The Philippines is on track to have the most operating temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Asia by the end of 2026, as multiple temples are scheduled for dedication this year. Currently, Japan is home to the first temple built in Asia, the Tokyo Japan Temple, dedicated in 1980 — followed by the Fukuoka Japan Temple (dedicated 2000), the Sapporo Japan Temple (2016), and the Okinawa Japan Temple (dedicated 2023). An additional temple has also been announced for Osaka, Japan.
In the Philippines, three temples are currently dedicated and in operation — the Manila Philippines Temple (dedicated 1984), the Cebu City Philippines Temple (2010), and the Urdaneta Philippines Temple (2024). Three more temples are scheduled for dedication in 2026: the Alabang Philippines Temple on January 18, the Davao Philippines Temple on May 3, and the Bacolod Philippines Temple on May 31. Once dedicated, these temples will bring the total number of operating temples in the Philippines to six.
In addition to these, the Philippines has several more temples under construction and in planning or design. Temples in Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban City are currently under construction, while others announced for cities including Naga, Santiago, Tuguegarao City, Iloilo, Laoag, and San Jose del Monte are in planning phases. In total, there are 14 Philippines temples that are operating, under construction, or announced.
Across the Church worldwide, temples are designated houses of the Lord — sacred spaces distinct from regular meetinghouses used for weekly worship. A chapel or meetinghouse is the building where congregations (wards and branches) gather for Sunday worship services and activities. A stake center typically serves as a larger meetinghouse for multiple congregations within a stake. Temples, by contrast, are set apart for ordinances such as baptisms and marriage among others. In biblical times, temples served as the dwelling place of God among His people, and this ancient pattern continues in modern temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints.
Faithful disciples of Jesus Christ attend temples to participate in these sacred ordinances, which members believe draw them closer to the Savior and help strengthen families. One such ordinance is temple marriage — referred to within the Church as sealing. Members who are married or sealed in the temple are taught that their family relationships can endure beyond this life and into eternity, rather than ending at death. Each ordinance performed in the temple is centered on Jesus Christ and the Atonement He provided for all mankind.
With the scheduled temple dedications in 2026, the Philippines will surpass other countries in Asia for the number of dedicated temples in operation. This development underscores both the growth of the Church in the Philippines and the ongoing emphasis on making temple worship more accessible to faithful members in the region.
