The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the site for a new temple in Greenville, South Carolina. The 8.8-acre site is located south of the intersection of Independence Boulevard/Ponders Road and Roper Mountain Road in Greenville. The plans call for an 18,850-square-foot, single-story temple, which will be the second in the state, joining the Columbia South Carolina Temple dedicated in 1999.

Temple Will Be a Symbol for 47,000 Latter-day Saints in South Carolina

According to the church’s website, nearly 47,000 Latter-day Saints live in South Carolina, meeting in around 90 congregations. The LDS Greenville Stake posted on Facebook, “We look forward with immense gratitude to watching this holy house rise as a symbol of light, peace, and hope in the community.”

The temple will be built on a nearly nine-acre site along I-85, as confirmed by a church release. Currently, the only temple in the state is located in Richland County near Columbia.

Prophet Nelson and the Church’s Spiritual Mission

President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in Salt Lake City in 1924 and has devoted his life to following Jesus Christ and serving others. He is known for his work as a heart surgeon and for his leadership in the church. The church teaches that God has called prophets throughout history to guide His children, including figures in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

According to the church, a living prophet today provides spiritual guidance tailored to modern times. The prophet holds the holy priesthood keys to perform sacred ordinances that allow members to make covenants with God and return to live with Him in the afterlife.

Church Adjusts Sunday Meeting Schedules

In March 2024, the First Presidency announced a new Sunday meeting schedule. For the first time since the 2019 schedule changes, members will meet for all Sunday meetings during the second hour. The new schedule includes a 55-minute sacrament meeting, 25 minutes for adult and youth Sunday School, and 25 minutes for various quorum and Relief Society meetings.

There will be a five-minute transition period between each block. The changes took effect in early September. The First Presidency explained that Sunday School and Primary will continue to study scriptures using the book “Come, Follow Me — For the Home and for the Church,” while quorums and societies will focus on recent general conference messages and youth resources.

Quorums and classes will no longer meet together to discuss specific topics before lessons, and meetings will now begin and end with prayer. The First Presidency’s letter was signed by President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors, Presidents Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson.