Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple Wiki

Description

The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the Capital of Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state

The area famous for its many archaeological ruins. Archaeologists have been fascinated for many years with its hundreds of ancient ruins. Among discoveries in the area are carved monuments used as calendars, stone boxes, wheel-made pottery, cement, the true arch and incense burners. The city is nestled in a valley among the mountains that cover much of this part of the isthmus.

Tuxtla Gutiérrez

History

It was in 1957 on Mactumatza, a mountain overlooking the city, that Elder Howard W. Hunter, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, accompanied by President Claudius Bowman of the Mexican Mission, dedicated this area for the preaching of the gospel. Since that time the Church has seen phenomenal growth.

Before the Mexico City Mexico Temple was dedicated in 1983, Church members traveled to the temple in Mesa, Arizona, which is more than 3,000 kilometers away. Of this experience, Enrique Sanchez Casillas, president of the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple, explained, “In order to finance the annual trips to Arizona, [Church] members would often sell their possessions, including land, cars, furniture, or typewriters. In those days we could only attend the temple once a year. We had to travel four or five days and nights non-stop to Mesa. All of our children would come along with us. In a bus there may have been forty adults and twenty to forty kids—every one of us had a child. It was a real group effort.”^[1]Enrique Sanchez Casillas in Chad S. Hawkins, The First 100 Temples (2001), 204. Even after the temple was completed in Mexico City, temple patrons still had to travel by bus for approximately 15 hours to reach their destination, often at great personal and financial expense.

Announced

Church leaders announced plans to construct the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple on February 25, 1999. This news was met with widespread enthusiasm and jubilation from local members. Seven-year-old Íngrid Fabiola Martínez Barredo was so delighted at the announcement that she told nearly everyone she knew about it. “Temples are where dads and moms can be married for eternity!” she explained. “Temples are where families can be sealed together forever!”^[2]Íngrid Fabiola Martínez Barredo, quoted in Marvin K. Gardner, “Íngrid Fabiola Martínez Barredo of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico,” Friend, May 2002, Jorge David Arrevillaga Manchinelly, a local Church leader, elaborated, “The people are very impressed because they never thought there would be a temple in Chiapas. … They are very happy.”^[3]Jorge David Arrevillaga Manchinelly, quoted in John L. Hart, “Temple Blesses Distant Corner of Rural Mexico,” Church News, Jan. 13, 2001,

Groundbreaking

“New life in the springtime” came to the members in this city as ground was broken for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple, said Elder Richard E. Turley Sr. of the Seventy and a counselor in the Mexico South Area presidency.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Elder Turley observed that “the greatest gift we have received on this earth is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But another great gift from the Lord is to have the essential keys to do temple work, which is essential to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord, and to help us gain eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

“We have much to accomplish during the next months before the temple is dedicated. We must prepare for the temple open house, and we must be ready to serve as participants, workers and leaders. We must also help maintain the temple and its grounds so its very appearance can be a blessing to the community.”

In his site dedicatory prayer, Elder Turley petitioned that the members and leaders of the temple district receive “a special strength,” and that the members would prepare themselves to be worthy to enter and participate in the temple’s holy ordinances.” He also asked that the temple district members “develop a culture of regular temple attendance to influence as many as possible to become involved in this glorious work.” ^[4]Church News, 27 March 1999

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Fresno California Temple, Fukuoka Japan Temple, and Melbourne Australia Temple.

Construction

Over the next year, Church members and others contributed to the temple construction. Local members assisted in landscaping efforts. Additionally, four construction workers and their families joined the Church.

Open House

A public open house was held for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Temple from February 29 to March 4, 2000. Over 6,000 guests took the opportunity to tour the interior of the temple. Several visitors described their tour of the temple as a wonderful experience, and many stated their opinion that the temple was the most beautiful building in the city.

Dedication

James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the church’s First Presidency, dedicated the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple on March 12, 2000 with more than 3,300 members attending the four dedicatory sessions.^[5]Hart, John L. , “75th temple brings a ‘divine experience‘”, Church News, March 18, 2000 ^[6]”Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico Temple”. ldschurchnewsarchive.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-14.

President James E. Faust, second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency, dedicated the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Temple in four sessions on March 12, 2000. Over 3,300 Church members from Chiapas participated in the services. During the traditional cornerstone ceremony, President Faust invited several children to help apply mortar to the temple. A beautiful choir from Tapachula, an area near the Guatemalan border, performed after the ceremony. Church members did not limit themselves to participating in the cornerstone ceremony only on the temple grounds; others gathered in the street, and some even watched the proceedings from the rooftop of a nearby home. In his dedicatory prayer, President Faust petitioned, “We pray that the faithful Saints of this temple district may look to this hallowed structure, may come here frequently, and may taste of the sweet things which are here offered. … Father, as Thy sons and daughters assembled in this Thy holy house, we look to Thee with love as we do to Thy Son.”^[7]Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Mar. 18, 2000.

During the dedicatory prayer President Faust blessed members of the Church saying, “Bless all who shall labor here that they may do so in the true spirit of the Master whom they serve. That which will occur here is all part of a divine plan of happiness which Thou hast outlined for Thy sons and daughters of all generations. The fullness of the priesthood will be exercised here. This will be a house of instruction, a house of covenants, a house of ordinances. May those who receive these ordinances remember them always and live worthy of the covenants they make with Thee, dear Father.” ^[8]”Tuxtla dedicatory prayer: ‘Bring new light and understanding,'” Church News, 18 Mar. 2000, 25 Jun. 2005

On the day of its dedication, Church member Jorge Antonio Feliciano spoke reverently of his experience. “This is the first time I have seen a temple,” he commented. “I have never seen anything like it.”^[9]Jorge Antonio Feliciano, quoted in John L. Hart, “75th Temple Brings a ‘Divine Experience,’” Church News, Mar. 18, 2000.

President Sanchez also commented on the enormity of the occasion. “Having a temple here is incredible,” he said. “It is a dream come true.”^[10]Enrique Sanchez Casillas, quoted in John L. Hart, “ 75th Temple Brings a ‘Divine Experience,’” Church News, Mar. 18, 2000.

Dedication Order

The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple is the 75th operating temple.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Moisés Ulloa	2019–2019
Robert D. Call	2016–2019
José Jiménez	2013–2016
Jorge D. Arrevillaga	2010–2013
Calixto Cruz	2007–2010
Wilbur T. Wagner	2004–2007
Earl W. Redd	2003–2004
Enrique Sánchez	2000–2003

Details

Location

The Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple is beautifully situated on 1.56 acres (6,300 m2) next to a meetinghouse, on a hillside, overlooking the city.

Exterior

The exterior is finished with white marble and features a single-spire design with a gold statue of the angel Moroni on top.

Interior

The temple has a total floor area of 10,700 square feet (990 m2), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.

The temple’s interior reflects the vibrant local culture. Native Americans living in the area made traditional embroidered blouses to adorn the walls of the temple’s entryway. Additionally, wool rugs in colors and patterns common to the native culture and tradition can be seen inside the temple

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Citations

Additional Articles

Temple Facts

Temple History