In a departure from established protocol, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have revealed plans for a new temple in an unconventional manner.
Typically, declarations regarding new temples are delivered from the pulpit at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City during the church's biannual general conferences. For instance, President Russell M. Nelson disclosed 199 out of his 200 temple announcements in this setting, while his predecessor, President Thomas S. Monson, made 40 of his 45 announcements during these gatherings.
However, the recent unveiling of the Portland Maine Temple occurred at a stake Christmas fireside in Portland, surprising and delighting attendees who navigated snowy conditions to be present.
The announcement was conveyed through a letter from the First Presidency, read aloud by Elder Allen D. Haynie, a General Authority Seventy and the Northeast Area President. "Such an announcement by a member of an area presidency has never occurred before," Elder Haynie stated. "Tonight will be the first."
He elaborated on the reasoning behind this shift, noting that during a recent First Presidency meeting, it was decided that "when directed by the First Presidency, the announcement of the construction of a new temple should be made on location by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or a member of an area presidency."
While this marks a recent change, historical precedent exists for announcements outside general conference. Church presidents prior to Presidents Monson and Nelson often announced more temples in other settings than during conferences. For example, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced over 50 of his 78 new temples outside of general conference contexts, sometimes via letters to local leaders or through special broadcasts.
Recent instances of non-conference announcements include: President Nelson's May 2021 announcement of the Ephraim Utah Temple during a regional broadcast, and President Monson's January 2010 announcement of the Payson Utah Temple via a news release.
