San José Costa Rica Temple Wiki

The First Presidency of the Church made an announcement on 17 March 1999, that a temple would be built in San José, Costa Rica.

In his address, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy and first counselor in the Central America Area who presided at the temple’s groundbreaking services, said that the temple is a symbol of celestial living, and that our worthiness to enter the Lord’s house here on earth is not a guarantee but a good indicator of one day being able to enter His heavenly home. Conversely, he said, “common sense tells me that if we are not worthy to enter the House of the Lord here on earth, it is not very likely that we will be able to inherit His celestial mansions hereafter.”

“It is important to be worthy to have a temple recommend,” he emphasized. “For me, being worthy of a temple recommend is the clearest evidence we have that we are on the path that leads back to the presence of our Father in Heaven. It can be likened to the oil in the lamps of the five prudent virgins. Just as the foolish virgins were not able to obtain oil from the prudent, neither can a recommend be borrowed from someone the day the Bridegroom comes.”

In his remarks, Elder Julio E. Alvarado of the Seventy, second counselor in the area presidency said that with the start of the temple, “We see how the Lord has extended His arm of mercy and is now bringing the blessings of the temple everywhere. You will have little time to prepare, because we hope the temple is ready in one year. So here is a great opportunity to prepare ourselves. Hurry up, and do it well.”

The temple was open for tours May 20-27, 2000. More than 20,000 people attended the open house and toured the temple.

On June 4, 2000, James E. Faust, second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency, dedicated the temple. President Faust led the cornerstone ceremony as the sun broke out after days of torrential rain. Then, with 4,000 members looking on both in person and through electronic transmission, he gave a dedicatory prayer inside the temple. In the prayer, he said, “As we are gathered together in Thy house and in other halls to which this service is carried, we are humbled and grateful that we now have in our midst this beautiful structure where we may come and commune with Thee and feel the presence of Thy Holy Spirit and serve as saviors on Mount Zion.”^[3]San José Costa Rica Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 10, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/34026/Imbue-them-with-a-knowledge-of-this-work.html.

Members were deeply affected by President Faust’s words. “There are not words to communicate the expressions on the faces of the members as they came out of the dedication,” said the Church’s director of public affairs for that area. “All day long, couples came out [of the temple] holding hands, tears of joy in their eyes.”^[4]4 “Five New Temples Dedicated in Four Countries,” 77.

The San José Costa Rica Temple was dedicated on the same day as the Montreal Quebec Temple.