Groundbreaking for a Third Ohio Temple
Nearly three months after Ohio’s second operating temple was dedicated, ground has been broken for a third. The Cincinnati Ohio Temple, located in Mason, Ohio, has entered its construction phase following a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, November 7. Elder Alan T. Phillips, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the event and offered the dedicatory prayer. He serves as a member of the United States Northeast Area presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“May this house of the Lord be a light to this city, pointing all who see it to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World,” said Elder Phillips, echoing the significance of the occasion.
Photos and information from the livestreamed groundbreaking were published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org on the same day.
Elder Phillips noted the historical connection, stating, “It was in Ohio where priesthood keys were restored in the Kirtland Temple in 1836 to seal families together for eternity. We are humbled that blessings first restored in this state will now be available in a holy house in Cincinnati.” He also recognized the pioneers who made this possible, saying, "We honor those who have gone before us: the early Saints of Ohio, who sacrificed so much, and the faithful members of these stakes who have traveled many miles to worship. They have laid a foundation of faith upon which we now build.”
Cincinnati played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, serving as "a bridge to freedom" for many escaping bondage. Elder Phillips drew a parallel, stating, "A temple is a bridge too, a bridge between heaven and earth."
He bore witness of God’s love, stating, "Heavenly Father loves His children. He loves you, the faithful Saints of the greater Cincinnati area." He concluded, "You are seen. You are known. You are loved. You are His work and His glory."
In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Phillips requested that Heavenly Father hallow and protect the site, "a place of holiness and great spiritual power." He expressed the hope that once built, the temple would be "a beacon of light to this city, a place to worship, a place to learn, a place to receive Thy power."
Details of the Cincinnati Temple
As previously announced, the Cincinnati temple will be a single-story building covering approximately 29,630 square feet. The sacred edifice will be located on a 35-acre site southwest of the intersection of Mason-Montgomery Road and Cedar Village Drive in Mason, Ohio, a suburban area about 20 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati.
Then-Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple for Cincinnati on April 7, 2024, as part of 15 temple announcements made during the April 2024 general conference.
After its completion and dedication, the Cincinnati temple will join two other operating temples in Ohio: the Columbus temple, dedicated in September 1999, and the Cleveland temple, scheduled for dedication in August 2026.
Missionary work in Ohio began in October 1830, just six months after the restored Church was established. Kirtland, Ohio, served as Church headquarters from 1831 to 1838. The state played a significant role in the early structure of the Church, with important events including the organization of the First Presidency in March 1832 and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in February 1835.
Today, Ohio is home to approximately 66,000 Latter-day Saints across more than 130 wards and branches.