Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple
Encyclopedia
Announced in 2006, the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) will be the first LDS Temple
in Honduras
and the sixth in Central America
. The temple was announced in a letter to local priesthood leaders 9 June 2006; and later in a press release published 24 June 2006. Ceremonial groundbreaking and dedication were held at a site located in eastern Tegucigalpa
near the Basilica de Suyapa
on 9 June 2007, but the church later announced that the temple site would be moved to a location yet to be selected.
The temple was to be built adjacent to an LDS Church Institute of Religion
. Excavation had begun before the church ceded to pressure to relocate the building. Although previously agreed upon and primarily granted, mayoral officials refused to issue the church necessary permits to continue construction so close to the Basilica de Suyapa. Local church officials decided to move the temple in order to avoid confrontation.
The plans to build a temple in Tegucigalpa were announced by the LDS Church to local church leaders on June 9, 2006. The original groundbreaking and site dedication was on 9 June 2007, by Spencer V. Jones
, a member of the church's Second Quorum of the Seventy and the president of the church's Central America Area
.
When completed, the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple will serve Latter-day Saints in Honduras and Nicaragua
. There are 168,000 Latter-day Saints in Honduras and Nicaragua in 302 congregations.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are 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...
in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and the sixth in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. The temple was announced in a letter to local priesthood leaders 9 June 2006; and later in a press release published 24 June 2006. Ceremonial groundbreaking and dedication were held at a site located in eastern Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
near the Basilica de Suyapa
Virgin of Suyapa
The Virgin of Suyapa is an 18th-century statue of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. The statue, also known as Our Lady of Suyapa , is perhaps Honduras' most popular religious image, and the focus of an extensive pilgrimage...
on 9 June 2007, but the church later announced that the temple site would be moved to a location yet to be selected.
Move
On 28 January 2009, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that due to objections from the local government of Tegucigalpa, the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple would no longer be located at the previously designated site. A new site is currently being sought after. The primary reason for the relocation is due to a belief, widely held by members of the Tegucigalpa city council, that the LDS temple would overshadow the local basilica. Even though the LDS Church had all the primary permits secured, the city council halted all construction and would not honor the permits held by the LDS Church. Out of respect for the strong feelings of those involved, the church decided to seek a new location.The temple was to be built adjacent to an LDS Church Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. Excavation had begun before the church ceded to pressure to relocate the building. Although previously agreed upon and primarily granted, mayoral officials refused to issue the church necessary permits to continue construction so close to the Basilica de Suyapa. Local church officials decided to move the temple in order to avoid confrontation.
The plans to build a temple in Tegucigalpa were announced by the LDS Church to local church leaders on June 9, 2006. The original groundbreaking and site dedication was on 9 June 2007, by Spencer V. Jones
Spencer V. Jones
Spencer Virgil Jones was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002 to 2010. He was a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.- Biography :...
, a member of the church's Second Quorum of the Seventy and the president of the church's Central America Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
.
When completed, the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple will serve Latter-day Saints in Honduras and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. There are 168,000 Latter-day Saints in Honduras and Nicaragua in 302 congregations.
See also
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 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...
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)