News for Temples in California, Samoa and Germany

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has scheduled the Modesto California Temple open house for October 13-31, 2026, and its dedication for November 22, 2026. Additionally, the Church announced the Hamburg Germany Temple site at Wartenau 20 and a renovation closure for the Apia Samoa Temple beginning December 23, 2026.

When is the Modesto California Temple opening?

The Modesto California Temple open house begins with a media day on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Invited guests will tour the facility on October 14 and 15, followed by a public open house from October 16 through October 31, excluding Sundays.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication on Sunday, November 22, 2026. The Church will broadcast the dedicatory session to congregations within the Modesto California Temple district.

This expansion serves a significant population. According to Church data, nearly 730,000 Latter-day Saints live in California, meeting in approximately 1,000 congregations. The Modesto location joins a network of existing state temples, including those in Fresno, Oakland, and Sacramento.

Why is the Apia Samoa Temple closing?

The Apia Samoa Temple will close for extensive renovations starting December 23, 2026. The Church has encouraged members in the temple district to visit other temples or coordinate with surrounding facilities for necessary ordinances during this period.

The facility has a history of resilience. First dedicated in 1983, the structure was later destroyed by fire. President Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the temple in 2005 after it was rebuilt. This upcoming renovation reflects a broader trend of maintaining aging infrastructure to support the 90,000 members and 170 congregations in Samoa.

Where will the Hamburg Germany Temple be located?

The Hamburg Germany Temple will be constructed on a 1.4-acre site at Wartenau 20, Hamburg, Germany. Announced in 2023, this will be the third temple in Germany, following the Frankfurt and Freiberg temples dedicated in the 1980s.

Germany currently hosts more than 40,000 members who meet in nearly 150 congregations. The placement of a third temple in the country suggests a strategy of increasing accessibility for European members, reducing the travel distance required for temple worship.

How do these announcements reflect broader Church trends?

These three updates highlight a three-pronged global strategy: saturation in high-density areas, lifecycle maintenance, and strategic international growth.

In California, the Church is moving toward a model of higher accessibility. By adding Modesto to a list that includes rededications in San Diego and new announcements in Bakersfield, the Church reduces the “travel burden” on its 730,000 California members. This mirrors a global shift toward building more, smaller temples rather than a few massive regional hubs.

The Apia Samoa renovation demonstrates a commitment to “evergreen” infrastructure. Because temples are viewed as permanent houses of the Lord, the Church invests in extensive renovations—similar to the 2005 rebuild—rather than replacing facilities. This ensures that the 90,000 Samoan members have a sustainable place of worship.

The Hamburg announcement signals a targeted expansion in Europe. While Germany has had temples since the 1980s, the addition of a third site indicates that the current member base of 40,000 has reached a density that justifies a new facility.

President Dallin H. Oaks linked these physical structures to core beliefs during a recent general conference. He stated that the Church’s doctrine centers on the family and that temple ordinances “enable us to return as eternal families to the presence of our Heavenly Father.”

Comparison of Regional Member Density

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