Description
The Madrid Spain Temple was constructed in built in Moratalaz, a district of Madrid. This temple is the centerpiece of a complex built on more than 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land which includes a missionary training center, an institute, temple patron housing, a distribution center, a Family History Center, and underground parking. The temple in Madrid is a highly visible symbol of the church’s presence in Spain.
History
Announcement
A Temple for Spain was announced in 4 April 1993 by Gordon B. Hinckley during his closing talk at the Saturday morning session of conference. At that time, then Elder Hinckley was serving as a first councilor to President Ezra T. Benson. The temple was announced almost as an aside as he was describing updates to various other temple construction projects in the works at the time.[1]Gordon B. Hinckley,<a class=”external” href=”https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/04/this-peaceful-house-of-god” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”> “This Peaceful House of God”</a>, LDS.org, 4 April 1993. 15 June 2017.
Groundbreaking
Ground for the Madrid Spain Temple was broken on 11 June 1996 by then President Gordon B. Hinckley. More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony despite oppressive heat.[2]“Church News: About the Cover,” Church News, Deseret News, 22 June 1996
Open House
An Open house was held for the Madrid Spain Temple from 20 February to 13 March of 1999. Approximately 44,000 people attended the 7 day open house, an average of 6,256 people per day.
Dedication
President Hinckley dedicated the temple in 11 sessions across a 3 day period from 19 – 21 March 1999.
Lladro Christus
During the dedicatory visit, President Hinckley presented the King and Queen of Spain with a special gift created by well-known Spanish artists: a Lladro figurine of the Christus, modeled after the original by Bertel Thorvaldsen. Jose Lladro, president of the Lladro Company, had personally delivered the first five issues of the figurine to President Hinckley at the temple site. One of the five figurines is now on permanent display in the temple foyer.[3]Don L. Searle, <a class=”external text” href=”http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/04/spain-exploring-horizons-of-faith” rel=”nofollow”>”Spain: Exploring Horizons of Faith”</a>, <i><a title=”Ensign (LDS magazine)” href=”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_(LDS_magazine)”>Ensign</a></i>: 33, April 1999.
Dedication Order
The Madrid Spain Temple was the 56th temple of the Church. It was the 1st temple in Spain and the 7th temple in Europe. At the time of the Madrid Temple dedication there were 35 temples under construction and another 17 temples announced awaiting groundbreaking.
| Temples Under Construction | Temples Awaiting Groundbreaking |
| Guayaquil Ecuador | Harrison New York* |
| Cochobamba Bolicia | Monterrey Mexico |
| Reciefe Brazil | Accra Ghana |
| Halifax Nova Scotia | Suva Fiji |
| Columbus Ohio | Kyiv Ukraine |
| Spokane Washington | Montreal Quebec |
| Bismarck North Dakota | Birmingham Alabama |
| Columbia South Carolina | Brisbane Australia |
| Santo Domingo Dominican Republic | Montevideo Uruguay |
| Bogota Columbia | Baton Rouge Louisiana |
| Boston Massachusetts | Oklahoma City Oklahoma |
| Nashville Tennessee | Louisville Kentucky |
| Caracas Venezuela | Palmyra New York |
| Albuquerque New Mexico | Copenhagen Denmark |
| Campinas Brazil | Medford Oregon |
| Houston Texas | San Jose Costa Rica |
| Porto Alegre Brazil | Adelaide Australia |
| Regina Saskatchewan | |
| Colonia Juares | |
| Kona Hawaii | |
| Ciudad Juarez | |
| Fukuoka Japan** | |
| Raleigh North Carolina | |
| St. Paul Minnesotta | |
| Edmonton Alberta | |
| Detroit Michigan | |
| Hermosillo Sonora Mexico | |
| Memphis Tennessee | |
| Tampico Mexico | |
| Merida Mexico | |
| Villahermosa Mexico | |
| Melbourne Australia** | |
| Oaxaca Mexico | |
| Tuxtla Guiterrez Mexico** | |
| Fresno California |
* Temple discontinued. After Dedication of Manhattan Temple it was found to be unneccesary.
** Ground was broken for these temples during the 3 day dedication for the Madrid Temple.
Presidents
| TEMPLE PRESIDENT | YEARS SERVED |
|---|---|
| President Wayne L. Gardner | 2017– |
| President Carlos J. Somoza Díaz | 2014–2017 |
| President Donald P. Tenney | 2011–2014 |
| President Garry K. Moore | 2008–2011 |
| President F. Burton Howard | 2005–2008 |
| President David W. Doxey | 2002–2005 |
| President W. Clive Barney | 1999–2002 |
Details
The Madrid Spain Temple has a total of 45,800 square feet (4,250 m2), four ordinance rooms, and four sealing rooms.
Exterior
Cladding
Windows
Symbolism
Inscriptions
Cornerstone
Spires and Moroni
Spire
The Madrid Spain Temple has a single central spire in the center of the temple.
Moroni
 | ||
| Sculptor | Karl Quilter | |
| Version | 1982 | |
| Placed | 14 September 1998 | |
| Faces | East South East | |
| Height | ||
| Feet | ||
| Meters | ||
Compass and picture
Individuals and Contractors
| Manager | ||
| Also Did | ||
| Contractor | ||
| Also Did | ||
| Manager | ||
| responsability |
Sources and Links
References
| ↑1 | Gordon B. Hinckley,<a class=”external” href=”https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/04/this-peaceful-house-of-god” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”> “This Peaceful House of God”</a>, LDS.org, 4 April 1993. 15 June 2017. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “Church News: About the Cover,” Church News, Deseret News, 22 June 1996 |
| ↑3 | Don L. Searle, <a class=”external text” href=”http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/04/spain-exploring-horizons-of-faith” rel=”nofollow”>”Spain: Exploring Horizons of Faith”</a>, <i><a title=”Ensign (LDS magazine)” href=”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_(LDS_magazine)”>Ensign</a></i>: 33, April 1999. |