Yigo Guam Temple Grounds Recovering Nicely from Typhoon Mawar 

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On May 24, 2023, Typhoon Mawar unleashed its destructive force on the Pacific island of Guam, leaving behind a trail of devastation that disrupted lives, uprooted communities, and altered the natural landscape. Among the many sites impacted was the Yigo Guam Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

The typhoon made landfall on the Island of Guam a year and two days after the temple’s 2022 dedication. The resulting power outages on the island caused some damage to the temple, which temple facilities staff and contractors quickly were able to repair so that Latter-day Saints could continue to enjoy the blessings of the temple. 

Damage to the beautiful flowers and vegetation that surround the temple, however, was not so quickly restored. 

Trees and plants meant to beautify the grounds were uprooted, leaving the site far below the standard expected for a sacred site meant to provide peace and reflection to members and friends of the Church.  

Because much of the island territory had experienced similar damage, healthy plants needed for replanting were hard to come by. But working with contractors, who grew many plants fresh specifically for the temple site, the facilities staff were able to plan and coordinate the restoration of the site. 

By late 2024, the grounds had been completed with enough time for the fresh plants to become rooted and strong. They again became the lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere that is so needed in our day. 

Visitors strolling around the Yigo Guam Temple can once again enjoy the natural beauty which always surrounds a Latter-day Saint House of the Lord. 

 The temple site landscape restoration is a bit of an analogy for our lives. Sometimes storms come when we do not feel prepared like we would prefer to be. It takes time, repentance, work, and patience to rebuild, but the storms can make us stronger if we are willing to go through the process.