Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple |
First floor cement exterior walls being poured; anticipated to be completed in 2011 (awaiting official announcement) |
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 14 March 2009 by Don R. Clarke
As of September 2009, the foundation for the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple has been laid, and rebar for the reinforced concrete exterior walls is rising.
Ground was formally broken for the temple on a beautiful spring morning on Saturday, March 14, 2009, to an audience of more than 700 Church leaders and other special guests including the mayor, a congressional delegate, and other public officials. Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy and president of the Central America Area, presided with his two counselors. In his remarks, Elder Clarke said, "It is through your obedience and dilligence that the Lord has allowed the construction of this holy house." Members of this region of Guatemala have faithfully attended the temple since the time they had to travel to the Mesa Arizona Temple (1927), then to the México City México Temple (1983), and finally to the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple (1984).1
The hillside site selected for the temple is located on the western side of the city in Zone 7, just west of the city zoo—Parque Zoológico Minerva—and across from Los Cerezos condominiums.
Quetzaltenango (Xela) is Guatemala's second largest city located 128 miles northwest of Guatemala City—the largest city—in a large valley surrounded by mountains and two volcanoes. The Quetzaltenango temple and recently announced Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple and San Salvador El Salvador Temple will help relieve demands on the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, which currently serves 122 stakes and districts from Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
The temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley during his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.2
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple will be the second temple built in Guatemala, following the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple (1984).
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley during his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.
1. "Se inicia la construcción del Templo de la Ciudad de Quetzaltenango Guatemala," La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días 17 Mar. 2009 <http://www.mormones.org.gt/Articulos/Temploxela/PrimeraPalada.html>.
2. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "Groundbreaking Held for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple," 16 Dec. 2006.
