Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple Opens Its Doors Following Special Historic Ceremony
ព្រះវិហារ​បរិសុទ្ធ​ភ្នំពេញ​កម្ពុជា​បើក​ឲ្យ​សាធារណជន​ចូល​ទស្សនា

ដើម្បីអានជាភាសាខ្មែរ សូមចុច នៅទីនេះ

The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple opened its doors on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to celebrate the temple’s open house. Senior Cambodian officials, interfaith leaders, and other dignitaries joined Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to tour the newly completed temple. Invited guests will tour on August 13 and 14, with a public open house set for August 15–22, excluding Sunday.

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Media Day

“Cambodia is a country that treasures temples,” Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said to some 600 media, Cambodian leaders, Latter-day Saints and friends of the faith gathered on the temple grounds. “There are many temples across Cambodia. Temples are also special to us. We are grateful for the permitting and support we have received to build this temple in Phnom Penh.”

Attending the event were Elder Gong and His Excellency, Minister of Cult and Religion Dr. Chay Borin, who appeared on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“We are deeply honored,” said Elder Gong, “that Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has designated this Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ceremony as an official Prime Minister event.”

In his speech, Minister Chay Borin said he was “honored and delighted” to represent the Prime Minister and Royal Cambodian Government at the event. “Your presence has made today’s viewing of the magnificent Phnom Penh Temple even more meaningful and historic for the Latter-day Saint community in Cambodia,” said Minister Borin, referring to Elder Gong and all the leaders who were in attendance.

“Thank you for allowing us to share our temple with you today,” said Elder Gong, speaking from the pulpit. “For us, this temple is a holy and sacred place where heaven and earth come together in serenity and harmony. In the holy temple, we worship God and receive His blessings.”

Minister Borin added, “I firmly believe that this new holy place will become a place where love and peace are nurtured, a place where people can leave behind wrongdoing and sin and a place that contributes to cultivating morality, virtue and good conduct among all those who come here to worship.”

Cambodian Church member Vichit Ith, who played an important role in securing official government recognition of the Church in 1994, also spoke at the event about how that recognition has allowed the Church to flourish in Cambodia with its first temple in the Nation.

“The temple stands not only as a symbol of our faith but also as a monument to the enduring friendship and mutual respect between our Church and the Kingdom of Cambodia,” said Ith.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Elder Gong presented Minister Borin with a portrait depicting him standing in front of the spired Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple.

The Apostle also met and walked through the temple with His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, accompanied by His Excellency Professor Chheang Ra, Minister of Health, and His Excellency Secretary of State and Deputy Cabinet Director Professor Koy Vanny.

Elder Gong honored Cambodian tradition by wearing a light green tie, the auspicious color for Wednesday.

“Today was just a beautiful day,” said Elder Kelly Johnson, the Asia Area president for the Church. “With so many government dignitaries and religious dignitaries who came to participate in the open house event, it was a tremendous show of respect by the government toward the Church.”

Elder Gong was touched by the greeting inscribed on the large tent that covered the media event.

“The banner outside said, ‘Unity in religion brings peace and development. Congratulations on the Cambodia Phnom Penh Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’” said Elder Gong. “What could be more warm and welcoming?”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide Christian faith of nearly 18 million members. The faith is centered on the belief that all people are children of a loving God and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind. Its mission is to bring people to Christ through learning His gospel, making special promises and practicing love and service.

Pioneer Saints and the Miracle of a Temple

“The temple is the way we connect with our ancestors,” said Veasna Neang, a local Church leader who has been a member of the faith in Cambodia for nearly three decades and was the first native Cambodian to serve as president of the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission. “This is the time that the Cambodian people can show how we love our ancestors.”

Connecting with ancestors is especially important in a land where up to 2.5 million people were killed by the Khmer Rouge communist regime between 1975 and 1979, he said.

“Cambodia has gone through a really dark hour,” Neang said. “Those people are waiting in the spirit world for us to do something for them.”

