Cincinnati Temple Breaks Ground in Ohio
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began construction of a new temple in Cincinnati, its third in Ohio.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Latter-Day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for the Cincinnati Ohio Temple, a single-story structure of 29,630 square feet. Elder Alan T. Phillips, a member of the General Authority Seventy, conducted the event.
Why it matters
Cleveland and Columbus are currently the only Ohio cities with operating LDS temples, so the Cincinnati building will expand access for members across the state. Ohio is home to nearly 66,000 church members meeting in 130 congregations.
The 29,630-square-foot, single-story temple will be the church's third in Ohio, joining operating temples in Cleveland and Columbus. The source does not specify a construction timeline or dedication date.
The players
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A Christian denomination headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, known for building temples worldwide and for its global missionary program.
Elder Alan T. Phillips
A member of the church's General Authority Seventy who presided over the Cincinnati temple groundbreaking.
The details
Elder Alan T. Phillips conducted the groundbreaking as a member of the General Authority Seventy. The Kirtland Temple, built in 1836 when Kirtland served as church headquarters from 1831 to 1838, is no longer an operating temple.
Timeline
1831-1838: Kirtland serves as the church's headquarters.
1836: The Kirtland Temple is constructed.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Groundbreaking ceremony held for the Cincinnati Ohio Temple.
Roadmap
The Cincinnati project continues a pattern that began with the Kirtland Temple, constructed in 1836 during the church's headquarters period in Ohio. Today the state's LDS presence has shifted toward operating temples in Cleveland and Columbus rather than Kirtland, which is no longer used as a temple.
Cincinnati-area members will gain a nearby temple once construction is complete, reducing travel to Cleveland or Columbus for temple worship. Residents near the site may see construction activity during the building phase.
The takeaway
Members in southwest Ohio should watch for updates on the temple's construction timeline, since the source does not yet provide a completion date.
Further reading
Explore more Latter-Day Saints coverage to see how the church is expanding its temple network.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC 4.
