On a cloudy Saturday morning, March 15, 2025, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar gathered in large numbers for the sacred groundbreaking of the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple. This long-anticipated day marked a historic milestone, as it would be the first temple to grace the island of Madagascar. As the ceremony unfolded beneath an overcast sky, the rain clouds gradually parted, allowing rays of sunshine to pierce through—an inspiring symbol of hope and divine blessing upon this joyous occasion.
Elder Denelson Silva, General Authority Seventy and First Counselor in the Africa South Area Presidency, presided over the event, accompanied by Elder Dwayne J. van Heerden, Area Seventy, and other local leaders and dignitaries.
The ceremony began with a talk by Tsirimanjaka Harison Razanapanala, from the Antananarivo Madagascar Ivandry Stake, who spoke of the temple’s eternal significance. She acknowledged that while the temple's beauty—its gardens and intricate design—is awe-inspiring, its true worth lies in the sacred work that takes place within its walls.
Hanitra Randrianaivo, a member of the Ivandry Stake who has faithfully been in the gospel for 35 years, reflected deeply on her personal spiritual journey and her countless experiences visiting the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. With heartfelt emotion, she expressed her profound gratitude for the dedication of this site, a temple now so much closer to home for the members of Madagascar. 'Remember that the Lord wants us to draw nearer to Him,' she said. 'We will attain eternal life if we remain worthy to enter His temple.'
Elie Rajaonarison Andriamahandrisalama, from the Manakambahiny Stake, shared a moving testimony: 'We have received the invitation of the Lord to draw nearer to Him, and in these latter days, we have no excuse.'
As Elder Silva began his remarks, his deep love and gratitude for the members of Madagascar resonated through his words. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, he asked, “How can we prepare ourselves to meet God?” He explained that true preparation means being ready, regardless of circumstances, and always striving to be worthy before God. 'Thirty-five years ago, in 1990, the idea of a temple in Madagascar was merely a dream. But now, on this historic day, that dream has become a reality,” he declared with joy.
Elder Silva also imparted a simple yet profound truth: 'The temple is the house of the Lord.' He emphasized that the temple is a place of faith, learning, growth, and order—a true house of God.
Elder Silva further encouraged the congregation to remain worthy of the temple, regardless of its distance. 'The opportunity to attend the temple is a blessing,' he said, 'but it is also a responsibility to live worthy to enter.'
At the conclusion of his remarks, Elder Silva offered a heartfelt dedicatory prayer in Malagasy—the primary language spoken in Madagascar. Though Elder Silva, a native Portuguese speaker with limited knowledge of Malagasy, spoke with such deep emotion that his prayer, lasting over 12 minutes, was received with overwhelming gratitude by the people of Madagascar as it spoke to their hearts.
Excerpts from the dedicatory prayer included:
“We thank Heavenly Father for the restoration of the gospel in these last days. We thank You for all the commandments, ordinances, and covenants that were restored. Mostly, we thank Thee for the restoration of the priesthood, its keys, and authority that allow us to know that all that we do in Thy restored church is validated and approved by Thee.”
'We ask Thee, Father in Heaven, that this location will be hallowed and sanctified. That it will be protected and kept safe, and that it will be a place that will bring spiritual power to those who will one day attend Thy sacred house. By the authority of the Priesthood and under the direction of President Russell M. Nelson, I dedicate this temple site as a place for the construction of the Antananarivo Madagascar Temple.”
The ceremony was broadcast to Church members throughout the Madagascar temple district, which includes the islands of Mauritius and Réunion, across various platforms such as YouTube, Zoom, and Facebook Live. In attendance were 500 people who witnessed this historic event in person.
Post-Dedication Reactions
Speaking about the anticipated impact of having the temple in the community, Toky Harilanto Andrianarivelo, the Mayor of Antehiroka, shared, ‘The teachings shared during the meeting convinced me that it’s not just about building a church here; the temple will change the lives of the people in the Antehiroka area… I will tell the people of Antehiroka that this is a place of worship.’
After the groundbreaking, Poushie Rakotomalala, a member from the Ivandry Stake, expressed her feelings using a Malagasy word: 'mankasitraka,' meaning 'grateful.' She said, “This temple, once built, will be a blessing for everyone in Madagascar. As a member of the Church, I know that the ordinances performed there will last forever, beyond this life. All that is required of you is to be worthy.' Her words beautifully conveyed the deep joy and spiritual significance of the occasion.
The Antananarivo Madagascar Temple will be built on a 9.8-acre site located in Fokontany Andranoro, Ambohibao, Antehiroka, Andranomena, Madagascar. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 10,000 square feet, with patron housing and arrival facilities.
Church President Russell M. Nelson announced this sacred house of the Lord during the October 2021 General Conference. 'Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ,' he said during the conference.
Madagascar, an island nation located off the southeastern coast of Africa, is the fourth largest island in the world. The preaching of the restored gospel began in 1998 with the formation of the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission. In September 2000, the Antananarivo Madagascar Stake was organized. Today, over 17,700 Latter-day Saints in nearly 46 congregations call Madagascar home. This temple will be the first on the island.
