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Utah’s booming ‘burbs are embracing newly announced LDS temples

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Utah’s booming ‘burbs are embracing newly announced LDS temples


At The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ General Conference, the faith’s president announced two new temples to be built along the Wasatch Front.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The Taylorsville Temple is poised to being welcoming visitors. When it is built, the newly announced West Jordan Temple will be the sixth Latter-day Saint temple in the Salt Lake Valley.

Leaders in the booming Utah suburbs of West Jordan and Lehi expressed excitement Monday that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sees their cities as fitting sites for new temples.

The Utah-based faith’s Sunday announcement of the new buildings brings the total number of planned or built temples in the Beehive State to 30.

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The West Jordan and Lehi temples are the first Utah temples announced by the church since October 2021, when church President Russell M. Nelson revealed plans for the Heber Valley Temple.

“I am thrilled to welcome the announcement of a new temple from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our fantastic city,” West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton said in a statement. “I hope this new temple, in addition to serving as a place of worship for members of the Latter-day Saint community, will also stand as a symbol of unity and inclusivity, like the other important centers of worship in our diverse city.”

Two existing temples (the Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples) sit just next door in South Jordan. To the north, the Taylorsville Temple is on the cusp of welcoming visitors. A public open house for the new edifice will start Saturday and run through mid-May in advance of a June 2 dedication.

Salt Lake County is home to six of the faith’s existing or planned temples.

Latter-day Saints — although only those who have been deemed worthy — go to temples to participate in the religion’s most sacred rituals, like eternal marriage.

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And those temples get busy, said West Jordan City Council Chair Zach Jacob.

“More temples will help more people to go,” said Jacob, who is a Latter-day Saint. “That’s good when people can have that opportunity to step out of their day-to-day life and just focus on spiritual things.”

While the church has not announced exactly where the temple would be located, Jacob thinks it could be in his district, which covers a northwestern swath of the city running roughly between South Valley Regional Airport and the city’s western boundary in Oquirrh foothills.

The church owns two adjoining parcels, totaling over 16 acres in the far western foothills off of the Bacchus Highway. It also holds a 4.29-acre lot along Copper Rim Drive closer to the Mountain View Corridor. In Taylorsville, the faith’s temple site is 7.64 acres at 4700 South near Interstate 215 ramps.

While church officials have yet to reach out to West Jordan leaders about their plans, Jacob said the city will be involved in permitting the construction and ensuring roads are ready to handle traffic to the temple.

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Lehi officials said Sunday’s announcement came as news to them, too, but that they are excited for a new temple.

“We’re honored that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has selected Lehi City as a location for a temple,” Mayor Mark Johnson said in a statement. “I believe this will offer a special opportunity for many of our residents.”

The church told Lehi leaders it would make a decision on the site of the temple in several months.

This newly announced temple boosts the overall tally of Utah County’s built or planned temples to eight.

There are 17 temples functioning in Utah: Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Jordan River (South Jordan), Logan, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos (American Fork), Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain (South Jordan), Orem, Payson, Provo City Center (converted from the former Provo Tabernacle), Red Cliffs (St. George — dedicated in March); Saratoga Springs, St. George and Vernal.

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The iconic Salt Lake Temple is undergoing extensive renovation expected to wrap up in 2026. The space-age Provo Temple closed in February ahead of a major overhaul that members of the community and preservationists fought in vain to prevent. It will be renamed the Provo Rock Canyon Temple. Renovations were recently completed for the Manti Temple, another pioneer-era architectural gem that is set to be rededicated April 21.

Two other Utah temples are scheduled to be dedicated in June — besides the one in Taylorsville, the Layton Temple ceremony is set for June 16.

Besides Lehi and West Jordan, six more — Deseret Peak (Tooele), Ephraim, Heber Valley, Lindon, Smithfield and Syracuse — are either under construction or in planning stages.

Nelson’s announcement of the new Utah temples and 13 others around the globe capped the faith’s General Conference, which also featured sermons on the continuous wearing of sacred undergarments and keeping other covenants.



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Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily

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Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily


Photo: Utah County Sheriff

UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.

Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.

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“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.

“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”

Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.

“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”

Two black Polaris RZR side-by-side off-road vehicles wrecked in a brushy area, one shown from the side with exposed roll cage and damaged seating, the other from a similar angle with dented body panels.

Photos: Utah County Sheriff





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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results

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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results


In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.

Here are the final results, which show all the movement.

Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.

For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.

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The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.

Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!



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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong

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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong


PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.

The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Boys & Girls Club of Utah County’s new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse on Friday. (Photo: Curtis Booker, KSL)

“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.

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The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.

“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”

The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.

“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.

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The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.

The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.

A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”

Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.

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“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”

Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.

“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.



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