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Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the Alabang Philippines Temple on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
“In a world that grows increasingly confused, we can be blessed with light and direction in the house of the Lord.” —Elder David A. Bednar
“In a world that grows increasingly confused, we can be blessed with light and direction in the house of the Lord,” he said.
The Alabang Philippines Temple, located in Muntinlupa City in the southern part of the island of Luzon, is the fourth dedicated house of the Lord in the Philippines, and the second in the Manila metropolitan area. Temples in Davao and Bacolod are scheduled to be dedicated in May.
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Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Susan, in front of the Alabang Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Muntinlupa City, Philippines.2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
“As 10 additional temples are under construction or in planning here, it is clear the blessings of the temple are expanding across this remarkable nation,” Elder Bednar said during the dedicatory session broadcast to Church members in the temple district.
Nearly 900,000 Latter-day Saints participate in over 1,300 local congregations in the Philippines.
Elder Bednar expressed his love for the Filipino people and said he has learned many lessons from them during ministry visits to the Philippines, most recently in 2017 and 2023.
“The Philippines seems to be struck every year by a multiplicity of natural disasters — volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes,” he said, but despite their challenges, the Filipino people choose to be happy.
“In temples, we focus on the Savior, Jesus Christ. The covenants and ordinances we make in the house of the Lord enable us to have a covenant connection with the Father and the Son. Everything in the house of the Lord is about the Father’s plan of happiness and the Savior’s Atonement.
“The joy that we experience as individuals and families can be deeper and richer because of what we learn in the temple,” he said.
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Church members attend the dedication of the Alabang Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Muntinlupa City, Philippines.2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
Through the ordinances of the Lord’s restored gospel, “we have access to the power of godliness,” Elder Bednar said.
He continued: “It is important for young people to experience the power of the Holy Ghost in the house of the Lord, so they can have that same power in their own homes, regardless of their situation or circumstance. The power of godliness that we are promised through the covenants and ordinances is available to every single covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint, regardless of age, economic condition or marital status. It is available to every single soul.”
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From left are Elder Steven R. Bangerter, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Susan; Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Susan; and Elder William K. Jackson, a General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, and his wife, Lois, in front of the Alabang Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, January 17, 2026.2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
Elder Bednar was accompanied by his wife, Susan; Elder William K. Jackson, a General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, and his wife, Lois; and Elder Steven R. Bangerter, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Susan. Elder Bangerter previously served in the Church’s Philippines Area Presidency.
Arvillo Amparo Revillo, the mother of Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., a General Authority Seventy and the current Philippines Area President, was invited to share her testimony during the dedication.
“My heart is so full of joy,” she said after the dedication. Arvillo Revillo, 80, was baptized on January 1, 1972, in General Santos. She and her husband, Carlos C. Revillo Sr., served in both the Manila and Cebu City temples and also as the president and matron of the Manila temple.
About 48,000 people toured the house of the Lord during the open house November 21 through December 13, 2025. Then-Church President Thomas S. Monson announced this temple during the April 2017 general conference, and ground was broken on June 4, 2020.
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Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets Church members in waiting in line to attend the dedication of the Alabang Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Muntinlupa City, Philippines.2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo
