Kcee Udonsi was streaming general conference on his mobile device in his Nigerian apartment when he heard President Russell M. Nelson announce a new temple for Eket, Nigeria.

Udonsi had anticipated a possible temple for Abuja, but not Eket, which is only an hour’s drive from where he lives in Uyo. Many Latter-day Saints can’t afford to travel the long distance to the Aba Nigeria Temple.

“I was shocked and super excited. I never expected it,” Udonsi wrote in a message to Church News. “Having a temple in Eket will be a great blessing for the Saints in that area. It will help strengthen testimonies and faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen family bonds. ... The Lord indeed remembers His people wherever they are.”

The forthcoming Eket Nigeria Temple was one of 18 announced by President Nelson at the conclusion of October 2022 general conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will build the new temples in the following locations:

• Busan, Korea
• Naga, Philippines
• Santiago, Philippines
• Eket, Nigeria
• Chiclayo, Peru
• Buenos Aires City Center, Argentina
• Londrina, Brazil
• Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
• Huehuetenango, Guatemala
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Prosper, Texas
• Lone Mountain, Nevada
• Tacoma, Washington
• Cuernavaca, Mexico
• Pachuca, Mexico
• Toluca, Mexico
• Tula, Mexico

President Russell M. Nelson announced 18 new temple locations during the Sunday afternoon session of the October 2022 general conference on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.

Aaron Thorup, for the Church News

Here is information on each new temple location, as reported at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, along with some reaction from members who live or have ties to these homes of future Houses of the Lord.

Busan, Korea

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Busan, Korea

Naga City, Philippines

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Naga, Philippines

Brian Passey, of Phoenix, Arizona, reflected on the growth of temples in the Philippines since his days there as a missionary.

“When I served as a missionary in Naga in the late 1990s, the only temple in the Philippines was in Manila,” he said. “Though Manila and Naga were on the same island, the cost of traveling to Manila was prohibitive for many. Having a temple in the Bicol Region will be a great blessing for the residents of that beautiful area of the Philippines.”

Santiago, Philippines

Página de Facebook de Ciudad de Santiago, Filipinas

Santiago, Philippines

Kendrick Navarro, who lives in North Salt Lake, was thrilled to hear the news about the Naga City and Santiago Philippines temples.

“These locations have a special meaning to me,” he wrote. “My dad grew up in Legaspi City, which is almost 60 miles away from Naga City, way closer than the Manila temple. His family is one of the pioneers in Legaspi City, and seeing the temple being built close to home is such an amazing blessing.”

Navarro was born in Laoag City, Philippines, and the closest operating temple now is the Manila temple. Ward temple trips constituted a 12-hour bus ride or an expensive flight.

“Having the Santiago temple and the Urdaneta temple (currently being constructed) will cut the travel time to almost half. I’m so excited for my people who will have the opportunity to go to the temple more often,” he said. “I can’t wait for the day for these temples to be dedicated and do ordinances in Ilokano in Ilokano regions. Truly, the Lord is mindful of all of His children wherever they are.”

Domingo C. Navarro Jr., of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, was also delighted by the news.

“Indeed, a marvelous work and wonder in this part of our country and in the world,” he said. “A very wonderful blessing to the faithfulness of the members all over Luzon. We are very grateful to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ for all these! ... Many more will receive the blessings of temple ordinances in this life and beyond.”

Eket, Nigeria

Udoka Udoka posted his reaction on Twitter.

“My hometown getting a temple was something I never dreamt of in 100 years,” he wrote. “Truly the Heavenly Father is hastening His work.”

Chiclayo, Peru

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Chiclayo, Peru

The Delgado family wasn’t expecting to hear a temple announced in their hometown of Chiclayo, Peru. Kendra Delgado, 29, her brother Aaron Delgado, 25, and aunt Margarita Delgado Cumpa, along with cousin Sinthia Delgado, 31, and her son, Sebastian Delgado, 8, as well as other family members, were in the Conference Center Sunday afternoon when the temples were announced.

Several members of the family, who now live in Orem, Utah, cried when they heard the announcement. They still have many Latter-day Saint relatives in Peru, including many who were pioneers in the area, Kendra said.

Sinthia Degado, left, with her cousins, Kendra Delgado and Aaron Delgado, her mother Margarita Delgado Crumpa, and her son Sebastian Delgado pose for a photo outside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City after the Sunday afternoon session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. While they live in Orem, Utah, they are originally from Chiclayo, Peru, one of the temple locations announced during the session.

Christine Rappleye, Church News

Kendra said it never seemed that Chiclayo — some 200 kilometers, or about 125 milies, from the nearest temple in Trujillo and not a “big, big city” — would be sacred space for a temple.

“It’s so beautiful,” she said of the announcement.

“We’re very grateful,” Aaron Delgado said. “It feels like we’re being noticed in a way.”

“It’s a miracle for Chiclayo,” Sinthia Delgado said.

Doug Gibson, of Ogden, Utah, served in the Peru Lima North Mission in 1983-84. He worked in Iquitos, Lima and Chimbote, but spent most of his time in Chiclayo.

