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) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 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
Number176
Dedication15 January 2023, by D. Todd Christofferson[1]
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[2][3]
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
Exterior finishConcrete
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms1
Sealing rooms1
()

History

The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson on October 7, 2018, during the church's general conference.[4] Nelson announced 11 other temples at the same time, bringing 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,[5] 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.[6] At the groundbreaking, church leaders noted that construction of the temple was anticipated to take about two years.[7]

The temple was originally planned to be completed in 2021,[8] but construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] A public open house was held from December 1-17, 2022.[10] The temple was dedicated by D. Todd Christofferson on January 15, 2023,[11] where over 2,100 church members watched remotely during the three sessions held.[12]

Architecture

The San Juan Puerto Rico 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.[13] The exterior of the temple is concrete and inspired by local Spanish colonial architecture.[11] The interior glasswork was inspired by quatrefoil motifs on local buildings.[10] The walkways around the temple were made by locally-fabricated concrete[13] 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.[13]

See also

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

References
  1. https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2023/1/15/23556387/san-juan-temple-dedication-prophetic-promise-fulfilled-elder-christofferson
  2. "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
  3. LDS Church announces plans to build 12 new temples worldwide, pioneer generation temples will be renovated, KSTU Fox 13, 7 October 2018
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  7. Groundbreaking Held for San Juan Puerto Rico Temple, Mormon Newsroom, 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  8. Johnson, Stacy. "15 Latter-day Saint temples currently under construction, now including Saratoga Springs", Provo Herald, 20 October 2019. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.
  9. 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.
  10. "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.
  11. Richards, Mary (January 15, 2023). "A prophetic promise fulfilled: San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is dedicated". The Church News. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  12. Swenson, Madison (January 18, 2023). "Elder Christofferson dedicates San Juan Puerto Rico Temple". KSL-TV. Bonneville International. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  13. "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.
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