The fourth temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala officially opened its doors to the public on Monday with tours for the media.
More than 30 local and national media representatives attended and toured the newly completed Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, which will be the fourth house of the Lord in the nation and the second in Guatemala City.
Free public tours of the Miraflores temple will begin this Thursday, Aug. 27, and run through Saturday, Sept. 12, excluding Sundays.
Following the open house, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Miraflores temple on Sunday, Oct. 11.
“The construction of the Miraflores temple represents much more than a historic milestone,” Elder Patricio M. Giuffra of the church’s Central America Area presidency said in a press conference held before media representatives toured the Miraflores temple.
The Miraflores temple “is a blessing that will bring the house of the Lord closer to many families, allowing them to participate more frequently in the blessings received in the temple,” he said.
Both Elder Giuffra and Elder Mark D. Eddy of the Seventy participated in the press conference, highlighting the purpose of temples and the significance of having a second temple in Guatemala’s largest urban area.
“The temple exists so that God’s children can make and keep sacred covenants with him and receive the blessings that make it possible for them to live with God and with their families forever,” Elder Eddy said.
“The construction of this second temple in Guatemala City is a manifestation of God’s love for his children.”
Plans to construct a second temple in the greater Guatemala City area were first announced by the late President Russell M. Nelson in October 2020.
Construction of the Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple began with a groundbreaking ceremony held December 2022.
The newly built Miraflores temple is a two-story structure of approximately 30,000 square feet. It sits on a 1.5-acre lot located in south-central Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Once dedicated, the Miraflores temple will join the nation’s other three operating temples in serving the more than 297,000 church members that call Guatemala home.
Learn more about the Miraflores temple and others worldwide on the Church News’ temple almanac.
