Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple

Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

ANNOUNCED
9 June 2006

ANNOUNCED BY
First Presidencey

GROUNDBREAKING
12 September 2009

GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
Elder Don R. Clarke

DEDICATED
17 March 2013

DEDICATED BY
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf


DEDICATION ORDER
141

LOCATION
Residencial Roble Oeste, Boulevard Roble Oeste, 3ra Calle Sur.
Comayagüela, M.D.C., Francisco Morazán
Honduras

Description

The Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple is a Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving about 233,000 Church members in Honduras and Nicaragua.

History

Announced

The First Presidency announced in a June 9 letter that a temple will be built in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. It will be the first of its kind in Honduras, and the fourth in Central America. Temples are operating in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and in San Jose, Costa Rica. Meanwhile, construction continues on a future temple in Panama City, Panama. The Central American Area President Spencer V. Jones, a member of the Seventy, made the announcement to members of the area on June 18 during a visit to the country.[1]“Temple to be built in Honduras capital”, Church News, p. 4, 24 June 2006, retrieved 2012-10-30

In the letter, the First Presidency stated, “We are confident that this will be a blessing to the many faithful Saints in this and surrounding areas who have had to travel long distances to enjoy the blessings of the temple.” With its completion, the Tegucigalpa Temple will be the first Mormon temple in Honduras and the fourth Mormon temple in Central America. Currently, members in the area must travel to Guatemala City, to attend the nearest temple.

ANNOUNCED ORDER
134

Date2006 06 09
ByFirst Presidency
Role
ViaLocal Letter

⮜Preceded by Vancouver British Columbia
Followed by Quetzaltenango Guatemala

Groundbreaking

Under the direction of Elder Spencer V. Jones of the Quorum of the Seventy and president of the Central America Area, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple took place on 9 June 2006. This is the fourth temple to be built in Central America.

Among those present was Brother Jose Ortega, who in 1952 had his first contact with a member of the Church in the Plaza Hotel in Tegucigalpa. That member was Elder Spencer W. Kimball, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Participating in the ceremony were various stake presidents including those from Nicaragua and their families.

Services were held at a site located in eastern Tegucigalpa, near the Basilica de Suyapa, on 9 June 2007.[2]Betancourth, Ramon (June 23, 2007), “Ground broken in Honduras”, Church News, retrieved 2012-10-30

GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
131

Date2007 06 09
BySpencer V. Jones
RoleSeventy
Attendees#

⮜Preceded by Oquirrh Mountain Utah
Followed by Kyiv Ukraine

New Location Announced

On 28 January 2009, the LDS Church announced that due to objections from the local government, the proposed temple would no longer be located at the previously designated site. The primary reason for the relocation was due to a belief, widely held by members of the Tegucigalpa city council, that the temple would overshadow the local basilica. The church had all the primary permits secured, but the city council halted all construction and would not honor the permits. Out of respect for the strong feelings of those involved, the church decided to seek a new location.[3] De Groote, Michael (Feb 9, 2009), Church to seek new site for temple, Mormon Times (Deseret News), retrieved 2012-10-30[4]Stack, Peggy Fletcher (February 6, 2009), “LDS to find a new site for Honduran temple”, The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved 2012-10-30

The temple was to be built adjacent to an LDS Church Institute of Religion. Excavation had begun before the church ceded to pressure to relocate the building.[5] Mormones ya no construirán templo en el área de Suyapa[6]Mormons to build gigantic temple in front of Marian shrine in Honduras, Catholic News Agency, January 30, 2009, retrieved 2012-10-30  Church officials decided to move the temple in order to avoid confrontation.[7] No hubo acuerdo con la Iglesia Católica (Spanish) This news story contains a letter from Nery Rodriguez, Director of Public Affairs for the LDS Church in Honduras, explaining why the church will not be building at the original site[8]Mormons reverse plans to build temple near Marian shrine in Honduras, Catholic News Agency, February 4, 2009, retrieved 2012-10-30[9]Campbell, Joel (January 31, 2009). “Media distorts story about Honduras Temple”. Random observations (Report). Mormon Media Observer. Mormon Times (Deseret News). Retrieved 2012-10-30.

Groundbreaking

On September 12, 2009, a second groundbreaking occurred at the new location near the Toncontín International Airport in Residencial Roble Oeste on a 13.6-acre property. This ceremony was more private, attended by invited priesthood leaders and area leaders, and included a display of an architectural rendering of the new temple.[10]Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple: Facts”. Church News. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2025-07-27,https://www.thechurchnews.com/2013/3/23/23224581/tegucigalpa-honduras-temple-facts/.

GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
138.1

Date2009 09 12
By#
Role#
Attendees#

⮜Preceded by Quetzaltenango Guatemala
Followed by Kansas City Missouri

Render Released

In conjunction with the groundbreaking, an official render was released.

Open House Announced

On December 11, 2012, the church announced the Open House and dedication dates for the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple.

Open House

An open house was held from Saturday, 9 February, through 2 March 2013, excluding Sundays. More than 210,000 people attended the Mormon temple open house, including local dignitaries — Honduran president Porfirio Lobo Sosa, First Lady Rosa Elena de Lobo, and a large government delegation that included 10 cabinet ministers.

