Madrid Spain Mormon Temple

Spain is a country where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is coming out of anonymity because of the strength and example of its members. Freedom of religion was not legally guaranteed in Spain until 1967, and then in October of 1968 the Mormon Church was officially recognized by the government of Spain.  Mormon missionaries entered the country in May of 1969.[1]


With ninety-seven percent of Spain’s population being Catholic, the Mormon faith began with small congregations of English-speaking ex-patriates.  But, with the strong missionary effort and the strength of the members there, the Church has grown extensively.

A mission was organized in July 1970. During this period, many Spanish-speaking members from other nations were transferred by their businesses to Spain and helped to strengthen new congregations. By 1974, 620 members met in 17 congregations.

One measure of the Church growth was the announcement of the Madrid Spain Mormon Temple to be built in the suburb of Mortalez in 1996. This Temple would be the centerpiece of a complex built on more than three acres of land and would include a missionary training center, an institute, temple patron housing, a distribution center, family history library, and underground parking.
This Mormon Temple in Madrid would be a highly visible symbol of the Church’s presence in Spain. During the open house over 100,000 community members and government officials toured the Temple, including King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.  Looking to the Temple as an anchor, members of the Mormon Church prepared themselves individually to perform temple ordinances for themselves and their ancestors.

When President Gordon B. Hinckley went to Spain to dedicate the Madrid Mormon Temple, he visited with the King and Queen, making this his third visit with the royal couple. At his visit in 1992, he presented them with a special gift created by well-known Spanish artists: a Lladro figurine of the Christus, modeled after the original by Bertel Thorvaldsen and “created in commemoration of the opening of the very first temple in Spain pertaining to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Jose Lladro, president of the Lladro Company, had personally delivered the first five issues of the figurine to President Hinckley at the Madrid Spain Temple site. One of the five figurines is now on permanent display in the Madrid Spain Mormon Temple foyer.[3]


Before the dedication of the Madrid Temple, President Hinckley was asked, “If you could say any one thing to the members of the Church here in Spain, what would it be?” President Hinckley responded with, “Live worthy to go to the Temple. Then you will be worthy of every blessing this Church has to offer.”[4]

As with all blessings that come from God, it is predicated upon our obedience. Those who are obedient to the covenants and promises they have made in the Temple come back to them ten-fold from God.  President Hinckley in the dedicatory prayer promised the people that, “…thy people will come to this House. May they be friendly and generous toward Thy cause and kingdom. Bless this Thy work that it shall flourish and grow in wondrous splendor, touching for everlasting good the hearts of people everywhere.”[1]

Church members in Spain have been involved in a number of humanitarian service projects including donations of food to Bosnia in 1993; concerts of the Madrid Chorus “Alma 29″ for the benefit of “Cáritas,” UNICEF, and “Aldeas Infantiles” (1996-97). FENADOSE awarded the Church the 1996 National Merit for Blood Donations in Spain in March 1997.

Mailing address:
Calle del Templo No. 2
28030 Madrid
SPAIN
Phone:   (34) 91-3017-607

To learn more about Mormon Temples please see the following websites:

LDS (Mormon) Temple resources

LDS Temples – Mormon Temples – Salt Lake Temple

Teachings About Mormon Temples

USATODAY.com – Mormons open temple doors to share beliefs

Temple (Mormonism) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manhattan Mormon Temple New York City.com : Arts & Attractions …

Mormanity: Mormon Temples and “Secrecy”

History of Mormon Temples