Cobán Guatemala Temple Wiki

On October 5, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Cobán Guatemala Temple at the 189th Semiannual General Conference. In a surprise move, he announced the new temples during the general women’s session. ^[1]Nelson Russell, M. “Spiritual Treasures“. 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 5 October 2019, Web, ^[2]Toone, Trent (October 5, 2019). “8 new Latter-day Saint temples announced by President Nelson at women’s session“. Deseret News. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[3]Bennett, Craig (October 7, 2019). “Eight new temples announced in LDS Church semiannual conference“. KDXU News. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[4]Noyce, David (October 5, 2019). “Latter-day Saint temples coming to Orem and Taylorsville, upping Utah’s eventual total to 23“. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[5]Walker, Sean (October 6, 2019). “5 takeaways from the 189th semiannual general conference“. KSL.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.

Guatemala Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

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Under Construction

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Dedicated

• Guatemala City Guatemala [1984]
• Quetzaltenango Guatemala [2011]

On May 25, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Cobán Guatemala Temple was released. ^[7]”See What the New Temples in Guatemala and Japan Will Look Like,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 5 May 2020.

The groundbreaking of the Cobán Guatemala Temple was presided over by Elder Brian K. Taylor, Central America Area president, on Nov. 14, 2020. COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance to only a small group of people, including Monsignor Rodolfo Valenzuela Nuñez, Bishop of the Diocese of Verapaz.

There was initially uncertainty as to if the groundbreaking ceremony could proceed as planned because of the arrival of Hurricane Eta a week before, causing more than 100 deaths. In his dedicatory prayer on the site, Elder Taylor said, “Endow all Thy Saints, we pray dear Father, with an extraordinary love for and brightened hope in Thy Sanctuary as a mighty Refuge from the storm.”

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.”^[9]”Church Breaks Ground for Cobán Guatemala Temple,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 14 Nov. 2020.

A public open house for the Cobán Guatemala Temple ran from Thursday, 25 April 2024, through Saturday, 11 May, 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.

More than 54,000 attended during that time. The open house saw more than 300 volunteers who formed committees such as security, medical care, logistics, food, historical records, cleaning, technology, among others; other functions were: reception, guides for the tour, accommodation, care for special guests and more than 100 young people between the ages of 12 and 30, supported in placing the footwear cover.^[11]“Más De 54 Mil Personas Asistieron a Las Puertas Abiertas Del Templo De Cobán.” noticias.laiglesiadejesucristo.org, 12 May 2024, noticias.laiglesiadejesucristo.org/articulo/mas-de-54-mil-personas-asistieron-a-las-puertas-abiertas-del-templo-de-coban-guatemala.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Cobán Guatemala Temple — the third in Guatemala — in two sessions on Sunday, 9 June 2024. The prayer was offered in Spanish.

Preparing for the dedication, Elder Renlund said he was delighted to learn a standard Q’eqchi’ greeting is “Ma sa laa ch’ ool,” or “How is your heart?”

“On this day of temple dedication, a great question for all of us to ask ourselves is, ‘How is my heart?’ If we let Him, God can and will change our hearts” through temple covenants, said Elder Renlund.

Using eastern Guatemala’s Polochic River and its many tributaries that strengthen it as an example, Elder Renlund said that covenants serve to bind the children of God more closely to Him.

Multiple covenants with God are needed because they “are not only sequential but also additive in our relationship with God,” Elder Renlund said. “Each covenant is like adding a tributary to a river. Just like each tributary strengthens a river, each covenant strengthens our connection to God. Covenants are not, in and of themselves, the source of power. The source of power is the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Making and keeping covenants create a conduit for Their power in our lives. The stronger our connection is with God, the less likely we are to wander off the covenant path.”

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 has been chosen as the site for the temple.

Site

As part of the construction a new replacement meetinghouse and a temple patron housing facility were constructed on site.

Cladding

The temple exterior is finished with hand-troweled stucco and stone.

Windows

Spandrel panel