Start Date2013 02 09
End Date2013 03 02
Days18
Attendees210,000
Per day11,666.7

Cultural Celebration

In conjunction with the dedication of the temple, there was a cultural celebration featuring music and dance on Saturday, 16 March 2013. About 4,100 Latter-day Saints participated in the presentation. These Church members prepared for the celebration for 10 months by practicing ancestral songs and dances, making costumes and creating the stage for the event. Approximately 15,000 people attended the program, including President Ucthdorf, other Church leaders.

Dedication

The temple was formally dedicated on Sunday, 17 March 2013, in three sessions, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Gregory A. Schwitzer of the Seventy also joined him for the dedication. The sessions were broadcast to Mormon meetinghouses in the temple district, which includes Nicaragua.

In the dedicatory prayer, President Uchtdorf gave thanks for those who helped build the temple, as well as for those who “have gone before—for their sacrifices, courage, and faith while building [the Lord’s] work and kingdom.” He also prayed,

“Wilt Thou accept this Thy holy house as the gift of our hearts and hands. Wilt Thou honor it with Thy presence. May Thy Holy Spirit dwell here at all times and be felt by all who come within its portals. May a mantle of holiness come upon this sacred edifice. May it stand as a beacon of everlasting truth and light.”[11]Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Tegicigalpa Honduras Temple dedicatory prayer,

DEDICATION ORDER
141

Date2013 03 17
ByDieter F. Uchtdorf
RoleApostle
Sessions3
Attendees#

⮜Preceeded by Calgary Alberta
Followed by Gilbert Arizona

Dedicatory Prayer

Construction Duration

SpanDuration
Announced
to
Groundbreaking
3 y,
3 m,
3 d
Groundbreaking
to
Dedication
3 y,
6 m,
5 d
Announced
to
Dedication
6 y,
9 m,
8 d

Dedicatory Order

GLOBAL

141

REGION
N. AM.
94

COUNTRY
HONDURAS
1

STATE
FRANCISCO MORAZAN
1

COUNTY


CITY
TEGUCIGALPA
1

Presidents

Temple PresidentTemple MatronYears Served
Nery Rodríguez LopezMaria Olivia Justo Rodríguez de Rodríguez2025–2025
Luis Ariel Merlo PinedaAmparito Sosa de Merlo2022–2025
Germán Laboriel GuittyLourdes Patricia Espinal Valladares de Laboriel2019–2022
Rodolfo Díaz OrtizRosario del Carmen Tilguant de Díaz2018–2019
Luis Gustavo Duarte FonsecaGladys Ernestina Zeitun Borjas de Duarte2015–2018
Roberto Ocampo ReyesArgentina Martínez Santacreu de Ocampo2013–2015

Details

Location

On the hilly terrain of Honduras’s capital city, the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple stands as a beacon to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Location

Latitude#
Longitude#

Phone

Elevation

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##

Site

AcresHectares
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Exterior

Unique temple architectural designs crafted using the finest materials reflect the Church’s belief that temples are houses of God. The meticulously kept grounds and beautiful architecture of Mormon temples create a serene atmosphere, and the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple is no exception.

Cladding

The exterior of the temple is clad in gray granite from China

Windows

Magnificent art-glass windows, which were inspired by the Mayan culture, adorn the temple outside and inside.

Exterior Finish

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Architectural Features

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Specifications

FeetMeters
Height13541.2
To Shoulder##
Width##
Length##
Footprint##

Spires and Finial

Spires

The single spire on the temple stands 135 feet (41.2 meters) tall.

Spire Details

Spires#
Location#
Finish#
Typedome, steeple, tower, spire
shape#
Tower shape
Moroni
Sculptor:Karl Quilter
Commissioned:1978
Completed:1982
Material:Fiberglass
Height:7 ft (2.1 m)
Weight:~300 lbs (181.4 kg)
Currently On:105 temples
Finish:
Placed:
Faces:

Interior

The 28,254-square-foot Temple’s interior features original murals portraying Honduran scenery. The national flower of Honduras, the orchid, is also incorporated into the temple’s design. Motifs of this unique flower can be found throughout the temple on doors and furniture.

Entry

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Area32,240 f2
(2,995.19 m2)
Floors above grade
Floors below Grade
Baptistries
Initiatories
Endowment Rooms
Sealing Rooms
Baptistry

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Baptistries:
Location:
Exterior Windows:
Artwork:
Artwork Type:
Oxen:
Type:
Hoof:
Color:
Layout:
Font Exterior:
Interior:
Shape:
Bowl Shape:
Pillar:
Stairs:
Font Well:
Initiatory Spaces

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Styledetached, attached, combined
Typestationary, progressive
Rooms#
*Estimated
Instruction Rooms

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Creation Room

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Garden Room

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World Room

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Terrestrial Room

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Rooms#
Type#
Capacity#
Muralsy/n
Total Muraled Rooms#
Mural Type
*Estimated
Celestial Room

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Sealing Room

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Sealing Rooms
Largest Capacity

Contractors and Individual

Architect

[with additional version]

