Description

The Guadalajara Mexico Temple serves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from western Mexico. Latter-day Saints from Guadalajara, Durango, Aguascalientes, Irapuato, León, Mazatlán, Tepic, Zamora and Zacatecas attend this Temple.

History

The first temple in Mexico City was dedicated in 1983. Since that time the Church has grown considerably in Mexico.

Announced

The temple was announced on April 14, 1999. At the time, there were two operating temples in Mexico. During the next two years, eight other temples were dedicated in Mexico.

Groundbreaking

Church leaders broke ground for it on June 12, 1999.

Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy and president of the Mexico North Area presided at the groundbreaking services on 12 June 1999. “What a blessing it is that I was a mission president here just 29 years ago,” he said. “We had four little branches here then. Now there are eight stakes. This is a great time to have a temple in Guadalajara,” he told those assembled. “We have many faithful saints in Guadalajara.”

He also quoted President Lorenzo Snow, who said, “Surely, this entire continent is the land of Zion, and the time will come when there will be temples established over every portion of the land, and we will go into these temples and work for our kindred dead night and day, that the work of the Lord may be speedily accomplished, that Jesus may come and present the kingdom to His Father.” Elder Call requested that each ward and branch prepare family names to submit to the temple by the time it is finished.^[1]
Church News, 26 June 1999

Open House

From 14 April to 20 April of 2001, members of the public were able to attend an open house of the newly finished temple.

Dedication

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Guadalajara Mexico Temple on 29 April 2001. He prayed, “We thank Thee for the progress of Thy work in this great nation of Mexico. Move it forward, dear Father. Touch the lives and hearts of great numbers of people who will hearken to the message of truth and come into the fold of Christ. Bring about the miracle of conversion among the great and good people of this land. May those who govern look upon Thy people with respect and with a desire to be helpful. Wilt Thou bless them and the nation for their friendliness to Thy work.” ^[2] “Dedicatory prayer: ‘We pray for those who shall serve in this Thy house,'” Church News, 5 May 2001, 25 Jun. 2005

About 6,500 members attended the dedication.

The Guadalajara Mexico Temple became the 11th in Mexico, and the 105th operating temple in the world.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Alejandro Gómez	2019–
Ismael Mendoza	2016–2019
Gilberto J. Cerda	2013–2016
Jaime F. Herrera Sánchez	2010–2013
Von L. Sorensen	2007–2010
Robert S. Gabbitas	2004–2007
Emelio García	2001–2004

Details

Location

Located in the Mexican state of Jalisco,

The Guadalajara Mexico Temple is located in a city of four million residents, Jalisco, Mexico’s second largest city . Seventeen stakes and nine districts compose the new temple district.

The temple sits on a 2.69-acre site.

Visitors to the temple can enjoy the beautiful grounds, which feature palm trees and a manicured lawn.

Exterior

Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreón, Mexico, finishes the temple exterior.

The stained-glass windows allow sunlight to enter the temple and reflect off the white floors.

A gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni stands proudly at the top of the spire.

Inscribed into the exterior marble of the temple are the words “Santidad al Señor, La Casa del Señor” — “Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.”

Interior

The new temple is small but completely functional. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Every ordinance which is given in the Salt Lake Temple, the largest in the Church, is also given in every other temple, including these smaller structures. The fact is that they are not so small. They are commodious, and they are beautiful. They represent the ultimate in our worship and the ultimate in blessings offered.” ^[3] Gordon B. Hinckley, “Welcome to Conference,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 4

It was part of President Hinckley’s dream to build small temples because he realized that the people, “need nearby temples—small, beautiful, serviceable temples.” ^[4] Gordon B. Hinckley, “New Temples to Provide ‘Crowning Blessings’ of the Gospel,” Ensign, May 1998, 87

The Guadalajara Mexico Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet (990 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.^[5]“Guadalajara Mexico Temple”. Church News. March 3, 2010.

The high ceilings suggest a feeling of grandeur and beauty.

the Guadalajara Mexico Temple contains different rooms where worship takes place, including a baptistry, instruction rooms, a celestial room and sealing rooms.

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Citations