Coban Guatemala Temple

On 5 October 2019, during the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in October 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple would be built in Cobán Guatemala. The temple is the third Latter-day Saint temple built in Guatemala. The other two operating temples in Guatemala are the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple and the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple. The Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple is currently under construction.

Missionaries first arrived in 1947 to the Central American country, which today is home to 290,000 Latter-day Saints comprising 52 stakes and 439 congregations. There are now seven missions.

On 25 May 2020, the location of the Cobán Guatemala Temple was announced. After the dedication, the temple would be a single-level building of approximately 8,800 square feet on a 5.4-acre site in the highlands of central Guatemala adjacent to 4a. Avenida 4-48 Zona 8, Barrio Bella Vista, in Cobán, Guatemala, on the site of the meetinghouse for the Cobán 2nd Ward. Plans also call for a replacement meetinghouse and a temple patron housing facility to be constructed on site.

Also, on 25 May 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Cobán Guatemala Temple was released.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Cobán Guatemala Temple

Elder Brian K. Taylor, president of the Central America Area, presided at the groundbreaking for the Cobán Guatemala Temple on November 14, 2020. Due to local government social-distancing guidelines, attendance at the site was by invitation only.

In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Taylor prayed, "Wilt Thou accept our offering and may Thy grace and presence abide here and in our lives always is our humble prayer and earnest petition."

Open House and Dedication

A public open house for the Cobán Guatemala Temple ran from Thursday, April 25, 2024, through Saturday, May 11, excluding Sundays. Before the public open house, a media day was held on Monday, April 22, 2024. Invited guests toured the temple April 23–24.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Cobán Guatemala Temple — the Church’s 193rd operating house of the Lord — in two sessions on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

“Over many years, you have prayed to have a temple here,” he said. “God has heard those prayers. You have made the construction of this temple possible because of your faith and faithfulness. Thank you for your goodness.”[1]

Elder Renlund was accompanied by his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund; Elder Taylor G. Godoy, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Central America Area, and his wife, Sister Carol Godoy; and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Nancy Duncan.

Both dedicatory sessions were conducted in Spanish and speakers delivered messages in Spanish, Q’eqchi’ and English with translations offered. Elder Renlund delivered his talks and the dedicatory prayer in Spanish.

Elder Renlund said the new house of the Lord will bless members in the Cobán Temple District, especially the youth and new converts, because it will save them a four to eight hour drive to Guatemala City that can sometimes be difficult depending on traffic and weather.

But while more accessible, the new temple is more than a beautiful sight to look upon. The Apostle hopes members will appreciate the opportunity to spend more time inside the house of the Lord and not let little things distract or get in the way of regular attendance.[2]