Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completes Cambodia's first temple on a 3.16-acre Phnom Penh site

A 115 ft-tall, 10,000 sq ft temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened its doors to the public in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 15 August 2026^[1] - the first such structure the church has built in the country, nearly five years after breaking ground in September 2021.

Project timeline and scale

The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple sits on a 3.16-acre site along Russian Federation Boulevard in the Cambodian capital^[1]. Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the project on 7 October 2018, and groundbreaking was held on 18 September 2021.

The build took roughly four years to complete. For years, Cambodian members had travelled to Hong Kong or the Philippines for temple worship, making a visit a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. When dedicated, the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple will become the 212th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Design rooted in Cambodian craft

The design team drew heavily on local tradition. The temple's architecture and interior reference kbach patterns found in Cambodian silverwork, furniture, murals and pottery, while the exterior mirrors traditional Cambodian religious structures^[1]. The colour palette was drawn from traditional Cambodian textile design, local flora and cultural symbolism^[1].

At 115 ft tall, the structure is a deliberate nod to the spired silhouette of Khmer religious architecture^[1]. Artwork inside depicts landscapes and scenes reflecting the faith and heritage of the Cambodian people^[1].

Open house and dedication

The First Presidency announced that public open house tours would run from Saturday, 15 August 2026, to Saturday, 22 August 2026, excluding Sunday. The temple opened its doors on 12 August 2026 for a media day, with senior Cambodian officials, interfaith leaders, and other dignitaries joining Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to tour the newly completed structure.

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication on Sunday, 30 August 2026, at 10 a.m., with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m. After dedication, the grounds will remain open to the public but the temple interior will be reserved for church members^[1].

Church presence in Cambodia

The Cambodian government recognised the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1994^[1]. Cambodia is now home to more than 17,000 Latter-day Saints meeting in 31 congregations. The church's own press release puts current membership at 18,000^[1].

Vichit Ith, a Cambodian church member, noted the significance of the timeline: "To have a temple here in just 32 years, it's a miracle."^[1]

The Phnom Penh temple's dedication on 30 August will mark the formal close of a construction programme that spanned announcement, design, groundbreaking and a multi-year build through the disruptions of the early 2020s. Whether the project accelerates further religious construction in Southeast Asia - a region where the church has been expanding its temple footprint - is the next question to watch.