The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced plans to build its first-ever temple in the state of Maine, a development that local members are calling a long-awaited milestone. The new temple will be located in the greater Portland area, though exact site details and construction timelines have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement was delivered on December 14 during a Christmas devotional held for members of the Portland Maine Stake. Elder Allen D. Haynie, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s United States Northeast Area, read an official message from the Church’s First Presidency to those in attendance.
In the statement, Church leaders expressed gratitude for the opportunity to expand temple access for members in the region, emphasizing the spiritual importance of temples within the faith. The new building will allow Maine’s Latter-day Saints to participate more easily in sacred religious ordinances without traveling out of state.
Currently, Church members in Maine belong to the Boston Massachusetts Temple district. With more than 11,000 members spread across dozens of congregations, the announcement represents a significant change for families who have long faced extended travel to attend temple services.
The Portland announcement also reflects a shift in how temple plans are communicated. Elder Haynie noted that Church leadership has recently approved a new approach allowing temple announcements to be made locally by Area Presidency leaders when directed by the First Presidency. This marks the first time such an announcement has occurred in this manner.
The change follows guidance shared earlier this year by Church President Dallin H. Oaks, who indicated that future temple announcements would take place at various times and locations rather than being limited to global conferences. The Maine temple is the first new temple announced during President Oaks’s leadership.
Worldwide, the Church now has 383 temples that are operating, under construction, or officially announced. Despite this growth, several U.S. states-including New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, Mississippi, and West Virginia-still do not yet have a temple.
The Church’s presence in Maine dates back nearly two centuries, beginning with early missionary efforts in the 1830s. Over time, congregations were established across the state, leading to the formation of multiple stakes, including the Portland Maine Stake earlier this year.
Church leaders encouraged members to spiritually prepare for the future temple, describing it as a place of worship, peace, and commitment. The Christmas devotional where the announcement was made featured seasonal music and reflections on the life of Jesus Christ, reinforcing the celebratory nature of the occasion.
