Groundbreaking Ceremony for Tampa Florida Temple Set for August 23, 2025, with Elder Neil L. Andersen Presiding
Historic Groundbreaking Ceremony for Tampa Florida Temple Set for August
Tampa, FL — In a momentous occasion for the local Latter-day Saint community, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tampa Florida Temple on August 23, 2025. This marks the first time since 2022 that an Apostle will dedicate a site for a house of the Lord, reigniting excitement among church members in the region.
The announcement was made in a news release on July 7, 2025, via ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The Tampa temple, which will be a single-story building covering approximately 29,000 square feet, is set to be constructed on a 12-acre site located at 9445 Camden Field Parkway in Riverview, Florida.
Elder Andersen, who has deep roots in the Tampa area, met his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, at Brigham Young University and later married in the Salt Lake Temple. The couple raised their family in Tampa, where Elder Andersen served as the Tampa Florida Stake president before being called as a General Authority Seventy in 1993.
The last groundbreaking presided over by a senior Church leader was for the Heber Valley Utah Temple on October 8, 2022, led by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The upcoming ceremony in Tampa is expected to draw significant attendance from local congregations, reflecting the community’s eagerness for the new temple.
The Tampa Florida Temple was first announced by President Nelson during the April 2022 General Conference, as part of a larger initiative that identified 17 new temple locations. This brings the total number of temples announced during his presidency to 100, highlighting the Church’s commitment to expanding its reach and providing sacred spaces for worship.
Currently, Florida is home to three dedicated temples: the Orlando Florida Temple (dedicated in 1994), the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple (2014), and the recently dedicated Tallahassee Florida Temple (2024). The Orlando temple is currently undergoing renovations, which began in July 2024.
In addition to the Tampa temple, plans are underway for another temple in Jacksonville, making it a unique year for Florida with two temples announced simultaneously.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a rich history in Florida, dating back to 1845 when missionaries first arrived. The state’s first Latter-day Saint branch, the Hassell Branch, was established on May 9, 1897, in Jefferson County. Today, Florida boasts over 176,000 Latter-day Saints across approximately 280 congregations, showcasing the growth and vitality of the Church in the region.
As the groundbreaking ceremony approaches, anticipation builds for what this new temple will mean for the community, offering a sacred space for worship, reflection, and connection for generations to come.