Temples in Mexico Articles
“It was here in northern Mexico that Thou didst reveal the idea and the plan of a smaller temple, complete in every necessary detail, but suited in size to the needs and circumstances of the Church membership in this area of Thy vineyard. That revelation came of a desire and a prayer to help Thy people of these colonies who have been true and loyal during the century and more that they have lived here. They are deserving of this sacred edifice in which to labor for themselves and their forebears,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley [Mormon Prophet] in his dedicatory prayer for Mexico’s completed Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Temple.1
On a hill just west of this little town and overlooking this fertile valley, sits the first of the smaller Mormon temples to be completed outside of the United States. This Temple is an answer to the prayers of many faithful and deserving Latter-day Saints [Mormons] who with their ancestors, have sacrificed much through their hardships and have contributed... Read the rest of this article »
The Monterrey Mexico Mormon Temple is the 12th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built in Mexico. It will serve over 91,000 members in northeastern Mexico. Prior to the Monterrey temple being built, some members had to travel as much as 25 hours and cross the border to attend Spanish-speaking sessions at the Mesa Arizona temple.
The Monterrey temple is the answer to many members’ prayers. “We’ve waited a long time for this,” said Sister Casanova, “Now we can come to the temple often to perform the saving ordinances that we have so long hoped for.”1
Saving ordinances performed in Mormon temples include baptism, priesthood ordination, endowments, and sealings.
Baptism is an essential ordinance in order to enter the gates of heaven. Many people have died without receiving this ordinance. Within temples members are baptized in behalf of those who have died. After which, the priesthood, which is the power of God, is given to men.
Endowments are performed... Read the rest of this article »
The building of the Merida, Mexico Mormon Temple was announced on September 25, 1998. The Merida temple is the 92nd operating Mormon temple worldwide.
A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on January 16, 1999. Carl B. Pratt, a member of the Seventy and President of the Mexico South Area, presided over the dedication and ceremony. The site of the temple is 1.53 acres on the north end of the Yucatan Peninsula, near the Gulf of Mexico. The area is rich with history and the temple site is close to some of Mexico’s most famous archeological ruins, such as Uxmal and Chichen Itza.
The Mormon Church also has a rich history in the area. In 1875 at a General Conference of the Church, six missionaries were assigned to open a mission in Mexico. The assigned Mormon missionaries began traveling by land to Mexico and arrived on January 7, 1876. Missionary work started in El Paso del Norte and Chihuahua. In 1880 Mexico was blessed and dedicated so that the missionary work would go forward.... Read the rest of this article »
Tuxtla Gutiérrez is the capital of Mexico’s southernmost state. The area is famous for its many ruins. The city is nestled in a valley among the mountains. In 1957 Howard W. Hunter, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, standing on a mountain overlooking the city, dedicated the area for the preaching of the gospel. Since that time The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has seen phenomenal growth.
In April 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley, recognizing the need to bring temples to the people, announced that thirty-two smaller Mormon temples would be built around the world before the end of 2000. He said, ” As I have previously indicated, in recent months we have traveled far out among the membership of the Church… They love the Church. They love the gospel. They love the Lord and want to do His will… They make tremendous sacrifices to visit the temples. They need nearby temples—small, beautiful, serviceable temples.”1
The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Temple is one... Read the rest of this article »
The Ciudad Juárez temple spans borders and unites members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “This is an historic day for our community,” said El Paso Texas Stake president William Scott Johns. “But when I speak of community, I am not speaking of the cities that have borders and restrictions; I am speaking of the community of the Latter-day Saints.” 1 The Mormon temple will serve about 12,000 members in Texas and Mexico and will unite the members in the area together in a common purpose.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, which 1,700 members attended, Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy reminded members that the location for the temple was inspired and selected by the prophet of the church. Whenever the fullness of the gospel has been on the earth temples have existed. “They are sacred buildings dedicated to a sacred work.” He testified that temples “are evidence of Church members’ belief in life beyond the grave.” 2
Because of that belief members do temple... Read the rest of this article »
The Veracruz Mexico Mormon temple was announced on April 14, 1999. The Veracruz temple is the 93rd operating Mormon temple worldwide. Many members in the area rejoiced at learning that a temple would be so close, especially those who were among the first members in the area. These members had sacrificed greatly to travel to the Mesa Arizona temple to be sealed to their families.
