Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for the Singapore Temple

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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with government, interfaith, and community leaders, gathered on Saturday, June 28, 2025, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Singapore Temple — the first temple of the Church in the country.

Among the honored guests was Mr. Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, who joined more than 500 attendees on site and other locations in commemorating this significant milestone.

Elder Kelly R. Johnson of the Asia Area Presidency presided at the ceremony and offered a dedicatory prayer. “As we break ground,” he prayed, “please bless us with a greater determination to prepare now for the Second Coming of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, and to make our discipleship of Jesus Christ our highest priority.”

The encouragement of being spiritually prepared echoed throughout the remarks shared by speakers.

“This preparation isn’t just about getting ready for a building — it’s about preparing our hearts to draw closer to the Savior,” said Jarel Foo, a young man from the Sembawang Ward. “Just like the construction workers will be carefully laying each foundation stone, we get to carefully build our own spiritual foundation, one choice at a time.”

For Latter-day Saints like Brother Foo, temples are houses of the Lord, the most sacred places on earth. They worship in temples primarily to make promises with God and participate in sacred ceremonies such as eternal marriages that unite families now and beyond this life. The holiness of the temple inspires members to reflect on their spiritual standing before God, seek for a closer relationship with Him and to feel His love and peace.

“As we grow in our understanding of Him through the ordinances and teachings in the temple, we begin to see more clearly who Christ is, and who we are to Him,” said Krystine Osumo from the Young Single Adult Ward. “If there’s anything that gives me confidence after going to the temple, it’s knowing that I don’t have to be perfect before I feel His presence and support in my life.”

Rita Woo from the Newton Ward, one of the Church’s pioneers in Singapore since 1970, reflected on the Church’s early days in the country.

“Back then I had never even heard of temples since we didn’t even have a chapel,” Sister Woo said. Church members in Singapore, like her, had to make sacrifices to travel to places like Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila or even the United States to participate in temple ceremonies. Having a temple in their own country is something they “have prayed for, hoped for and looked forward to for many years,” she said.

Since its establishment in 1968, the Church in Singapore has grown to more than 3,000 members. Their long-awaited dream became a reality when Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple during the April 2021 general conference.

With their prayers being answered, Sister Woo said what’s more important than coming to the groundbreaking ceremony is “our regular temple attendance and living the covenants we make in the temple that will give us the strength and protection we need. Let us remember to not just go through the temple but to have the covenants we make in the temple go through us.”

For his closing remarks, Elder Johnson said, “The work of the temple is a work of love. The temple here in Singapore will make a difference for the entire community. It will bring a light to the community that hasn’t been here before.”

The Singapore Temple will be constructed on a one-acre site located at 233 Pasir Panjang Road. Plans include a two-story temple of approximately 18,000 square feet, along with a meetinghouse and arrival center adjacent to the temple. In addition to serving Church members in Singapore, this temple will also bless Latter-day Saints in Malaysia and Indonesia, offering them a sacred place to worship closer to home.

Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies that unite families forever.