Nearly three years after its announcement and groundbreaking, construction is officially underway on the Heber Valley Utah Temple, the first temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built in Wasatch County.

Sam Penrod, spokesman for the Church, confirmed the progress in a statement issued on Aug. 26:

“Wasatch County issued a building permit to the Church nearly two years ago for the Heber Valley temple. While the permit allowed the Church to begin building the temple, construction was voluntarily postponed by the Church during the judicial review of a lawsuit filed against the county. On July 23, a district court judge ruled against the plaintiffs and dismissed the case. Construction work is now underway on the Church’s property to grade the site and install necessary infrastructure to support the future temple.”

The groundbreaking for the temple originally took place on Oct. 8, 2022, with President Russell M. Nelson presiding. He was joined by Sister Wendy Nelson, Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy, his wife Sister Nancy Duncan, and local residents, who participated in turning over the soil in Heber City.

At that ceremony, President Nelson reflected on the valley’s history and the growth of the Church in the region, referencing the missionary work of Heber C. Kimball in the 1840s and the establishment of the first ward in 1860.

“More will come,” President Nelson said at the time. “This valley will continue to be a fruitful seedbed for devoted and dedicated members of the Church.”

He also offered a dedicatory prayer on the site, paying tribute to the sacrifices of early Latter-day Saint pioneers:

“We are deeply grateful for our ancestors. They have laid a foundation of faith that undergirds our spiritual strength. May we learn who they are, find their qualifying information and bless their lives with sacred rites offered vicariously in this holy house.”

The Heber Valley Utah Temple was first announced by President Nelson on Oct. 3, 2021, during general conference. At the same session, he also announced plans for the reconstruction of the Provo Utah Temple, now known as the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple.

When completed, the Heber Valley Temple will join 31 other temples in Utah that are either in operation, under construction, or announced. Three other temples in the state—Lindon, Smithfield, and Ephraim—are currently under construction as well.

Local leaders and members have expressed excitement, noting the temple will serve thousands of Latter-day Saints in Wasatch County and nearby communities, reducing the need for long travel to access sacred ordinances.

The new temple is expected to enhance the spiritual and community life of Heber Valley, providing both a house of worship and a symbol of faith and heritage for future generations.

Originally reported by Joel Randall in The Church News.