Where It's Located
The Freetown Sierra Leone Temple is located on Jui Road in the Kossoh Town region of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The temple sits on a 2.9-acre site and will include a two-story ancillary building with an arrival center, patron housing, presidency apartments, ordinance worker apartments, and utility facilities. It will be the first temple built in Sierra Leone.
Because the temple is currently under construction, it is not yet open for temple worship or public visits. Open house and dedication dates have not yet been announced.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Freetown International Airport (FNA). International travelers from the United States typically connect through major hubs such as Brussels, Istanbul, Casablanca, Paris, or Accra before arriving in Freetown. The temple site is located in the eastern part of the city and is accessible by road from the airport after crossing the Sierra Leone River.
A Bit of History
The Freetown Sierra Leone Temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson during the October 2019 General Conference on October 5, 2019. It will become the first temple in Sierra Leone, bringing temple blessings much closer to members who previously traveled more than 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers) to the Accra Ghana Temple. The temple will also bless members in neighboring Liberia.
The official temple site and exterior rendering were released on December 15, 2021, and groundbreaking took place on March 19, 2022, with Elder Hugo E. Martinez presiding. Since then, construction has progressed steadily, with the cupola installed, exterior stone completed, landscaping underway, and interior finishing work continuing.
Design and Architecture
The Freetown Sierra Leone Temple is designed as a single-story temple containing approximately 18,000 square feet of floor space. The building features a single attached central tower topped by a decorative cupola. The temple will include two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry.
Recent construction updates show light-colored exterior stone, art-glass windows, landscaped grounds with royal palm trees, decorative flowerbeds, and paved walkways taking shape around the temple. The surrounding mountains provide a beautiful natural backdrop for Sierra Leone's first house of the Lord.
Final Thoughts
The Freetown Sierra Leone Temple represents a historic milestone for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in West Africa. As Sierra Leone's first temple, it will dramatically reduce travel for thousands of members and provide easier access to temple worship throughout the region. With construction nearing completion, this beautiful temple stands as a symbol of the Church's continued growth and the faith of Latter-day Saints across Sierra Leone and neighboring countries.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
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