Vichit Ith was the first Latter-day Saint in Cambodia to be baptized. For him, this temple in the country’s capital represents a significant milestone in a nation where the Church has grown steadily since receiving official government recognition in 1994 — a milestone Ith played an integral part in securing.

“[This temple] is extremely meaningful because I never would have thought in my lifetime that the temple would be here,” Ith said. “To have a temple here in just 32 years — it’s a miracle.”

Over the past three decades, Church membership has expanded from a handful of members to more than 18,000.

“This [temple is] a great opportunity for the work of the Lord to move forward here in Cambodia,” Elder Johnson said.

Among those who witnessed Church growth firsthand is Soun Chan Molis, who joined the Church in 2001 after first meeting missionaries through an English-language class. Drawn by the example of local Latter-day Saints and a desire to learn more about Jesus Christ, she was baptized.

More than two decades later, she said she is grateful for the influence the Church of Jesus Christ has had on her life and on the lives of fellow Cambodians.

“I’m proud of our Church that came to Cambodia and helped the Cambodian people,” Molis said. “And I saw the example of all the members in the Church. They were very good and friendly. I started to learn about the Church and decided to be baptized.”

For Sister Eav, a missionary, the temple represents rapid Church growth.

“The Church is still so new here. I think a lot of people forget that,” said Sister Eav, a missionary serving in Cambodia whose grandparents survived the Khmer Rouge and later settled in the United States. “So many families are going to be strengthened by the temple here in Cambodia.” 

Sister Eav is the fifth grandchild of Saroeun and Leang to serve a mission in Cambodia. The Eav family legacy has now come full circle. The Eavs are now part of the temple presidency of the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple.

The temple stands on a 3.16-acre site along Russian Federation Boulevard in Phnom Penh. The building rises approximately 35 meters (115 feet) to the top of its spire and encompasses about 924 square meters (nearly 10,000 square feet).

The temple’s architecture and interior design draw inspiration from Cambodian culture and artistic traditions. The exterior reflects elements found in traditional Cambodian religious structures, while interior design motifs are inspired by kbach patterns commonly seen in local silverwork, furniture, murals and pottery. Colors throughout the building reflect traditional Cambodian textiles, local flora and cultural symbolism.

Original artwork inside the temple includes depictions of local landscapes and scenes that reflect the faith and heritage of the Cambodian people.

The growth of the Church in Cambodia has been accompanied by decades of humanitarian and community service. Since the mid-1980s, the Church has supported hundreds of humanitarian projects throughout the country, including assistance for schools, hospitals, health centers, sanitation initiatives, emergency relief efforts and educational programs.

“On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I wish to express our sincere thanks to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its help and support towards the Cambodian people,” said His Excellency Minister Chay Borin of the Ministry of Cults and Religion, who officially represented His Excellency Prime Minister Hun Manet. “Over the years, the Church has built schools, provided clean water, given wheelchairs and sent emergency aid to people affected by natural disasters. This support has improved the lives of many in Cambodia. Your kindness and service show through humanity and friendship.”

Elder Gong said the Church is grateful to engage in this humanitarian work, which benefits “our Cambodian brothers and sisters, regardless of religion.”

Church leaders have also developed longstanding relationships with Cambodian government and community leaders. In January 2024, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with Prime Minister Hun Manet and announced support for healthcare initiatives, including a donation to help establish a heart center at Siem Reap Referral Hospital.

President Nelson visited Cambodia in 2019 and unveiled renderings of the future temple. Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on September 18, 2021.

The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple is the first temple in Cambodia and, when dedicated, will be the 212th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. (rebroadcast: 2 p.m.). The dedicatory session will be broadcast to all units in the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple district.

President Russell M. Nelson announced the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple in 2018.

Ith encouraged people throughout Cambodia to visit during the open house, noting the temple’s Christ-centered power to bring healing to hurting souls.

“Please come and seek to understand who we are, what we believe in, and also experience the peace and the love at the temple grounds here,” he said. “This land has suffered a lot. The temple brings not only the symbol but the existence of peace and love on earth.”