San Juan Puerto Rico Temple | ||||
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Number | 176 | |||
Dedication | 15 January 2023, by D. Todd Christofferson [1] | |||
Site | 2.97 acres (1.20 ha) | |||
Floor area | 6,988 sq ft (649.2 m2) | |||
Height | 74 ft (23 m) | |||
Official website • News & images | ||||
Church chronology | ||||
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Additional information | ||||
Announced | 7 October 2018, by Russell M. Nelson [2] [3] | |||
Groundbreaking | 4 May 2019, by Walter F. González | |||
Open house | December 1-17, 2022 | |||
Current president | Justo Pausides Casablanca | |||
Location | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |||
Geographic coordinates | 18°23′08″N66°01′47″W / 18.3855°N 66.0296°W | |||
Exterior finish | Concrete | |||
Baptistries | 1 | |||
Ordinance rooms | 1 | |||
Sealing rooms | 1 | |||
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The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is the 176th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 7, 2018, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference. [4] It is the church's third temple in the Caribbean and the only one in Puerto Rico, serving the 23,000 members who live there.
The temple has a domed spire and has a Spanish colonial architectural style. [5] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on May 15, 2019, conducted by Walter F. Gonzalez, a church general authority. [6]
The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson on October 7, 2018, during general conference, [7] with 11 other temples announced at the same time. That brought the total number of temples operating, under construction, and announced at that time to 201.
Following release of an artist's rendering of the temple a few days earlier, [8] on January 17, 2019, the church announced that a groundbreaking to signify the beginning of construction would be held on May 4, 2019, with Walter F. González, the president of the church's Caribbean Area, presiding. [9] At the groundbreaking, church leaders noted that construction of the temple was anticipated to take about two years. [10]
The temple was originally planned to be completed in 2021, [11] but construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] A public open house was held from December 1-17, 2022, [13] and the temple was dedicated by D. Todd Christofferson on January 15, 2023, [14] with over 2,100 church members watching remotely during the three sessions held. [15]
The building has a Spanish colonial architectural style, coupled with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. The temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of San Juan and its spiritual significance to the church. The temple is on a 2.97-acre plot, featuring walkways crafted from locally fabricated concrete. [5]
The temple has a single story and one spire. It is 6,988 square feet and 74 feet tall with the spire (24 feet without), which was inspired by the towers on San Juan City Hall. [16] The exterior of the temple is concrete and inspired by Spanish colonial architecture. [14] The exterior art glass was designed by NWL architects, and was intended to reflect the natural landscape around the temple. [16]
The interior features glasswork that was inspired by quatrefoil motifs on local buildings. [13] The walkways around the temple were made by locally-fabricated concrete [16] The crema vosscione tile was quarried in Mexico and the accent cement tiles were manufactured in Vietnam, while the carpet patterns Spanish Colonial styles and hosts colors evocative of Puerto Rico. The temple’s interior painting pattern was inspired by historical buildings in San Juan. [16] The temple’s color palette includes blue, gold, opal white, and green. [13]
The temple includes one ordinance room, one sealing room, and one baptistry, each arranged for ceremonial use. [6]
The design has elements representing the heritage of the San Juan area. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the quatrefoil motifs used in the art glass windows, which are common in the Spanish colonial architecture of the area’s historic buildings. [13]
The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. [17] Since its dedication in 2023, the president and matron of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple are Justo P. Casablanca and Lucy R. Casablanca. [18]
Following the completion of the temple, a public open house was held from December 1-17, 2022 (excluding Sundays). [19] The temple was dedicated by D. Todd Christofferson on January 15, 2023. [20]
Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship. [21]
Temples in the Caribbean ( |
Below is a chronological list of temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In the LDS Church, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time, and then each is dedicated as a "House of the Lord," after which only members with a current temple recommend are permitted to enter. Thus, they are not churches or meetinghouses, but rather specialized places of worship. The LDS Church has 367 temples in various phases, which includes 197 dedicated temples, 5 scheduled for dedication, 49 under construction, 1 scheduled for groundbreaking, and 115 others announced. Within temples, members of the LDS Church make covenants, receive instructions, and perform rituals and ordinances. Additionally, members consider the temple a place to commune with God, seek God's aid, understand God's will, and receive personal revelation.
The San Salvador El Salvador Temple is the 135th temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the fourth temple to be built in Central America and the first in El Salvador. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 18, 2007, in a statement from the church's First Presidency.
The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the San Martin de Porres district, Lima, Peru. The temple was dedicated by D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 14, 2024.
The Layton Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Layton, Utah. The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson on April 1, 2018, during the 188th general conference. The Layton Utah Temple was announced concurrently with 6 other temples. At the time, the number of total operating or announced temples was 189. It is the 22nd temple in Utah and the second temple in Davis County.
The Alabang Philippines Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under construction in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines.
The Yigo Guam Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Yigo, Guam.
The Orem Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Orem, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 5, 2019, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during the church's general conference. The temple is the first in the city of Orem, the sixth in Utah County, and the 28th in the state of Utah.
The Praia Cape Verde Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Praia, Cape Verde.
The Auckland New Zealand Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under construction in the suburb of Goodwood Heights outside Manukau Central in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Okinawa Japan Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Okinawa, Japan. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 2019, by church president Russell M. Nelson during the church's general conference. The temple is the first to be built on the island chain of Okinawa, and the fourth in the country of Japan. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction was held on December 5, 2020, conducted by Takashi Wada, a church general authority.
The Puebla Mexico Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puebla, Mexico. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 7, 2018, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference. The temple is the 14th in Mexico and first in the state of Puebla. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on November 30, 2019, conducted by Arnulfo Valenzuela, a church general authority.
The Feather River California Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Yuba City, California.
The Richmond Virginia Temple is the 177th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in Glen Allen, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 1, 2018, by church president Russell M. Nelson during general conference. This is the church's first temple in Virginia.
The Salta Argentina Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salta, Argentina. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 1, 2018, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference. The temple is the third in Argentina, following the Buenos Aires Argentina and Córdoba Argentina temples, and the first in the province of Salta. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify beginning of construction, was held on November 4, 2020, conducted by Benjamín De Hoyos, a church general authority.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puerto Rico refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Puerto Rico. The first branch was formed in 1950. As of December 31, 2022, there were 23,243 members in 38 congregations in Puerto Rico.
The Deseret Peak Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under construction in Tooele, Utah. Plans to construct a temple in Tooele Valley were announced on April 7, 2019 by church president Russell M. Nelson, during the church's general conference. The temple will be the first in Tooele County and the 23rd in the state of Utah.
The Taylorsville Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taylorsville, Utah. Plans to construct the temple were announced on October 5, 2019 by church president Russell M. Nelson, during the church's general conference. The temple is the first in the city of Taylorsville, the fifth in Salt Lake County, and the twenty-third in the state of Utah.
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 2019, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference. It is the second built in Honduras, and is the country’s northernmost temple.
The Cobán Guatemala Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cobán's 2nd ward. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 5, 2019, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference. It is Guatemala's third temple, following the Guatemala City Guatemala and Quetzaltenango Guatemala temples.