Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Looking over the rear masonry wall at the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple site, progress can be seen on the construction of the temple and adjacent ancillary building. The wall runs parallel to an adjoining highway, and the temple faces in the opposite direction toward the property entrance. Crews are building the steeple pedestal and weatherproofing the exterior walls. The temple is the first to be constructed in this West African nation.

A view from across the highway adjacent to the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple shows the progress being made on building the steeple pedestal atop the roof. The added height is making the temple more visible to motorists, as it rises above the surrounding construction barrier. Freetown is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean with a population of over a million people. There are over 30,000 Latter-day Saints in the country organized into 10 stakes and 2 districts.

The concrete structural walls for the main body of the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple are in place, and rebar has been set for portions of the upper walls and steeple. The original Portuguese name for Sierra Leone was Serra Lyoa, meaning "Lion Mountains." The name referred to the beautiful range hills that surround the Freetown Peninsula. One such hill rises behind the temple.

A satellite image taken last month of the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple site shows the progress being made on building the load-bearing walls and posts for the temple and ancillary building. A roof is being installed over the temple, starting on the west side, and the support for the baptismal font is visible on the east. The walls for the two-story ancillary building are nearly finished where patrons will have arrival and housing facilities.

Crews at the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple site have been working quickly between rain bursts to make concrete pours for the temple and ancillary building. Major portions of the floors slabs are in place and some rebar has been installed for the structural walls and columns that will rise in the coming weeks. Church membership is growing steadily in this West African country where nine stakes and two districts have been organized.

Preliminary excavation has been carried out for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple and ancillary building. The temple will stand at the south end of the property near the highway, and the two-story ancillary building will be located along the east side. In the northeast quarter of the temple, excavation has started for the baptismal font. The ancillary building will house an arrival center, patron housing, presidency apartments, ordinance worker apartments, and utility functions.

Heavy machinery is at work at the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple site where excavation and site preparation activities are underway. The formal groundbreaking for the temple was held a year ago, but full-scale construction began in January. The property is surrounded by a white masonry wall with gated entrances. It will be the first temple in the West African country of Sierra Leone.

Ground was broken this morning for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple—the first to be constructed in the country. The 18,000-square-foot temple and a two-story ancillary building will be built on a 2.9-acre site in the Kossoh Town region of Freetown. Elder Hugo E. Martinez, president of the Africa West Area, presided at the event. Speaking of the members of the Church in Sierra Leone, he said: "They will be able to attend [the temple] and become better disciples of Jesus Christ, better family members, and better citizens of Sierra Leone with a temple to be built here."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Elder Hugo E. Martinez, president of the Africa West Area, will preside at the event. The 18,000-square-foot temple will be constructed on a 2.9-acre site on Jui Road located in the Kossoh Town region of Freetown. A two-story ancillary building will also be constructed, housing an arrival center, patron housing, presidency apartments, ordinance worker apartments, and utility functions.