Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple Wiki

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. ^[2]Íngrid Fabiola Martínez Barredo, quoted in Marvin K. Gardner, “Íngrid Fabiola Martínez Barredo of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico,” Friend, May 2002, ^[3]Jorge David Arrevillaga Manchinelly, quoted in John L. Hart, “Temple Blesses Distant Corner of Rural Mexico,” Church News, Jan. 13, 2001, The Tuxtla Gutierrez temple district is comprised of five stakes and one district with 19,078 members.^[4]—. “Two Temples Announced for Mexico.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/3/13/23249125/two-temples-announced-for-mexico.

Mexico Temples at Time of Announcement

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]

“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.” ^[5]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.

A public open house was held for the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Temple from 29 February to 4 March 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.

James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the church’s First Presidency, dedicated the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple on 12 March 2000 with more than 3,300 members attending the four dedicatory sessions.^[7]Hart, John L. , “75th temple brings a ‘divine experience‘”, Church News, March 18, 2000 ^[8]”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.”^[9]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.” ^[10]”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.”^[11]Jorge Antonio Feliciano, quoted in John L. Hart, “75th Temple Brings a ‘Divine Experience,’” Church News, Mar. 18, 2000.