Ground Broken for the Cincinnati Ohio Temple in Mason
Mason Breaking Marks Ohio’s Third Temple Milestone
May this house of the Lord be a light to this city, pointing all who see it to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World,
said Elder Alan T. Phillips during the site dedication ceremony for the Cincinnati Ohio Temple on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The single-story sacred structure entered its construction phase following the Saturday event in Mason, Ohio, roughly twenty miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati.
Livestreamed Ceremony Draws Community Leaders
Elder Phillips, a General Authority Seventy and member of the United States Northeast Area presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided over the livestreamed proceedings. Local members, government officials, and community leaders gathered at the thirty-five-acre site located southwest of the intersection of Mason-Montgomery Road and Cedar Village Drive to turn the initial soil.
Ground has been broken to construct the Cincinnati Ohio Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Once built and dedicated, it will be the Church’s third operating temple in Ohio, the state where the sealing keys were restored in 1836. pic.twitter.com/PGevyfELio
Deep Historical Roots in the Buckeye State
The project follows historical milestones for the faith in Ohio. Missionary work began in the state in October 1830, and Kirtland served as the church headquarters from 1831 to 1838. During the ceremony, Elder Phillips referenced the Kirtland Temple, where priesthood keys were restored in 1836. He also noted Cincinnati’s historical identity as a crossing point on the Underground Railroad, comparing the new temple to a bridge connecting heaven and earth.
Cincinnati Building Measures Nearly Thirty Thousand Square Feet
The newly launched Cincinnati building will measure approximately 29,630 square feet. Former church President Russell M. Nelson originally announced the project on April 7, 2024, alongside fourteen other temples during the general conference.
Ohio Encompasses Roughly Sixty Six Thousand Members
Ohio currently encompasses roughly 66,000 members organized into more than 130 wards and branches. Upon completion, the Cincinnati facility will become the third operating house of the Lord in the state. It joins the Columbus Ohio Temple, dedicated in September 1999, and the Cleveland Ohio Temple, dedicated in August 2026.