San José Costa Rica Temple Wiki

Description

History

The Church is relatively new in Costa Rica. A U.S. ambassador who was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ ran the first Latter-day Saint Church meetings from his home during the years of 1943 through 1946. The first Latter-day Saint missionaries did not arrive until just before Costa Rica’s 1948 revolution. By 1974 membership in the Church had grown enough that Costa Rica became its own mission. In 1960 there had only been 214 members in Costa Rica, by 1970 there were 1,700 members. In 1977 the first stake was created in Costa Rica. In 1992 Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the land of Costa Rica for missionary work and membership grew even faster. Today there are 52,000 members in Costa Rica.^[1]“Statistics and Church Facts.” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/costa-rica. Accessed 27 June 2023. Before the building of the temple in Costa Rica, members had to travel to the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple. The trip was expensive, costing many families twice their monthly income.

Announcement

The First Presidency of the Church made an announcement on March 17, 1999, that a temple would be built in San José, Costa Rica.

Groundbreaking

In his address, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy and first counselor in the Central America Area who presided at the temple’s groundbreaking services, said that the temple is a symbol of celestial living, and that our worthiness to enter the Lord’s house here on earth is not a guarantee but a good indicator of one day being able to enter His heavenly home. Conversely, he said, “common sense tells me that if we are not worthy to enter the House of the Lord here on earth, it is not very likely that we will be able to inherit His celestial mansions hereafter.”

“It is important to be worthy to have a temple recommend,” he emphasized. “For me, being worthy of a temple recommend is the clearest evidence we have that we are on the path that leads back to the presence of our Father in Heaven. It can be likened to the oil in the lamps of the five prudent virgins. Just as the foolish virgins were not able to obtain oil from the prudent, neither can a recommend be borrowed from someone the day the Bridegroom comes.”

In his remarks, Elder Julio E. Alvarado of the Seventy, second counselor in the area presidency said that with the start of the temple, “We see how the Lord has extended His arm of mercy and is now bringing the blessings of the temple everywhere. You will have little time to prepare, because we hope the temple is ready in one year. So here is a great opportunity to prepare ourselves. Hurry up, and do it well.”

He said that the groundbreaking ceremony is symbolic of the start of the project. As the temple is started, “A strong concrete foundation is needed to support the walls, beams and roof; likewise, I believe that today is a good time to strengthen our personal foundations of faith and of testimony, and prepare to become much stronger in the gospel.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute, “because in this manner we are able to sacrifice and give our time and our resources to edify this beautiful House of the Lord.”^[2]Church News, 8 May 1999.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the San José Costa Rica Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Copenhagen Denmark Temple.

Construction began soon after the groundbreaking and progress was quick to reach a deadline of finishing the temple in one year.

Open House

The temple was open for tours May 20-27, 2000. More than 20,000 people attended the open house and toured the temple.

Dedication

On June 4, 2000, James E. Faust, second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency, dedicated the temple. President Faust led the cornerstone ceremony as the sun broke out after days of torrential rain. Then, with 4,000 members looking on both in person and through electronic transmission, he gave a dedicatory prayer inside the temple. In the prayer, he said, “As we are gathered together in Thy house and in other halls to which this service is carried, we are humbled and grateful that we now have in our midst this beautiful structure where we may come and commune with Thee and feel the presence of Thy Holy Spirit and serve as saviors on Mount Zion.”^[3]San José Costa Rica Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 10, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/34026/Imbue-them-with-a-knowledge-of-this-work.html.

Members were deeply affected by President Faust’s words. “There are not words to communicate the expressions on the faces of the members as they came out of the dedication,” said the Church’s director of public affairs for that area. “All day long, couples came out [of the temple] holding hands, tears of joy in their eyes.”^[4]4 “Five New Temples Dedicated in Four Countries,” 77.

The San José Costa Rica Temple was dedicated on the same day as the Montreal Quebec Temple.

Dedication Order

The San José Costa Rica Temple was the second temple built in Central America, following the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple (1984), and the first built in Costa Rica. The San José Costa Rica Temple is the 87th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Presidents and Matrons

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Víctor Manuel Torres Quirós	María Yamileth Monge Ureña de Torres	2021–2021
Edward Dale Watts	Lorie Porter Watts	2018–2021
Rodolfo José Meza Sibaja	Noemy Cambronero Murillo de Meza	2015–2018
Laurie Baker Craig	Pamela Kay Redd Craig	2012–2015
Arthur Leroy Porter	Elaine Agren Porter	2009–2012
Elwin Jerald Haws	Joan Lynnette Gordon Haws	2006–2009
Frank Stillman Moffett	Hella-Ingrid Gerlich Moffett	2003–2006
Clarence Gary Lunt	Dolores (Lorie) Rae Perry Lunt	2000–2003

Details

Location

In the heart of Costa Rica’s capital city, the San José Costa Rica Temple stands as a beacon of light to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple plot is 1.93 acres. The grounds are rife with vibrant flowers, lush shrubbery and palm trees swaying in the tropical wind.

Exterior

The exterior finish of the temple is made of Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreon, Mexico. Architect Alvaro Inigo created the architectural plans based on a standard design provided by the Church, and the temple displays a contemporary style.

Interior

The San José Costa Rica Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.