Wikipedia

San Juan Puerto Rico Temple

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.[5] 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.

San Juan Puerto Rico Temple
Map
Number176
Dedication15 January 2023, by D. Todd Christofferson[4]
Site2.97 acres (1.20 ha)
Floor area6,988 sq ft (649.2 m2)
Height74 ft (23 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Quito Ecuador Temple
San Juan Puerto Rico Temple 		→
Richmond Virginia Temple
Additional information
Announced7 October 2018, by Russell M. Nelson[1][2]
Groundbreaking4 May 2019, by Walter F. González
Open houseDecember 1-17, 2022
Current presidentJusto Pausides Casablanca
LocationSan Juan, Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates18°23′08″N 66°01′47″W / 18.3855°N 66.0296°W / 18.3855; -66.0296
Exterior finishConcrete
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms1
Sealing rooms1
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The temple has a domed spire and has a Spanish colonial architectural style.[6] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on May 15, 2019, conducted by Walter F. Gonzalez, a church general authority.[7]

History

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The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson on October 7, 2018, during general conference,[8] 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,[9] 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.[3] 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]

Design and architecture

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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.[6]

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.[7]

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]

Temple presidents

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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]

Admittance

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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]

See also

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Temples in the Caribbean (edit)
  = Operating
  = Under construction
  = Announced
  = Temporarily Closed

References

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  1. ^ "Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes: Number of temples operating, announced or under construction now above 200", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 October 2018
  2. ^ LDS Church announces plans to build 12 new temples worldwide, pioneer generation temples will be renovated, KSTU Fox 13, 7 October 2018
  3. ^ a b "Groundbreaking Set for San Juan Puerto Rico Temple". Newsroom. LDS Church. 17 January 2019.
  4. ^ Richards, Mary (1 February 2024). "San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedication fulfills prophetic promise". Church News. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  5. ^ "'Like we had just scored a goal in the World Cup': What the temple announcement meant to Church members across the globe". Church News. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  6. ^ a b "San Juan Puerto Rico Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  7. ^ a b "Ground Broken for Three International Temples in One Day - Church News and Events". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  8. ^ "Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes: Number of temples operating, announced or under construction now above 200". Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. October 7, 2018.
  9. ^ "Artist Rendering Released for San Juan Puerto Rico Temple: Temple will be the third Latter-day Saint temple in Caribbean". Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 12 January 2019.
  10. ^ Groundbreaking Held for San Juan Puerto Rico Temple, Mormon Newsroom, 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  11. ^ Johnson, Stacy. "15 Latter-day Saint temples currently under construction, now including Saratoga Springs", Provo Herald, 20 October 2019. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.
  12. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, March 26, 2020. Retrieved on April 4, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d "San Juan Puerto Rico Temple Open House Offers Hope to Storm-Tossed Island: First house of the Lord in Puerto Rico opens its doors to the public". Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Richards, Mary (January 15, 2023). "A prophetic promise fulfilled: San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is dedicated". The Church News. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  15. ^ Swenson, Madison (January 18, 2023). "Elder Christofferson dedicates San Juan Puerto Rico Temple". KSL-TV. Bonneville International. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d "Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: San Juan Puerto Rico Temple". Church of Jesus Christ Temples. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Presidents and Matrons of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  18. ^ "Read about these 5 new temple presidents and matrons". Church News. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  19. ^ "Open House Temple Puerto Rico". caribbean.lds.org. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  20. ^ Jones, Mark (2023-01-19). "San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedicated last Sunday". KSLNewsRadio. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  21. ^ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
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