The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced its first temple in Maine, marking a notable shift from the traditional method of making such announcements during the bi-annual general conference. Elder Allen D. Haynie revealed the news during a Christmas devotional at the Portland Maine Stake on December 14, signaling a new approach by the Church’s leadership.
Elder Haynie conveyed that the Church’s First Presidency, comprising President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors, Presidents Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson, has opted for future temple announcements to be made by members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or the Area Presidency. He emphasized that this was a historic occasion, stating, “Such an announcement by a member of an Area Presidency has never occurred before.”
The new temple is planned for the Portland area, providing a more accessible place of worship for the local community. Currently, the nearest temple is located nearly two hours away in Boston, Massachusetts, which has been in operation since October 2000. While specific details regarding the temple’s location and construction timeline have not yet been disclosed, further information is expected in the future.
President Oaks had previously indicated during the October 2025 general conference that the Church would be slowing down its temple announcements due to a significant number of temples already in various stages of planning and construction. Elder Haynie reiterated this point, clarifying that while the frequency of announcements may change, they will still occur.
The introduction of the Portland Maine Temple increases the total number of operating, under construction, or recently announced temples worldwide to 383, reflecting the Church’s continued growth and commitment to serving its members across diverse regions. This new temple will not only enhance the spiritual resources available to the faithful in Maine but also symbolizes a pivotal moment in the Church’s outreach and adaptation to local needs.