Rendering of the Puebla Mexico Temple.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A map of the Puebla Mexico Temple in relation to nearby states.Screenshot from Google Maps
The site of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, the day of its groundbreaking.Screenshot from Prensa de La Iglesia de Jesucristo en México
Groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple
The groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple was presided over by Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, Mexico Area president, on Nov. 30, 2019. Elder Rafael E. Pino and Elder John C. Pingree Jr. — the first and second counselors, respectively, in the Mexico Area presidency — were also in attendance.
During his remarks to the congregation, Elder Pino said, “I assure you, dear neighbors, that the Church is going to be a good neighbor. This will be a place where you will feel peace, where holiness will radiate. This beautiful building will bring great improvements to the community. It will be a beautiful building, with very beautiful and clean gardens. We will be good neighbors without a doubt.”
The Puebla Mexico Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 30, 2019, with Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, president of the Mexico Area, presiding. In-person attendance was by invitation only, but the recording was transmitted via the internet to stake centers in the proposed temple district.
March
29
2024
Open house
A public open house for the Puebla Mexico Temple will be held from March 29 through April 20, 2024 — excluding March 31 (Easter Sunday), April 6 and 7 (April 2024 general conference general sessions) and April 14 (a Sunday). A media day will also be held March 25, 2024, and invited guests will tour the building from March 26 to March 28, 2024.
After a public open house from March 29 to April 20, 2024, the Puebla Mexico Temple will be dedicated May 19, 2024, by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Puebla Mexico Temple
As shown in exterior renderings and plans, the Puebla Mexico Temple will be a one-story building with a central tower above the entrance. Around the house of the Lord is a line of rectangular windows, and the arch around the entry doors is also a rectangle. Atop the building’s multilevel tower, which sits on a square base, is a domed cupola with an arched window on each side.
The temple’s exterior is planned to be white with red roofing, and the doors will be brown. A small fountain will stand in front of the entrance. Palm trees, grass fields and bushes with colors like purple, pink and yellow will adorn the grounds.
Groundbreaking Photos of the Puebla Mexico Temple
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The Mexico Area Presidency and their wives dig the first shovelful of dirt at the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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“This will be a place where you will feel peace, where holiness will radiate,” says Elder Rafael E. Pino, first counselor in the Mexico Area presidency, at the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Latter-day Saint young people provide music for the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, Mexico Area president, speaks to Latter-day Saints who have gathered to participate in the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Latter-day Saint young people provide music for the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder John C. Pingree Jr., second counselor in the Mexico Area presidency, speaks at the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Latter-day Saints bow their heads during the dedicatory prayer on the site of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, November 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Latter-day Saint children lift a shovelful of dirt at the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Young women use shovels to lift dirt at the groundbreaking of the Puebla Mexico Temple on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Local leaders of the Church in Puebla participate in the Puebla Mexico Temple groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This will be the 14th Latter-day Saint temple built in Mexico and the first built in the state of Puebla.
Fact #2
The Puebla Mexico Temple held the last temple groundbreaking in Mexico before the country declared a national state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This declaration came March 30, 2020, exactly four months after the groundbreaking.
Fact #3
The closest temple to Puebla at the time of its announcement was the Mexico City Mexico Temple, a distance of approximately 60 miles away.
This will be the 14th Latter-day Saint temple built in Mexico and the first built in the state of Puebla.
Fact #2
The Puebla Mexico Temple held the last temple groundbreaking in Mexico before the country declared a national state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This declaration came March 30, 2020, exactly four months after the groundbreaking.
Fact #3
The closest temple to Puebla at the time of its announcement was the Mexico City Mexico Temple, a distance of approximately 60 miles away.
