Where It’s Located
The planned temple will serve members in and around Uturoa, Ra'iātea, one of the major islands of French Polynesia.
Ra'iātea is part of the Society Islands, the same island group that includes Tahiti and several other well-known islands of French Polynesia. Uturoa is the principal town on Ra'iātea and serves as an important center for the surrounding communities.
Although the general location of the temple has been announced, the Church has not yet identified the specific property where it will be built.
The Second Temple in French Polynesia
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple will be the second house of the Lord in French Polynesia.
The first was the Papeete Tahiti Temple, which was dedicated in 1983 and later rededicated in 2006 after an expansion.
For decades, the Papeete temple was the only temple available to Latter-day Saints throughout French Polynesia. The announcement of a second temple represents another major development in the Church's long history in the islands.
The Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Uturoa French Polynesia Temple on April 7, 2024, during the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The announcement was part of a broader group of temple announcements made during the conference.
The timing was especially significant for French Polynesia because 2024 marked the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in the Pacific.
A Long History of the Church in the Pacific
The history of the Church in French Polynesia reaches back to the earliest days of missionary work in the Pacific.
In 1843, four missionaries were called by Joseph Smith and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to take the gospel to the "islands of the sea."
Missionaries eventually traveled across the Pacific to Tahiti, beginning a relationship between the Church and the peoples of French Polynesia that has continued for more than 180 years.
The Uturoa temple announcement therefore came during a significant anniversary in the religious history of the region.
The Church in French Polynesia
French Polynesia has developed a substantial Latter-day Saint population over the course of that history.
At the time the temple was announced in 2024, there were nearly 30,000 Latter-day Saints in approximately 100 congregations throughout French Polynesia.
The growth of the Church across the islands has created a need for additional temple access, making Uturoa a significant location for a future temple.
The Island of Ra'iātea
Ra'iātea is one of the major islands of the Society Islands and is located northwest of Tahiti.
The island is known for its lush tropical environment, mountainous interior, surrounding lagoons, and strong Polynesian cultural heritage.
Uturoa sits on the northern part of Ra'iātea and serves as the island's principal population and commercial center.
A temple in this setting will eventually provide a distinctive addition to the island's landscape while serving members throughout the surrounding communities.
A Temple on an Island With Deep Polynesian History
Ra'iātea holds an especially important place in Polynesian history and culture.
The island has long been associated with Polynesian navigation and traditions. Nearby Taha'a and other islands form part of the same Society Islands environment, where ocean travel, traditional culture, and Christianity have all played important roles in the region's modern history.
The future temple will therefore be built in a location where religious history and Polynesian culture have been intertwined for generations.
Temple Site
One of the most notable facts about the Uturoa French Polynesia Temple is that its specific site has not yet been announced.
The current information identifies Uturoa on Ra'iātea as the temple's location, but no property or address has been released.
Because of this, details such as the size of the property, landscaping, parking, meetinghouse facilities, patron housing, and other site features remain unknown.
Architecture and Design
There are currently no official architectural details available for the Uturoa French Polynesia Temple.
The Church has not released an official rendering of the building, so its size, exterior materials, number of floors, tower or spire design, interior layout, and decorative elements have not yet been announced.
This makes the temple an interesting project to watch as the planning process develops.
Future announcements should provide more information about how the temple will be designed and how its architecture will respond to the tropical Polynesian setting.
No Rendering Yet
As of 2026, an official rendering of the Uturoa French Polynesia Temple has not been released to the public.
Once a rendering becomes available, it should provide the first major visual indication of what the future temple will look like.
For now, there is no reliable basis for describing the temple's eventual exterior appearance beyond its planned location in Uturoa.
Construction Status
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple is currently in the planning and approval phase.
Construction has not yet begun, and no groundbreaking date has been announced.
Because the project is still early in its development, additional information about the site, design, construction schedule, and eventual dedication will likely be released as planning progresses.
What Happens Next?
The next major milestones for the Uturoa French Polynesia Temple will likely include the announcement of the temple site and the release of an official architectural rendering.
After those steps, the project can eventually progress toward groundbreaking and construction.
Until those announcements occur, many of the physical details of the temple remain unknown.
Visiting Ra'iātea
Ra'iātea is a destination known for its natural beauty and connection to traditional Polynesian culture.
Visitors to the island can experience tropical landscapes, mountain scenery, lagoons, and the surrounding islands of the Society Islands.
Uturoa provides a convenient base for exploring Ra'iātea and the neighboring island of Taha'a. The region is particularly appealing to travelers interested in experiencing a quieter side of French Polynesia beyond the more heavily visited destinations.
When the temple is eventually completed, it will add another significant destination for Latter-day Saints visiting the island.
The Papeete Tahiti Temple
Until the Uturoa temple is completed, the Papeete Tahiti Temple remains the only operating temple in French Polynesia.
The Papeete temple was dedicated in 1983 and underwent an expansion before being rededicated in 2006.
The future Uturoa temple will provide a second temple location for members in the territory and will further expand access to temple worship in French Polynesia.
A Temple 180 Years in the Making
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple is connected to a remarkable history.
Latter-day Saint missionaries first arrived in the Pacific in the 1840s, and French Polynesia has maintained a strong Church presence ever since. More than a century later, the Papeete Tahiti Temple became the first temple in the territory.
Now, more than 180 years after those first missionaries arrived, a second temple has been announced for the islands.
Why the Uturoa Temple Matters
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple represents the continued development of the Church in the Pacific.
With nearly 30,000 Latter-day Saints living in approximately 100 congregations at the time of the announcement, French Polynesia has a substantial Church presence spread across numerous islands.
The new temple will eventually provide another location for sacred temple worship and will give members on and around Ra'iātea a temple much closer to home.
A Future Landmark for Ra'iātea
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple is still years away from completion, and many details remain unknown.
But the announcement itself marks an important milestone. When construction eventually begins, the temple will become a new landmark on Ra'iātea and another visible reminder of the long history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pacific.
For now, the project remains one to watch as additional details are announced.
Final Thoughts
The Uturoa French Polynesia Temple is a significant future addition to the temples of the Pacific.
Announced in April 2024, it will become the second temple in French Polynesia, more than four decades after the Papeete Tahiti Temple was dedicated. Its announcement also came during the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in the Pacific.
Much about the temple remains unknown. No specific site, rendering, architectural design, or groundbreaking date has been announced. What is known is that a temple is planned for Uturoa on Ra'iātea, giving the Latter-day Saints of French Polynesia another future house of the Lord after more than 180 years of Church history in the islands.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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