And Rome is likely to be closer for Saints in Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, members who currently travel to Bern, Switzerland, for temple work. Though the Rome temple is likely to draw Church members, who coordinate temple service with vacation time, from all over Europe.

Though the temple district hasn't been established yet, DeRuvo said, it's possible that Church members in northern African countries could travel across the Mediterranean Sea, as well.

The placement of temples in Philadelphia and the greater Kansas City area reflects steady church growth throughout the United States, where there are now several dozen temples.

The Calgary temple will be the eighth temple in Canada, the third in the province of Alberta. A temple currently is under construction in Vancouver.

The temple in Cordoba will be the second in Argentina, the Buenos Aires temple being the first. Today's announcement will bring the total number of temples in Latin America to 34.

Ground was broken for the 11th European temple, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2007.

For members of the church, temples are the most sacred places on earth. They are used solely for the performance of sacred ceremonies such as marriage and religious instruction aimed at strengthening members' relationships with God and their fellow men. The temples provide a place of holiness and peace, separate from the preoccupations of the world, where church members make formal promises and commitments to God.

Last week, the church announced the open house and dedication dates for the next temple to be completed. The Draper Utah Temple, the 129th worldwide, will be open for public tours from Jan. 15 through March 14. It will then be dedicated in 12 separate sessions from March 20 to March 22.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com