McAllen Texas Temple Wiki

On October 5, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the McAllen Texaz Temple at the 189th Semiannual General Conference. In a surprise move, he announced the new temples during 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.

Texas Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

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Under Construction

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Dedicated

• Dallas Texas [1984]
• Houston Texas [2000]
• Lubbock Texas [2002]
• San Antonio Texas [2005]

On 28 August 2020, an official exterior rendering of the McAllen Texas Temple was released. Plans called for a single-story building of nearly 30,000 square feet with a central spire. A meetinghouse of over 19,000 square feet would be constructed adjacent to the temple, featuring space for three wards, a stake suite, mission offices, and a distribution center.^[7]“Update on Three US Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 28 Aug. 2020, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/update-on-three-us-temples. The announcement was made in conjunction with the groundbreaking announcement, the render and groundbreaking dates for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple, as well as the location announcement for the Syracuse Utah Temple.

“As the central spire rises heavenward to this beautiful house of the Lord, might we as God’s children ever increase our faith and look to the heavens for wisdom and not to the ever-shifting values of the world,” said Elder Art Rascon, an Area Seventy, at the groundbreaking for the McAllen Texas Temple on 21 November 2020. Elder Rascon presided at the small ceremony and offered the prayer dedicating the site. He prayed for the thousands of Latter-day Saints “in this lovely valley in southern Texas and across the border into Mexico who have worked faithfully to establish Thy kingdom and prepared their hearts and minds awaiting this day.” He thanked God the Father “for their longsuffering, fervent prayers and continued diligence to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”^[8]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “The Temple Coming to McAllen, Texas, Will Help People ‘Look to the Heavens for Wisdom’,” 21 Nov. 2020.

An open house was held beginning with a media day on Monday, August 21. Invited-guest tours followed from Tuesday, August 22, through Thursday, August 24. The general public was invited to tour the building every day from Friday, August 25, through Saturday, September 9, 2023, excluding Sundays.^[10]Toone, Trent. “Jewish, Latter-day Saint Friends Tour Taylorsville Utah Temple.” Church News, 15 May 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/05/01/taylorsville-temple-tour-jewish-leaders-elder-ahmad-s-corbitt-unity-interfaith.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the McAllen Texas Temple on 8 October 2023. He was joined by Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, General Authority Seventy; Elder Jose L. Alonso, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the North America Southwest Area presidency; and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric. Their wives were also in attendance.

The temple, located less than 15 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, serves Latter-day Saints in both countries. The temple monument sign in front of the house of the Lord even has the name of the Church and temple in both English and Spanish.

Elder Uchtdorf said the nearby border wall “is a sign of individual problems and challenges, but here at the temple you are in a place of peace. The Spirit and your love for one another have no borders.”

That’s why, said the Apostle, Latter-day Saints need to continue to build bridges in a world with a lot of walls. “The temple is a beautiful symbol for that peaceful effort, and it will radiate throughout the community here, … and it will spread out all across the world.” The restored gospel didn’t stop at political or social boundaries, he said. “It expanded on both sides of the Rio Grande.”

Jason Solis, who served on the temple dedication committee and later as the temple grounds supervisor, said McAllen is a city “in between” for some members of the Church. “There are many Saints that are unable to go north because of their immigration status, and they can’t go back south to Mexico to the nearest temple, so they [live] in between.” Now these Saints can strengthen Zion, on both sides of the veil, right where they are.^[11]Bancroft, Kaitlyn, and Sarah Jane Weaver. “Blessings of McAllen Texas Temple Dedication Bridges Borders.” Church News, 1 Feb. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/10/8/23908336/mcallen-texas-temple-dedication-bridges-borders-elder-dieter-f-uchtdorf-blessings.

Site

Fences and walkways use concrete and fabricated pavers.

The temple is a steel-frame structure

Cladding

The temple is clad in an ornamental precast exterior.

Windows

Spandrel panel

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