The Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple is a

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

Abidjan Abidjan ( , ; N'Ko script, N'ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the largest city and the former capital of Ivory Coast. As of the Demographics of Ivory Coast, 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of the overall population ...

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...

. The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president

Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (August 21, 1927 – January 2, 2018) was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As president, he was considered by adherents of the rel ...

on April 5, 2015, during general conference. It was announced concurrently with the Bangkok Thailand and Port-au-Prince Haiti temples. It is the first temple in Ivory Coast and the seventh on the African continent. The temple was designed by FFKR Architects, using a Mid-Century Modern architectural style. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on November 8, 2018, conducted by Neil L. Andersen of the

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting. In a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature), a quorum is necessary to conduct the business of ...

History

The temple was announced by Thomas S. Monson on April 5, 2015''.'' On October 4, 2018, the church announced that the temple would be constructed in Cocody City in

, and that a groundbreaking ceremony would take place the following month. On November 8, 2018, a groundbreaking ceremony to signify the beginning of construction took place, with Neil L. Andersen presiding. Also attending were church general authorities Marcus B. Nash and

Edward Dube Edward Dube (born 12 May 1962) has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since April 2013. He is the first Zimbabwean and the second black African to be a general authority.Stack, Peggy Fletcher ...

, along with

Daniel Kablan Duncan Daniel Kablan Duncan (born 30 June 1943) is an Ivorian politician. He previously served as Prime Minister of Ivory Coast from 11 December 1993 to 24 December 1999 and again from November 2012 to January 2017. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs ...

, the country's vice president and former prime minister of the Ivory Coast. On November 11, 2024, the church announced that a public open house would be held from May 1-17, 2025. Following that open house, the temple was dedicated on May 25, 2025, by Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Design and architecture

The building uses a Mid-Century Modern architectural style and traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by FFKR Architects, its architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Abidjan region and its spiritual significance to the church. The temple is on a 0.55-acre plot, with its landscaping having trees, shrubs, and flowers, to provide a setting that enhances the site's sacred atmosphere. The structure stands one story tall and has a single attached end spire with a statue of the

angel Moroni The angel Moroni () is an angel whom Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, reported as having visited him on numerous occasions, beginning on September 21, 1823. According to Smith, the angel Moroni was the guardian of the gold ...

, constructed with lime plaster over concrete blocks. The exterior has decorations around the doors, windows, and cornices, which use geometric patterns based on Mid-Century Modern designs and African tribal decorations.

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a

temple president Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of a church temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity. ...

and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. The first president and matron are Rex J. Allen and Nancy A. Allen.

Admittance

On November 11, 2024, the church announced the public open house that was held from May 1-17, 2025 (excluding Sundays). The temple was dedicated on May 25, 2025, by Ronald A. Rasband. Like all the church's temples, it is not used for

Sunday worship In Christianity, the Lord's Day refers to Sunday, the traditional day of communal worship. It is the first day of the week in the Hebrew calendar and traditional Christian calendars. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the ...

services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current

temple recommend In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord. Temples are considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usuall ...

can enter for worship.

References

External links