreaking, marking the first such event of 2026 for the Church. Notably, ground was also broken on the same day for the João Pessoa Brazil Temple, demonstrating a global expansion of sacred spaces. Information and photos from the livestreamed Jacksonville ceremony were published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The Jacksonville temple is not being built in isolation. It represents a surge in temple construction within Florida, coming just five months after the groundbreaking for the Tampa Florida Temple. This marks the first time two temples in the state have been together under construction. Currently, Florida boasts five houses of the lord in various stages – with the Orlando Florida Temple (dedicated 1994), Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple (dedicated 2014), and Tallahassee Florida Temple (dedicated 2024) already dedicated, though the Orlando temple underwent temporary closure in July 2024 for renovations.
A Beacon of Hope and Unity
The future Jacksonville Florida Temple is planned as a single-story structure encompassing approximately 29,000 square feet, situated on a 6.6-acre site at 3323 Loretto Road. The project was announced by the late President Russell M. Nelson on October 2, 2022, as part of a larger initiative identifying 18 new temple locations during the October 2022 general conference.
Elder De Feo articulated the temple’s intended role within the broader community, stating, “This house of the Lord will be a beacon for the community. It will be a symbol of Jesus Christ… a symbol of peace, a symbol of unity, a symbol of interfaith dialog, a symbol that we are all children of Heavenly Father, who loves all of us, nonetheless of our beliefs.” In his dedicatory prayer, Elder De Feo expressed a hope that the temple would radiate “light, hope and truth” to all who encounter it, encouraging visitors to “recognise the Light of the Savior, feel hope in the Savior and know the truth about the Savior.”
A History of Growth in the Sunshine State
The journey of the Church in florida began in 1845 with the arrival of the first missionaries. Initial growth was slow, with the Hassell Branch established in Jefferson County on May 9, 1897, and a membership of just 1,230 by 1904. Today, Florida is home to a thriving Latter-day Saint population of over 176,000 members organized into approximately 280 congregations, a testament to decades of dedicated missionary work and faithful members. The Jacksonville Florida Temple stands as a powerful symbol of that growth and a promise of continued blessings for generations to come.
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