Monterrey Mexico Mormon Temple

The Monterrey Mexico Mormon Temple is the 12th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built in Mexico. It will serve over 91,000 members in northeastern Mexico. Prior to the Monterrey temple being built, some members had to travel as much as 25 hours and cross the border to attend Spanish-speaking sessions at the Mesa Arizona temple.

The Monterrey temple is the answer to many members’ prayers. “We’ve waited a long time for this,” said Sister Casanova, “Now we can come to the temple often to perform the saving ordinances that we have so long hoped for.”1

Saving ordinances performed in Mormon temples include baptism, priesthood ordination, endowments, and sealings.

Baptism is an essential ordinance in order to enter the gates of heaven. Many people have died without receiving this ordinance. Within temples members are baptized in behalf of those who have died. After which, the priesthood, which is the power of God, is given to men.

Endowments are performed for both the living and the dead. The endowment ceremony is a series of covenants made between God and each man or woman.

Sealings are performed binding families together forever. Marriages that are performed in Mormon temples last for not only this life but for eternity. Members covenant in proxy and are sealed as families for those who have died.

It took five years after the announcement of a temple in Monterrey before ground was finally broken, because of local resistance to the original site. Although the Church won the three-year legal suit, officials decided to relocate the temple site to appease local neighbors. “The new site is located in the Huajuco zone of Monterrey along the National Highway.” 2 Construction on the new Mormon temple began on 4 November 2000.

The temple is a classic modern with a single-spire design. It has two ordinance and two sealing rooms. It is about 16,500 square feet. The exterior is finished with white granite.

During the two-week open house about 40,000 people attended. Among the attendees were business, government, civic leaders, and officials from other religious faiths.

On 28 April 2002 President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Monterrey Mexico Temple. The temple was the 75th temple that President Hinckley has had the honor of dedicating himself.

During the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley said, “We express our gratitude for the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom Thou didst reveal Thyself and Thine Only Begotten Son. We thank Thee for all of the gifts that have come through the restoration of the gospel including the keys of the Holy Priesthood, which will be exercised in this house.” 3 It is through the keys of the priesthood, which include the power to bind on heaven and earth, that families can be sealed together.

President Hinckley also expressed, “appreciation for the many missionaries who have labored in this great nation in teaching the eternal truths of Thy gospel. They have served with such devotion that today hundreds of thousands of Thy sons and daughters have entered the waters of baptism and have thereafter walked in faith before Thee.” 4 Mormon missionaries serve for eighteen to twenty-four months, at their own expense, all over the world, sharing a message of hope and faith in Christ.

Temples are sacred places, which is why only members who have been interviewed to determine their worthiness may enter a temple after it is dedicated. During the dedicatory prayer President Hinckley asked, “May all who enter this house recognize that they walk in a hallowed and sacred place… May Thy Spirit dwell here at all times and its presence be felt by all who labor here.” 5

Physical Address:

Avenida Eugenio Garza Sada

Esq. Privada Valle de la Estansuela

Colonia Valle Alto

64989 Monterrey, NL

Mexico

Mailing address:

c/o Mexico Area Administration Office

POUCH

Mexico

Phone:   (52) 818-104-0635

For more information about Mormon temples visit the sites below:

LDS (Mormon) Temple resources

LDS Temples – Mormon Temples – Salt Lake Temple

Teachings About Mormon Temples

(1) “News of the Church,” Ensign, July 2002, 74

(2) El Norte, 8 August 2000.(3) “Dedicatory prayer: ‘Open the windows of heaven,’” Church News 11 May 2002, 26 Jun. 2005(4) “Dedicatory prayer: ‘Open the windows of heaven,’”

(5) “Dedicatory prayer: ‘Open the windows of heaven,’”