The Mormon Church is very strong in Veracruz, even though it is young. The first Mormon missionaries didn’t arrive in Veracruz until 1955. Maria Romero was the first person to join the Church in Veracruz. She was so determined to be baptized that even though she was 87 years old, she waded out into the Jamapa River. The first meetinghouse was built in 1961. 674 people attended the dedication of the meetinghouse; only 379 were members. This shows how many were interested in learning more about the gospel. After the dedication of the meetinghouse the missionary work in the area grew rapidly.
A groundbreaking ceremony... Read the rest of this article »
With the dedication of the Guadalajara Mexico temple, Mexico now has twelve operating temples. The first temple in Mexico City was dedicated in 1983. Since that time The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown considerably in Mexico. The Guadalajara temple, located in Mexico’s second largest city, will serve more than 60,000 members in southwestern Mexico.
During the groundbreaking ceremony Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy remarked, “What a blessing it is that I was a mission president here just 29 years ago,” he said. “We had four little branches here then. Now there are eight stakes [a group of congregations]. This is a great time to have a temple in Guadalajara.”1
The new Mormon temple is small but completely functional. President Hinckley said, “Every ordinance which is given in the Salt Lake Temple, the largest in the Church, is also given in every other temple, including these smaller structures. The fact is that they are not so small. They are commodious,... Read the rest of this article »
Today members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are seeing the fulfillment of the prophecy of Brigham Young “that the Salt Lake Temple would not be the only temple built, but there would be hundreds of temples on the earth.”1
The Church builds temples in order to administer the higher ordinances of God. “The ordinances of the house of God are for the salvation of the human family. We … hold the keys of salvation committed to the children of men from the heavens by the Lord Almighty; and inasmuch as there are those who hold these keys, it is important that they should be acted upon for the salvation of the human family.” 2
These keys were given to Joseph Smith, who in turn passed them to his apostles; they include the sealing power, which enables those with priesthood authority to bind families together for eternity. Endowment ceremonies are also performed in Mormon temples. According to Brigham Young the purpose of the endowment is “to receive all those ordinances... Read the rest of this article »
“Members of the [Mormon] Church have been commanded to stand in holy places, such as this Temple, in order to withstand the evils of the latter days. This Temple will serve as a remembrance to Mexican members that families are to be eternal. God has not left man alone in this world…”1 spoke President Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve at the dedication of the Mexico City Mexico Mormon Temple.
The announcement to build a Mormon Temple in Mexico came in April 1976 with the dedication taking place eight years later in 1983.
The plan to build the temple in the Republic of Mexico was not to be an easy one; insurmountable obstacles seemed to thwart the plans from every which way.
In 1976 foreign missionaries were not officially recognized in Mexico, and mandatory laws required all buildings to be open to the public. (Mormons believe that Mormon Temples are houses of the Lord, and only those who prove themselves worthy through an interview with their local bishop and stake president... Read the rest of this article »
The first Mormon temple in Mexico was built in Mexico City in 1983. By 2005, just twenty-two years later, the number increased to ten temples. The Tampico Tamaulipas Mexico temple was the 6th temple to be dedicated in Mexico.
The Tampico area has seen rapid growth with the number of Mormons in the area going from one stake (a group of congregations) to four stakes in just twenty-five years. Tampico itself has a population of about 212,000 and is located on the Gulf of Mexico. There are over 18,000 members in the city.
The new temple will make the members’ journey to the temple much easier. Previously the Saints had to cross the Sierra Madre mountain range to reach the temple in Mexico City, a difficult endeavor. Now they will have their own Mormon temple.
Elder Call presided over the groundbreaking ceremony, which about 930 people attended on 28 November 1998. During the ceremony Elder Call said, “Having a temple near will open doors to growth, and as we attend we will receive blessings... Read the rest of this article »
