Guayaquil Ecuador Temple
The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple is the 58th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1982, President Spencer W. Kimball, then President of the Church, announced that there would be a temple built in Ecuador. However, it took fourteen years to secure the necessary government authorizations and the temple was not completed and dedicated until 1999.
Ecuador is a land of faithful Church members; before the temple in Ecuador was finished, the members would travel by bus to attend the Lima Peru Temple, which would take three days one way, one to two days in the temple, and then another three days on the bus back to their homes. Area representative Elder Jensen remarked that, "We just marvel at their faith. It almost makes you weep when you see the sacrifices they make in order to go to the temple for their one time. Some will return during their lifetime, but not many." [1]
Before the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple was dedicated, an open house was free to all in the community, including government officials. Over one hundred thousand members and non-members came to support the arrival of the temple in their country.
The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple was dedicated on 21 August 1999 by President Gordon B. Hinckley. President Hinckley commented to those in attendance, "This is a day of history. This is a day to be remembered by [Mormons] for many years to come, when for the first time in all of Ecuadorian history a temple will be dedicated to carry forward His eternal purposes. We are blessed, so richly blessed." [2]
Gustavo Maruri, a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ shared his feelings about the Temple: "I look up early in the morning and see the statue of the Angel Moroni standing way up there, the fulfillment of our faith, our work, [and] our efforts." [1] Other faithful members would walk six miles at night so they could arrive at the temple by 5 a.m. to begin their volunteer work of cleaning the temple. That evening, they would walk back to their homes. [3]
The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple sits on a quiet peaceful section of northern Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. Fertile volcanic soil and bounteous rain create a perfect setting for the landscape of this beautiful temple, which has been described by many as, "the most beautiful building in Ecuador." [1] The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple has a total of 70,884 square feet, four ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms.
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Notes
- "The First 100 Temples", by Chad Hawkins, 2001, p. 159-160
- Church News, October 1999, p. 74
- "Guayaquil Ecuador Temple", by Hart
