LDS church members react with joy over news of a temple in Marysville

Published 8:47 pm Sunday, April 19, 2026

EVERETT — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to build a new temple in Marysville, the seventh in Washington state.

Elder Hugo E. Martinez, a member of the United States West Area Presidency, shared the announcement from church leaders during a devotional in Lake Stevens.

“We are pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Marysville, Washington,” the First Presidency statement said. “The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later. This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and express gratitude for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord.”

The First Presidency, made up of the president of the church and his two counselors, is the highest governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members of the church greeted the news with joy and excitement.

Jay Schilaty, a teacher at Arlington High School, was having dinner at his father’s house when he took a phone call from a church member. Schilaty is the president of the Arlington Stake, a geographic designation for a group of LDS congregations, similar to a diocese.

“I bet you already heard the news,” Schilaty said later as he recalled the conversation Sunday night.

He put the phone on speaker and “everybody at the table cheered,” he said.

Brett Bolton, retired and a member of the church from Lake Stevens, was at Sunday’s meeting when the announcement was made.

“My initial reaction was rejoicing,” Bolton said Sunday. “Hands down.”

Announcement of the Marysville temple brings the total number of temples — either operating, under construction, or announced — to 384 worldwide. Other temples in Washington include Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Columbia River, Moses Lake and Vancouver.

The Church’s history in the state of Washington stretches back to the 1850s, according to a press release from the church. In 1930, Church membership in Washington consisted of 1,900 members in eight congregations, with chapels in Everett, Spokane, Seattle and Olympia.

Today, Washington is home to some 278,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 470 congregations, the press release said.

Bolton’s family has lived in the area since 1973. They first met as a congregation in a former funeral home.

“We’ve gone from those beginnings to what was announced today,” Bolton said Sunday.

Michael Henneke: 425-339-3431; michael.henneke@heraldnet.com; X: @ihenpecked