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Projects by Architect

Project Manager

[without additional version]

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General Contractor

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Other Contractor

contractor and position

Region

Canada11Calgary · Cardston · Edmonton · Halifax · Lethbridge · Montreal · Regina · Toronto · Vancouver · Victoria · Winnipeg
Costa Rica1San José
Dominican Republic1Santiago · Santo Domingo
El Salvador1San Salvador · Santa Ana
Guatemala6Cobán · Guatemala City · Huehuetenango · Miraflores Monterrey · Guatemala City · Quetzaltenango · Retalhuleu
Haiti1Port-au-Prince ·
Honduras2Tegucigalpa · San Pedro Sula
Mexico27Cancún · Chihuahua · Ciudad Juárez · Colonia Juárez · Cuernavaca · Culiacan · Guadalajara · Hermosillo Sonora · Juchitán de Zaragoza · Merida · Mexico City Benemerito · Mexico City · Monterrey · Oaxaca · Pachuca · Puebla · Querétaro · Reynosa · San Luis Potosi · Tampico · Tijuana · Toluca · Torreon · Tula · Tuxtla Gutierrez · Veracruz · Villahermosa
Nicaragua1Managua
Panama1Panama City
Puerto Rico1San Juan
United States158Albuquerque · Anchorage · Atlanta · Austin · Bakersfield · Baton Rouge · Bentonville · Billings · Birmingham · Bismarck · Boise · Boston · Bountiful · Brigham City · Burley · Caldwell · Casper · Cedar City · Charlotte · Chicago · Cincinnati · Cleveland · Cody · Coeur d’Alene · Colorado Springs · Columbia · Columbia River · Columbus · Dallas · Denver · Des Moines · Deseret Peak · Detroit · Draper · El Paso · Elko · Ephraim · Fairbanks · Fairview · Farmington · Feather River · Flagstaff · Fort Collins · Fort Lauderdale · Fort Worth · Fresno · The Gila Valley · Gilbert · Grand Junction · Grand Rapids · Greenville · Harrisburg · Hartford · Heber Valley · Helena · Honolulu · Houston South · Houston · Huntsville · Idaho Falls · Indianapolis · Jacksonville · Jordan River · Kahului · Kansas City · Knoxville · Kona · Laie · Las Vegas · Layton · Lehi · Lindon · Logan · Lone Mountain · Los Angeles · Louisville · Lubbock · Manhattan · Manti · McAllen · Medford · Memphis · Meridian · Mesa · Milwaukee · Missoula · Modesto · Monticello · Montpelier · Moses Lake · Mount Timpanogos · Nashville · Nauvoo · Newport · Norfolk · Oakland · Ogden · Oklahoma City · Oquirrh Mountain · Orem · Orlando · Palmyra · Payson · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Pittsburgh · Pocatello · Portland M · Portland O · Price · Provo City Center · Provo Rock Canyon · Queen Creek · Raleigh · Rapid City · Red Cliffs · Redlands · Reno · Rexburg · Richmond · Roanoke · Sacramento · Salt Lake · San Antonio · San Diego · San Jose · Saratoga Springs · Seattle · Smithfield · Snowflake · Spanish Fork · Spokane · Springfield · St. George · St. Louis · St. Paul · Star Valley · Summit · Syracuse · Tacoma · Tallahassee · Tampa · Taylorsville · Teton River · Tucson · Tulsa · Twin Falls · Vancouver · Vernal · Washington D.C. · West Jordan · Wichita · Willamette Valley · Winchester · Winter Quarters · Yorba Linda · Yuma

Sources and Citations

References

References
1 “Temple to be built in Honduras capital”, Church News, p. 4, 24 June 2006, retrieved 2012-10-30
2 Betancourth, Ramon (June 23, 2007), “Ground broken in Honduras”, Church News, retrieved 2012-10-30
3 De Groote, Michael (Feb 9, 2009), Church to seek new site for temple, Mormon Times (Deseret News), retrieved 2012-10-30
4 Stack, Peggy Fletcher (February 6, 2009), “LDS to find a new site for Honduran temple”, The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved 2012-10-30
5 Mormones ya no construirán templo en el área de Suyapa
6 Mormons to build gigantic temple in front of Marian shrine in Honduras, Catholic News Agency, January 30, 2009, retrieved 2012-10-30
7 No hubo acuerdo con la Iglesia Católica (Spanish) This news story contains a letter from Nery Rodriguez, Director of Public Affairs for the LDS Church in Honduras, explaining why the church will not be building at the original site
8 Mormons reverse plans to build temple near Marian shrine in Honduras, Catholic News Agency, February 4, 2009, retrieved 2012-10-30
9 Campbell, Joel (January 31, 2009). “Media distorts story about Honduras Temple”. Random observations (Report). Mormon Media Observer. Mormon Times (Deseret News). Retrieved 2012-10-30.
10 Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple: Facts”. Church News. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2025-07-27,https://www.thechurchnews.com/2013/3/23/23224581/tegucigalpa-honduras-temple-facts/.
11 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Tegicigalpa Honduras Temple dedicatory prayer,

Last updated on: 2 November 2025