Groundbreaking Completed for the Puebla Mexico Temple

Ground has been broken for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Puebla Mexico Temple, signifying the beginning of construction.

Puebla Mexico Temple
Rendering of the Puebla Mexico Temple.2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, Mexico Area president, presided at the event and offered the dedicatory prayer on Saturday, November 30, 2019. Elder Rafael E. Pino, first counselor and Elder John C. Pingree Jr., second counselor attended.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Church and community leaders. The event was transmitted via internet to stake centers within the proposed temple district.

The temple was announced in October 2018 by President Russell M. Nelson. Once complete, the Puebla Mexico Temple will be the country’s 14th Church temple. Mexico’s first temple, located in Mexico City, was dedicated December 2, 1983. The Church of Jesus Christ has 217 temples throughout the world that are operating, are undergoing construction or being renovated, or have been announced.

1 / 12

Download Photos

Latter-day Saints consider temples to be the “house of the Lord” and the most sacred places of worship on the earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples, however, is for faithful members of the Church to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as marriages that unite families forever and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity while living. Find out more about temples.