Description

History

Announcement

On May 7, 1998, it was announced that the temple would be built.

Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple took place on January 9, 1999. 1,700 members attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Elder Eran A. Call, who presided at the ceremony, testified that temples are evidence of Church members’ belief in life beyond the grave. He informed members that each child, youth and adult member in the temple district would receive a picture of the temple to remind them of the sacred nature of the building.”We live in an historic period in the Church and in the world, when the president of the Church has announced that 30 temples will be built,” said Elder Call. Whenever the Lord has permitted the fullness of the gospel to be present on the earth, temples have existed. They are sacred buildings dedicated to a sacred work. He pointed out that the decision to construct a temple in that location was one of inspiration. President Gordon B. Hinckley selected the site as one for the temple. “This was not my decision. The decision was made by him.”

Elder Call informed members that instructions had come to move forward rapidly on construction and to prepare for the dedication. “I suppose,” he said, “that within a year we will complete this beautiful edifice and begin to function as a House of the Lord.” Because of this, “We want to be prepared and attend the temple, not just to have the temple as a monument,” he said. This kind of preparation will bring the members more faith, purity, cleanliness, integrity, love and dedication to the callings they hold. “In this temple district, we have members on both sides of the border. This will bring a uniting and joining of members on both communities. This temple is a great thing for members in the United States as well.”^[1]Church News, 23 January 1999

“Never have I been so filled with joy as at this moment.” Héctor Escobar Alcantar, patriarch of the El Paso Texas Stake, stated that in 1936, Ciudad Juárez received its first meetinghouse, and now, 63 years later, is receiving a temple. “The Lord has revealed to our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, that a temple should be built in this part of His vineyard. We, the saints in this part of the vineyard, accept the responsibility to be worthy of this high position and to strengthen the Church in this place” (Church News, 23 January 1999).

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Villahermosa Mexico Temple.

Referring to the coming temple, El Paso Texas Stake president William Scott John, “This is an historic day for our community, but when I speak of community, I am not speaking of the cities that have borders and restrictions; I am speaking of the community of the Latter-day Saints.” ^[2]News of the Church, Ensign, Apr. 1999, 74

Open House

After construction, an open house was held from February 12 to 16, 2000, during which more than 25,000 people toured the interior while learning more about the purposes of temples. ^[3] Hart, John L. (March 4, 2000), “Juarez Temple is an island of calm in bustling city”, Church News

Dedication

On February 26, 2000, the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple was dedicated as a house of God in six sessions. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley offered the dedicatory prayer.^[4]“Ciudad Juarez Mexico Temple”. Church News. Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. He thanked all those who helped to complete the temple and prayed for protection over the structure. “May it be a house of peace where those who serve may lay aside the cares of the world,” he prayed. “May it be a house of worship where Thy sons and daughters can commune with Thee.”

He also asked for a blessing on the country of Mexico: “Bless this great nation of Mexico that it may rise and shine among the nations of the earth,” he prayed. “Lift the burden of poverty from the backs of the people. Bless the leaders of government that they may welcome Thy servants, and may the message brought by Thy servants take root in the hearts of many souls.”^[5]
Ciudad Juárez Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Mar. 4, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/34018/Dedicatory-prayer-A-house-of-peace.html.   President Hinckley concluded by praying for all those who would serve in the temple and expressing love for God and the Savior Jesus Christ.

Octavio Seanez Flores, president of the Ciudad Juárez La Cuesta Stake, sums it up best: “This land has a destiny, and that destiny is to have a house of the Lord where we can do His work and our work to gain salvation.” ^[6] News of the Church, Ensign, Apr. 1999, 74

Dedication Order

After its dedication, the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple became the 71st operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ^[7] News of the Church, Ensign, Apr. 1999, 74 The Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple was the third temple built in Mexico and the second built in Chihuahua, following the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
A. David Vázquez	2019–
Darwin R Jensen	2016–2019
Lorenzo Macías	2013–2016
Manuel Araiz	2010–2013
E. Elwood Taylor	2007–2010
Ashton H. Taylor	2004–2007
Gerald M. Pratt	2000–2004

Details

The Ciudad Juarez Mexico Temple serves about 12,000 church members in northern Mexico and the adjacent U.S. state of Texas.^[8] Askar, Jamshid (December 30, 2009), “Despite danger, El Paso Latter-day Saints cross border to attend the temple”, Church News^[9] Ramos, Gustavo (September 7, 2011), “LDS members in Mexico confront violence with hope and faith”, The Universe, BYU

Location

The Ciudad Juarez Temple sits on a 1.63-acre site in the bustling border city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.^[10] Hart, John L. (February 10, 2001), “Resolute LDS in Ciudad Juarez”, Church News^[11] Silva, Guadalupe (February 18, 2000), “Temple rises in Juarez: Mormons welcome creation of spiritual center”, El Paso Times (NewsBank paywall), p. 1D

Exterior

The Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple has an exterior of white marble veneer featuring a pattern of circles over tall windows that also contain a circle design. A single spire stretches toward the heavens with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni standing at its top. Moroni holds a trumpet in his right hand, representing the spreading of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the earth.

Interior

Within the 10,700-square-foot temple are several rooms used for worship. The celestial room symbolizes eternal life with God. In instruction rooms, members learn more about God’s plan for His children and make sacred promises. Sealing rooms are used to perform marriages, and the baptistry includes a beautiful font that rests on the back of 12 stone oxen, representing the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.

The Ciudad Juárez México Temple has two instruction rooms, and two sealing rooms.

Sources and Citations

External Links

• ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org
• MormonWiki
• Wikipedia

Additional Articles

Sources