Tijuana Mexico Temple Wiki

On 2 October 2010, during the semiannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church President Thomas S. Monson declared plans to build the Tijuana Mexico Temple. Church members in Tijuana were elated at the announcement, as the Church has grown exponentially in the city. President Monson simultaneously revealed plans to build four other temples throughout the world and stressed the importance of temples, saying, “May we continue faithful in attending the temples, which are being built closer and closer to our members.”^[1]Thomas S. Monson, “As We Meet Together Again,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 5.

Mexico Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

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Under Construction

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Dedicated

• Monterrey Mexico [2000]
• Guadalajara México [2000]
• Veracruz Mexico [2000]
• Meridia Mexico [2000]
• Villahermosa Mexico [2000]
• Tampico Mexico [2000]
• Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico [2000]
• Oaxaca Mexico [2000]
• Hermosillo Sonora México [2000]
• Ciudad Juárez México [1999]
• Colonia Juárez Chihuahua México [1999]
• Mexico City Mexico [1983]

On 18 August 2012, Church leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence the Tijuana Mexico Temple construction. About 2,000 Church members attended the ceremony, and it was also broadcast to Church meetinghouses so other members could watch. Church leaders Benjamín De Hoyos and Jose L. Alonso presided over the ceremony and turned the soil to indicate the beginning of building the magnificent edifice.

Church members fanned themselves under colorful umbrellas as they listened to the words of their leaders, who spoke of the importance of temples and the blessings they bring to the lives of those who attend. A choir also sang the hymns “An Angel from on High” and “High on the Mountain Top.” An illustration of the completed temple was on a stand during the program so attendees could imagine the finished product.

Elder De Hoyos offered a dedicatory prayer, dedicating the temple grounds for the construction of what Church members consider to be the Lord’s house.^[2]Jerry Earl Johnston, “Members Rejoice at Tijuana Mexico Temple Groundbreaking,” Church News, Aug. 24, 2012.

A free public open house for the Tijuana México Temple was held from Friday, 13 November 2015 through Saturday, 28 November 2015. There was not an open house on Sunday 15 and 22 November 2015. The general public, including children of all ages, was invited to attend the open house. Admission was free, and no tickets were required. The open house was conducted on Mondays from 9:00 a.m until 5:00 p.m, and on Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 pm. All times are Pacific Standard Time (PST). Modest dress was requested.

Open house tours began with a short video presentation providing an overview of temples and why they are significant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ. Following the video presentation, a tour host escorted visitors through the temple, explaining the purpose of each room and answering questions as time allowed. At the conclusion of the tour, guests were invited to a reception area to have any further questions answered.

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The Tijuana México Temple was dedicated in three sessions on Sunday, 13 December 2015. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Secound Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presided at the dedicatory services. The dedicatory sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. were broadcast within the temple district, and the three-hour block of meetings for those congregations were cancelled for that Sunday to allow members to attend the sessions.

During the traditional cornerstone ceremony signifying that the temple is complete, President Uchtdorf called on the assistance of Church leaders and local Latter-day Saints to help him place mortar around the cornerstone. In his remarks to the Saints present, he said, “We love you. We bring you the love and greetings of President Monson. His heart is here. He will participate by internet, by television. He will see it. He will hear you. He will feel your spirit. So, blessings to you from him. Blessings to you from us.”

President Uchtdorf was assisted at the dedication services by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and members of the Mexico Area Presidency — Elders Benjamin De Hoyos, Paul B. Pieper and Arnulfo Valenzuela, also of the Seventy. He further commented, “It’s the Lord’s house and it’s a connection between heaven and earth. So, remember that when you come here that you feel that the ways between heaven and earth intersect. An intersection of the spiritual and our life here on earth.”

The temple is located on on Paseo del Río in southeastern Tijuana. The city’s Cerro Colorado, a landmark hill in eastern Tijuana which bears white letters near the peak that state: Jesucristo es el Señor (Jesus Christ is Lord) serves as a backdrop for the location. Its geographic service area is Baja California and the Sonoran border community of San Luis Río Colorado.

Site

The temple grounds are lined with tall palm trees and beautiful local foliage. The grounds offer a respite for both Church members and nonmembers who want to feel peace.

Temple designers chose to incorporate cultural architectural elements into this building. The temple resembles old Spanish missions and colonial churches known to northern Mexico and Southern California. Church leader, Elder Benjamín De Hoyos of the Seventy, said of this design, “Those early Spanish friars were very valiant in their preaching and building. And today, we in Mexico are very comfortable with the style of those churches. The temple will be an emblem for the entire Tijuana community.”^[4]Jerry Earl Johnston, “Members Rejoice at Tijuana Mexico Temple Groundbreaking,” Church News, Aug. 24, 2012.

Cladding

The temple features a white exterior of precast concrete. The Tijuana Mexico Temple won the PCI Design Award for Best International Building Structure in 2015. PCI stands for the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

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