San Jose Costa Rica Mormon Temple

The First Presidency of the Mormon Church made an announcement on March 17, 1999, that a temple would be built in San Jose Costa Rica. The announcement of the San Jose Costa Rica Mormon Temple made it the first temple in Costa Rica, the second temple in Central America, and the 86th temple worldwide.

The Church is relatively new in Costa Rica. A U.S. ambassador who was also a Mormon ran the first Mormon Church meetings from his home during the years of 1943 through 1946. The first Mormon missionaries did not arrive until just before Costa Rica’s 1948 revolution. By 1974 membership in the Church had grown enough that Costa Rica became its own mission. In 1960 there had only been 214 members in Costa Rica, by 1970 there were 1,700 members. In 1977 the first stake was created in Costa Rica. In 1992 Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated the land of Costa Rica for missionary work, and membership grew even faster. Today there are 23,000 members in Costa Rica. Before the building of the Mormon temple in Costa Rica, members had to travel to the Guatemala City Temple. The trip was expensive, costing many families twice their monthly income; getting to the temple was a great sacrifice.

On April 24, 1999, a groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held. Lynn G. Robbins, a member of the Seventy and First counselor in the Presidency of the Central America Area, presided at the ceremony. Construction began soon after the groundbreaking and progress was quick to reach a deadline of finishing the temple in one year. The deadline was met, and the temple was dedicated in June, only fourteen months after the announcement to build the temple.

The temple was open for tours May 20-27, 2000. The temple plot is 1.93 acres. The exterior finish of the temple is made of Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreon, Mexico. Those who attended the open house were able to take a tour through the 10,700 square foot temple. The tour included the showing of two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, the celestial room, the baptistry and an explanation of the importance of the ceremonies that occur in these rooms. More than 20,000 people toured the temple.

James E. Faust, a member of the First Presidency, dedicated the San Jose Costa Rica Mormon temple for use on June 4, 2000. The San Jose temple serves 50,000 Mormon members in twelve stakes and fourteen districts.

Physical Address:

Del Hotel Marriott, 600 Metros Oeste

La Ribera de Belén

40702 Heredia

COSTA RICA

Mailing Address:

c/o San Jose Costa Rica Service Center

POUCH

Costa Rica

Phone:   (506) 2293-6681

Other Links:

Manhattan Mormon Temple – New York City.com: Arts & Attractions

LDS Church Temples