Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Jacksonville Florida Temple

Church leaders and local members gathered this weekend for the groundbreaking of the Jacksonville Florida Temple, marking the official start of construction on the sacred site. The ceremonial turning of soil took place under the direction of Elder Massimo De Feo, First Counselor in the United States Southeast Area Presidency, who presided over the service.

In his dedicatory prayer, Elder De Feo expressed hope that the temple would serve as a beacon of light, hope, and truth, and become “a refuge for the weary, a place of revelation, and a symbol of Thy love.”

Several members shared their personal experiences with the temple. Lola Adolphson, of the Gainesville Florida Stake, spoke about the spiritual strength she gains through worship in the temple. “In the temple I feel the Savior’s love for me and those I am serving,” she said, adding that she is deeply grateful for the spirit and love she experiences there.

Florida is home to more than 176,000 Latter-day Saints across nearly 280 congregations. The state currently has dedicated temples in Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, while the Orlando Temple is under renovation and construction began on the Tampa Florida Temple in 2025.

The Jacksonville Temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson in October 2022. Speaking about the growing number of temples, President Nelson noted that the Lord is making temples increasingly accessible, accelerating their construction, and expanding the Church’s ability to gather Israel.

The groundbreaking in Jacksonville marks a significant milestone for the region’s Latter-day Saint community and brings the promise of a new spiritual center to Northeast Florida.