Oaxaca Mexico Temple Wiki

Because of growth in the area, the First Presidency announced on 23 February 1999 that a temple would be built in Oaxaca. The Oaxaca (pronounced “wah-HAH-kah”) temple district is comprised of seven stakes and one district, with 26,624 members.

Announced

• Oaxaca Mexico
• Monterrey Mexico

Under Construction

• Mérida Mexico
• Villahermosa Mexico
• Ciudad Juárez Mexico
• Hermosillo Mexico
• Tampico Mexico

Dedicated

• Colonia Juárez Mexico [1998]
• Mexico City Mexico [1984]

Elder Carl B. Pratt of the Seventy and president of the Mexico South Area, who presided at the 13 March 1999 groundbreaking ceremony, related a declaration by President Brigham Young in 1863. He paraphrased saying, “that the Salt Lake Temple would not be the only temple built, but there would be hundreds of temples on the earth.” He added, “Today, we are seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy.” In his remarks Elder Pratt stated, “It is impossible to really understand the greatness of this day. I wish we were able to comprehend the existence of a temple standing here, for which we have prepared the way.”

He described the sacrifices of the early saints who built the Nauvoo Temple and worked day and night even though they knew that they would soon leave it behind as they departed for the west. “They sacrificed all that they had to build that temple,” he said. “Today we do not have to sacrifice very much. The Church has the means, and religious intolerance is no longer significant. The Church is respected by those in authority in all the nations of the world. The temple will be a great missionary tool and the day will come when there will not be just three stakes in Oaxaca and three in the nearby Istmo region, but dozens of others, and additional temples. It is my prayer that we examine our lives, study the scriptures, that we may have family prayer, family home evenings, and keep the commandments.”

After the building’s completion, A total of 10,658 people attended the open house between 28 February and 4 March. Many visitors commented on the peaceful feeling found within the temple.

The dedication of the Oaxaca Mexico Temple was the first time James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the church’s First Presidency, dedicated a temple. The temple was dedicated on 11 March 2000. More than 18,000 members attended the four dedicatory sessions.^[5]Hart, John L. (March 18, 2000), “Oaxaca Mexico Temple: New horizons open for a faithful people“, Church News

The Oaxaca Mexico Temple was the first time President James E. Faust, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated a temple. The temple was dedicated on 11 March 2000. More than 18,000 members attended the four dedicatory sessions.

During the dedicatory prayer President Faust said, speaking on behalf of the local members, “We have longed for the day when a house of the Lord would be built nearer to us that we might come here often and worship Thee in spirit and in truth, and receive those ordinances, for both the living and the dead, which lead to immortality and eternal life through the great Atonement wrought by our Redeemer, Thy Beloved Son.”^[6]”Oaxaca dedicatory prayer: ‘May we come here frequently,'” Church News 18 Mar. 2000, 25 Jun. 2005