Tijuana México Temple
On 2 October 2010, during the opening of the 180th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of a new temple in Tijuana, México. Currently there are 12 operating LDS temples in México, and the Tijuana México Temple, once dedicated, will be the 13th. The new temple is located on Paseo del Río in southeastern Tijuana with a backdrop of the beautiful Cerro Colorado, a landmark hill in eastern Tijuana, which bears white letters near the peak that state: Jesucristo es el Señor (Jesus Christ is Lord). The Tijuana México Temple is the first LDS temple built in México since one was completed a decade ago in the northern industrial city of Monterrey. Its geographic service area will be Baja California and the Sonoran border community of San Luis Río Colorado. Currently, Latter-day Saints from the area must cross the U.S. border to attend the San Diego California Temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ has experienced rapid growth in Tijuana in recent years. There are six stakes in the city of Tijuana with nearby stakes located in the states of Baja California and Sonora. Total Church membership in México is reported at 1,368,475 with 34 missions and 1,998 congregations.
Site Dedication and Ground Breaking Ceremony
On the morning of Saturday, 18 August 2012, some 2,000 faithful Latter-day Saints gathered to a barren lot in eastern Tijuana to participate in the site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony for the Tijuana México Temple. The design of the landmark building reflects the Spanish Colonial influences that characterize much of Mexican architecture including the Spanish missions found throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States—specifically the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, Arizona. Elder Benjamín De Hoyos of the Seventy, First Counselor in the México Area presidency, presided at the event. He commented, "Those early Spanish friars were very valiant in their preaching and building. And today, we in México are very comfortable with the style of those churches. The temple will be an emblem for the entire Tijuana community."
Long-time member Dominga G. Sifuentes, who was baptized in 1964, said, "I remember when the first chapel was built here. We had 30 members then. Now we have a temple. I've watched the Church grow and have seen many chapels constructed, but the temple brings a special air of peace and tranquility." Elder De Hoyos stated, "We've seen in other Mexican cities where a temple has been built that there is a newfound peace in the city itself. Not only in Mexico, but in other Latin American countries I've visited, a temple can be a real factor in bringing a sense of security and prosperity. And we feel certain much the same thing will happen here."
The design of the Tijuana Mexico Temple reflects the Spanish Colonial influences that characterize much of Mexican architecture including the Spanish missions found throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States—specifically the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, Arizona. The brilliant white exterior symbolizes the holy purpose of the temple, which is crowned with a distinctive central tower, lifting the eyes heavenward. Towering palm trees and colorful landscaping will decorate the temple grounds. The Latter-day Saints have had a long history in México. When they migrated from Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley, Utah was actually part of México Territory. Some Latter-day Saints settled in México when the U.S. Government imprisoned Mormon men for practicing polygamy in the later 1800's. The first Mormon baptisms were performed in the state of Sonora in 1876.
Open House, Cultural Celebration, and Dedication
A free public open house for the Tijuana México Temple will be held from Friday, 13 November 2015 through Saturday, 28 November 2015. There will not be an open house on Sunday 15 and 22 November 2015.
A cultural celebration will be held Saturday, 12 December 2015, and the temple will be dedicated in three sessions on Sunday, 13 December 2015.
The dedicatory sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. will be broadcast within the temple district, and the three-hour block of meetings for those congregations will be cancelled for that Sunday to allow members to attend the sessions. Once the temple is dedicated it will serve 25,000 Latter-day Saints.