“It must be a wonderful dream-come-true for them,” Gibson wrote.

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Buenos Aires City Center, Argentina

Londrina, Brazil

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Londrina, Brazil

Jacob Yospe, of Farmington, Utah, served his mission in Londrina.

“I felt overjoyed for the people in Londrina and the surrounding areas,” he said. “Before they had to make a very long bus trip to São Paulo, which was very expensive and a huge sacrifice.”

Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

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Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Huehuetenango, Guatemala

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Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Jacksonville, Florida

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Jacksonville, Florida

A thrilling feeling shot through Gail Pannell when she heard Jacksonville, Florida, the first U.S. city on the list.

“We never thought we would be lucky enough,” she said.

The Orlando temple is about a two-hour drive from where she lives, so she mostly goes there on Saturdays. Once a temple is built in Jacksonville, Pannell will be able to go much more often — especially because her stake has been focusing on family history and preparing their own names to take to the temple.

“I definitely think that it will bring a closer spirit to our area. If you are in the temple, preparing for the temple and thinking about temple things, then you are more in tune with the Spirit,” she said.

Matthew Checketts, of Bear River City, Utah, served his mission in Jacksonville.

“It’s amazing what temples do for the soul,” he wrote.

Amanda Weaver of the Whitehouse Ward, Jacksonville Florida West Stake, screamed with excitement when Jacksonville was announced. Her sister who lives right next door “has called me a million times,” she said. She told the Church News, “I never thought Jacksonville would get a temple in my lifetime.”

Weaver can’t wait for her children to watch the temple be built.

“This will be their temple,” she said. “I hope having this temple will help my children’s testimony strengthen and their love for our Savior grow immeasurably.”

Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Grand Rapids, Michigan

Havelah Allen lives in the Grand Rapids Michigan Stake.

“We have been praying and fasting as a stake to prepare ourselves for a temple in western Michigan,” she said. “We just started crying when it was announced.”

Allen said it has been sweet to hear the children and youth pray for a temple.

“I really hope that they understand that the Lord heard them.”

When Darren Jex and his family lived in St. Joseph, Michigan, the closest temple was in Chicago. Going to the temple was an all-day experience. The new temple in Grand Rapids will be just over an hours’ drive away.

“This is something we prayed for years would happen,” he wrote. “I’m so excited for our ward and stake family still there.”

Carrie McIntyre tweeted this reaction on Twitter:

“Our area has been working and praying for a temple. Some of you already know how much it means to my family, with two special-needs kids and no temple closer than three hours away,” she wrote. “Lots of sobbing in West Michigan today. Thank you, Lord.”

Prosper, Texas

Town of Prosper, Texas Government Facebook page

Prosper, Texas

The news caused tears to flow for John Livingstone.

“I am in tears,” he wrote in a tweet. “I spent almost eight months serving my mission in Prosper, Texas. What a wonderful place for a temple.”

Lone Mountain, Nevada

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Lone Mountain, Nevada

Kassie Stephens said the new temple will be a great blessing for the Las Vegas Valley.

“When I worked as an ordinance worker at the Las Vegas temple, I remember being impressed that if the work in the temple continued we would be getting another temple in the valley,” she said. “I’m so excited to see what the temple will look like and I feel like the Lone Mountain temple will bless the members and bring others to the gospel.”

Donna Sera, another member in the area, felt “overwhelmingly blessed” to know there will be two temples in the area, especially for how it will provide more opportunities for youth to participate in temple work.

“As southern Nevada continues to grow and membership increases, the new temple will make temple attendance more feasible for so many,” she said. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to visit the temple more often to perform temple work for our ancestors and enjoy the peace the temple brings us.”

Tacoma, Washington

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Tacoma, Washington

Alex McCain from Bothell, Washington, was in the Conference Center when the announcement was made about a new temple in Tacoma. He said he is excited for people who live south of Seattle to able to avoid a lot of the traffic congestion to get to the Seattle Washington Temple right now.

“It makes going to the temple a whole lot easier,” he said. “More temples, more blessings.”

The Chamberlain family in the Maple Valley Washington Stake — watching at home — threw their arms in the air and cheered.

“This is exciting for every Church member in Washington,” Monica Chamberlain said.

Matt Fry, of Garland, Utah, grew up in Bremerton, Washington, about 30 minutes from Tacoma.

“I was so excited to hear about one being built there,” he wrote. “It will cut the drive by almost an hour for all of my family and friends where I grew up. They are all so very excited. Many were brought to tears. It will be a great blessing for that area and for its surrounding members.”

George Slaughter, of Layton, Utah, recalled growing up and attending school in Tacoma.

“I remember attending the open house and dedication of the Seattle temple as a kid,” he wrote. “Never did I imagine there would be a temple in Tacoma. I was so surprised by the news I actually teared up a bit. So exciting!”

Four in Mexico

Cuernavaca, Mexico

Pachuca, Mexico

Toluca, Mexico

Tula, Mexico

Christine Rappleye, Nadia Gavarret, Rachel Gibson, Valerie Walton and Mary Richards contributed to this report.