Mérida Mexico Temple Wiki
Quick Facts
ANNOUNCED
25 September 1998
ANNOUNCED BY
First Presidency
GROUNDBREAKING
16 January 1999
GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
Elder Carl B. Pratt
DEDICATED
8 July 2000
DEDICATED BY
President Thomas S. Monson
DEDICATION ORDER
92
LOCATION
Calle 70 #527, Esq 65 y 67
Colonia Centro
97000 Mérida, Yucatan
Mexico
PHONE
(+52) 999-928-1643
Details
The Mérida Mexico Temple is the 92nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
History
The Church of Jesus Christ 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 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. Missionary work did progress in Northern Mexico at a great rate, but it was not until February 5, 1959, that the first missionaries arrived in Merida. The first Sunday service was held the next day with eight people in attendance that wanted to learn more about Mormon beliefs. On April 14, 1959, Raquel Pech, was the first person to be baptized in Merida. By 1968 the first chapel was dedicated. This first chapel has since been torn down for the building of the temple. Today there are more than 13,000 members just in Merida and many more members throughout the area that will benefit from having a temple so close.
Announcement
The building of the temple in Mérida, Yucatán, was announced on 25 September 1998.[1]”5 new temples in U.S., Mexico announced“, Church News, Oct 24, 1998 It is one of thirteen temples in Mexico.
Mexico Temples at Time of Announcement
Announced
- Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
- Tampico Mexico
- Ciudad Juarez Mexico
- Monterrey Mexico
Under Construction
- Colonia Juarez Mexico
Dedicated
- Mexico City Mexico [1984]
ANNOUNCED ORDER
93
| Date | 1998 09 25 |
| By | First Presidency |
| Role | # |
| Via | Local Letter |
⮜Preceded by Memphis Tennessee
Followed by Baton Rouge Louisiana⮞
Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 16 January 1999 with Carl B. Pratt, a member of the Seventy and president of the México South Area, presiding.
Elder Pratt spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. He recalled that after President Hinckley’s April 1998 announcement, each of the stake presidents in Mérida hoped that a temple site in their city would be chosen. Elder Pratt said that upon knowing that “a temple would be built in Mérida, my heart was filled with joy.” “We want to establish a culture of temple attendance,” he said. “From sacrifice comes blessings. I know that the construction of this temple will add to the strength of the home; it will add to the love of husbands and wives; it will add to the peace in the Yucatán Peninsula.”
President Fermin Herrera of the Mérida Central stake said, “We have received an eternal hope through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Without this, the work of the temple is not possible. In this beautiful city, the sun is always radiant, but it is no more resplendent than the hearts of the saints who know that in this land of the Mayas there will be built a House of the Lord.”[2]De Ferraez, Blanca Pinelo. “Temple ‘will Add to Peace in the Yucatan Peninsula.’” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/1/30/23249347/temple-will-add-to-peace-in-the-yucatan-peninsula.
GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
82
| Date | 1999 01 16 |
| By | Carl B. Pratt |
| Role | Seventy |
| Attendees | 550 |
⮜Preceded by Memphis Tennessee
Followed by Raleigh North Carolina⮞
Groundbreaking 1999 01 16
- Memphis Tennessee
- Merida Mexico
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Mérida Mexico Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Memphis Tennessee Temple.
Render
Various different renders were released showing the new small temple design. This is the particular version that was released with a label indicating it was the Merida Mexico Temple.
OFFICIAL RENDER
Open House/Dedication Announced
The dedication and open house dates for four new temples — Baton Rouge Louisiana, Birmingham Alabama, Merida Yucatan Mexico and Veracruz Mexico temples — have been announced by the First Presidency.
The Merida Yucatan Mexico Temple, announced Sept. 25, 1998, will hold its open house June 24-July 1, except on Sunday, June 25. The temple will be dedicated Saturday, July 8, in four sessions, and open for ordinance work Monday, July 10.[3]”Dedication dates announced for temples in Mexico, U.S.”,Church News, May 20, 2000, https://www.thechurchnews.com/2000/5/20/23246470/dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-u-s/.
Open House
The Mérida Mexico Temple was open for tours to the public June 24 through July 1, 2000. A total of 14,151 people toured the building during this time.[4]“Merida Yucatan Mexico Temple: Facts and Figures.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2000/7/15/23246131/merida-yucatan-mexico-temple-facts-and-figures.
OPEN HOUSE
| Start Date | 2000 06 24 |
| End Date | 2000 07 01 |
| Days | 7 |
| Attendees | 14,151 |
| Per day | 2,021 |
Dedication
Dedication
Thomas S. Monson, a member of the LDS Church First Presidency, dedicated the temple on July 8, 2000. Four sessions of the dedication were held which allowed more than 5,400 members to attend the services. The Mérida Mexico Temple serves 33,000 members in nine stakes and six districts in Mexico and Belize.
