Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico Temple
The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple is the 75th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
History
Tuxtla Gutiérrez is the capital of Mexico's southernmost state. The area is famous for its many ruins. The city itself 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 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 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 Mexico Temple is one of these small temples, and "a dream come true" [2] for many local Church members. Because of the mountainous terrain, travel in and out of the area is difficult and previously members had to drive to Mexico City – a 20-hour drive - in order to attend a temple. Now the more than 18,000 members in southern Mexico have a temple close.
President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple on 12 March 2000. More than 3,300 members attended the four dedicatory sessions. During the dedicatory prayer, President Faust blessed members of the Church saying, "Bless all who shall labor here that they may do so in the true spirit of the Master whom they serve. That which will occur here is all part of a divine plan of happiness which Thou hast outlined for Thy sons and daughters of all generations. The fullness of the priesthood will be exercised here. This will be a house of instruction, a house of covenants, a house of ordinances. May those who receive these ordinances remember them always and live worthy of the covenants they make with Thee, dear Father." [3]
The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple sits on 1.56 acres next to a meetinghouse. The exterior is finished with white marble and features a single-spire design with a gold statue of the angel Moroni on top. It has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Notes
- Gordon B. Hinckley, “New Temples to Provide ‘Crowning Blessings’ of the Gospel,” Ensign, May 1998, 87
- “News of the Church,” Ensign, May 2000, 107
- "Tuxtla dedicatory prayer: 'Bring new light and understanding,'" Church News, 18 Mar. 2000, 25 Jun. 2005
Temples in Mexico
- Cancún Mexico Temple
- Chihuahua Mexico Temple
- Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple
- Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico Temple
- Cuernavaca Mexico Temple
- Culiacan Mexico Temple
- Guadalajara Mexico Temple
- Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple
- Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple
- Merida Mexico Temple
- Mexico City Benemerito Mexico Temple
- Mexico City Mexico Temple
- Monterrey Mexico Temple
- Oaxaca Mexico Temple
- Pachuca Mexico Temple
- Puebla Mexico Temple
- Querétaro México Temple
- San Luis Potosi Mexico Temple
- Tampico Mexico Temple
- Tijuana México Temple
- Toluca Mexico Temple
- Torreón México Temple
- Tula Mexico Temple
- Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico Temple
- Veracruz Mexico Temple
- Villahermosa Mexico Temple
