Possible New Temple Locations

Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that they are trying to build a temple near Paris, France.  This was an exciting development, although not too surprising as church leaders have stated that they were trying to find land for a temple for about 15 years.  The only real question was when they would find the land and make the temple announcement.

In the last April General Conference three new temples were announced - Winnipeg Canada, Fort Collins Colorado, and Meridian Idaho.  This broke a pattern of announcing 5 new temples each October General Conference and none in the April General Conference.

I'd like to discuss some places where I see new temples are likely to be built.  I have based my guesses on some articles/websites about church growth and the likelihood of a temple being built in a particular location.  My guesses are also largely based on my personal feelings.

Utah

Cedar City, Utah - This city is about an hour from St. George which has been rapidly growing.  The trip from Cedar City to St. George is usually fine, but sometimes in the winter it can be dangerous.  Placing a temple in this city would have other benefits.  One of the six universities in Utah is in this city so a temple would serve the college students, helping them get into a habit of temple attendance in their early adult years.  A temple would also reduce travel times for people living in Beaver and other cities that currently have 2+ hour travel times to the temple.  I would expect this temple to be either small or medium sized.

Layton, Utah - Even with the Ogden Temple remodel and the new Brigham City Temple, the demands on the Ogden Temple and Bountiful Temple remain high and something needs to be done to alleviate overcrowding.  Layton is a prime candidate for a temple as it is between Ogden and Bountiful.  I would expect this temple to be medium or large sized.

Tooele Valley, Utah - A temple could be built in Tooele (two-wheel-a), Stansbury Park, Grantsville, or a few other locations in this valley.  Tooele valley is one valley west of the Salt Lake Valley.  This valley has a reasonable population.  People in the Tooele Valley must travel all the way to the Salt Lake Temple, an hour to hour and a half drive.  I would expect this temple to be small or maybe medium sized.

Price, Utah - I suspect Price will eventually have a temple as it has faithful members, a junior college, and a long travel time to the Manti Temple.  I don't expect a temple to be built here for a while because it would drain the Manti Temple district, which has low population.

Richfield, Utah - I eventually expect a temple here, but because it would drain the Manti Temple district quite a bit, I don't expect one in the short term.  In 10-20 years I could see a temple in Richfield being very likely.

Salt Lake Valley, Utah - There are already four temples in the Salt Lake Valley, but we should expect more as a huge percentage of the church lives there.  Also, President Hinckley already announced plans to build a fifth temple in the Salt Lake Valley when needed.  Rumors identify the temple as being in Herriman or Bluffdale, both in the extreme southwest corner of the valley.  Temples could also be built elsewhere in the valley.  I wouldn't be surprised to see more temples in the Salt Lake area soon.

United States

Pocatello, Idaho - With a good number of members and the nearest temples (Idaho Falls, Logan, Brigham City, and Twin Falls) an hour or more away, I think a temple will likely be built here.  It might be 5 or 10 years before an announcement is made, depending on crowding at Idaho Falls.  I expect a small temple, but a medium sized is also possible.


Wyoming - Wyoming is an oddity.  It has many members with over 60,000 members, yet it has no temples.  This is probably due to low population density and the fact that most population centers are near borders with other states and not that far from a temple in another state.  Even so, it would be nice to see this state receive a temple.  I prefer Casper as it is central and would be near Martin's Cove and could be a historical temple like Winter Quarters, Palmyra, Nauvoo, and Kansas City.

Rapid City, South Dakaota - South Dakota is another state without a temple.  Rapid City is where I would expect one to be built as it has a reasonable population and receives a lot of tourists.  The Latter-day Saint tourists would then be able to visit a temple when they go to visit Mt. Rushmore National Monument and The Badlands National Park.  Rapid City is also close to Wyoming, bringing a temple closer to the saints in that state.

El Paso, Texas - This city almost has a temple, but it is in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico across the Rio Grande river.  The temple was built there to be easier for saints in Mexico to attend as crossing into the U.S. legally can be difficult.  Unfortunately, a string of violent kidnappings, murders, and other violence (mostly drug related) has made Juarez very unsafe.  I know U.S. citizens who are originally from Mexico that are afraid to travel to Juarez for fear of being kidnapped or killed.  If I lived in El Paso, I would travel to San Antonio or Lubbock to attend the temple, rather than risk my life in Juarez.  So, I expect to see a temple in El Paso eventually.

Tucson, Arizona - Arizona has been getting a lot of temples recently.  This isn't surprising if you've attended the Mesa Temple and realized how overcrowded it was.  The state has a ton of members.  Tucson is about 2 hours from the Mesa/Gilbert Temples and is a significant city.  I'd expect a temple to be announced in Tucson soon.

North and South America
Managua, Nicaragua - Recently, many Central American countries have received temples.  Nicaragua still does not have one, but it does have decent membership numbers and a population centralized in a single metro area.  I expect that the church will build a temple in Managua, Nicaragua soon.

The Caribbean - Currently there is a temple in the Domican Republic.  I think another temple is likely in the next decade.  It could be in Puerto Rico, or another island.  I don't know enough about the region to speculate more.

South America - Several South American countries are getting their second temple now, and Brazil continues to get temples. I expect to see more, but don't know enough about South America to speculate where.  I would love to see Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana receive temples as they are the last countries in South America without temples.  They also don't have many members so although I'd like them to receive temples, I'm not expecting them to receive temples anytime soon.

Europe
Scotland - The U.K. has two temples (Preston England and London England).  It also has more members that any country in Europe by a long shot.  I think another temple in England is very likely.  Scotland would be a good location as it is many hours from Preston and would reduce travel times for other members living even further north.  Scotland also has a mission and a good number of members.

Birmingham, England - An alternative to a temple is Scotland would be another temple in England.  Birmingham seems like a reasonable guess.  Cambridge would also be interesting.

Norway - With Denmark, Sweden and Finland all having temples, Norway seems like a likely candidate and would cover Scandinavia with temples.

Africa
East Africa - I think East Africa needs a temple.  Perhaps in Uganda or Kenya

Kinshasha Congo - Apparently The Congo has a lot of members and is a likely candidate for a temple.

Asia
Thailand/Southeast Asia - This area has a lot of members and seems right for a temple.

India - Apparently the members in India are faithful.  This would also bless members throughout the Indian Ocean region from East Africa to Southeast Asia.

Australia
Unfortunately I don't know Australia or the Pacific islands well enough to speculate on a new temple location, but feel free to speculate in the comments section.

There are some of the areas I envision seeing a new temple.  Feel free to discuss other options in the comments section.