DEDICATION ORDER
92
| Date | 2000 07 08 |
| By | Thomas S. Monson |
| Role | 1st Counselor |
| Sessions | 4 |
| Attendees | 5,400 |
⮜Proceeded by Suva Fiji
Followed by Veracruz Mexico ⮞
Construction Duration
| Span | Duration |
|---|---|
| Announced to Groundbreaking | 0 y, 3 m, 21 d |
| Groundbreaking to Dedication | 1 y, 5 m, 23 d |
| Announced to Dedication | 1 y, 9 m, 13 d |
Dedicatory Order
GLOBAL
92
REGION
N. AM.
61
COUNTRY
MEXICO
9
STATE
YUCATAN
1
COUNTY
–
–
CITY
MERIDA
1
Text for Summary tab
Announced
Under Construction
Under Renovation
On 28 March 2020, the Mérida Mexico Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[5]Stack, Peggy Fletcher. “All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus“, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
Presidents and Matrons
| Temple President | Temple Matron | Years Served | Total Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergio Saavedra Melendez | Liz María Hernandez Olmos de Saavedra | 2022– | |
| Abraham Martínez Cerón | Virginia Monroy Villalobos de Martínez | 2019–2022 | 3 |
| Augusto Peña Barrera | Sandra Alicia Orozco Rojas de Peña | 2016–2019 | 3 |
| Oscar Bernardo García García | Rosa María Castorena de García | 2013–2016 | 3 |
| Zeniff Mejía Mora | Elizabeth Parra Trujillo de Mejía | 2010–2013 | 3 |
| Ronald Earl Dyer | Myrna Lue Montierth Dyer | 2007–2010 | 3 |
| Carl Lavon Call | Jean Russell Silver Call | 2004–2007 | 3 |
| Fernando Rogelio Gómez Paez | Enriqueta Pina Gómez | 2001–2004 | 3 |
| Nefi Treviño Allison | Rosa Elia Flores de Treviño | 2000–2001 | 1 |
Details
Location
The site of the temple is 1.53 acres (6,200 m2) 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 the most famous archeological ruins, such as Uxmal and Chichen Itza.
Exterior
Interior
The 10,700 square foot temple has two ordinance rooms placed in a progressive (2 stage) layout, a celestial room, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry.
Individuals and Contractors
Region
TEMPLES IN MEXICO by state
| Baja California | 1 | Tijuana |
| Chiapas | 1 | Tuxtla Gutierrez |
| Chihuahua | 3 | Chihuahua · Ciudad Juárez · Colonia Juárez |
| Coahuila | 1 | Torreon |
| Hidalgo | 2 | Pachuca · Tula |
| Jalisco | 1 | Guadalajara |
| Mexico City | 2 | Mexico City Benemerito · Mexico City |
| Morelos | 1 | Cuernavaca |
| New Lion | 1 | Monterrey |
| Oaxaca | 2 | Oaxaca · Juchitán de Zaragoza |
| Puebla | 1 | Puebla |
| Queretaro | 1 | Querétaro |
| Quinta Roo | 1 | Cancún |
| San Luis Potosi | 1 | San Luis Potosi |
| Sinaloa | 1 | Culiacan |
| Sonora | 1 | Hermosillo Sonora |
| State of Mexico | 1 | Toluca |
| Tabasco | 1 | Villahermosa |
| Tamaulipas | 2 | Reynosa · Tampico |
| Veracruz | 1 | Veracruz |
| Yucatan | 1 | Merida |
TEMPLES IN NORTH AMERICA by country
Total: 209
Sources and Citations
References
| ↑1 | ”5 new temples in U.S., Mexico announced“, Church News, Oct 24, 1998 |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | De Ferraez, Blanca Pinelo. “Temple ‘will Add to Peace in the Yucatan Peninsula.’” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/1/30/23249347/temple-will-add-to-peace-in-the-yucatan-peninsula. |
| ↑3 | ”Dedication dates announced for temples in Mexico, U.S.”,Church News, May 20, 2000, https://www.thechurchnews.com/2000/5/20/23246470/dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-u-s/. |
| ↑4 | “Merida Yucatan Mexico Temple: Facts and Figures.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2000/7/15/23246131/merida-yucatan-mexico-temple-facts-and-figures. |
| ↑5 | Stack, Peggy Fletcher. “All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus“, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020. |
Last updated on: 5 March 2026