Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple

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On Wednesday, January 28, 2009, Church officials announced that a new site will be selected for Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple. Construction will no longer be pursued at the site adjacent to the institute building at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras and across from the Catholic Our Lady of Suyapa Basilica in eastern Tegucigalpa. Construction of the temple was halted shortly after excavation for the foundation in September 2007 when opposition was met from Tegucigalpa City officials and citizens, who felt the temple would overshadow and block the view of the iconic basilica. Despite months of negotiations, the Church did not succeed in obtaining a response of approval from the mayorship. Out of respect for the City officials' feelings and to avoid the perception of any rivalry with the Catholic Church, Church officials made the decision to relocate the temple.¹

Ground was broken for the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple on Saturday, June 9, 2007—one year from the date of its announcement—at its originally chosen location adjacent to the institute building and across from the Catholic Our Lady of Suyapa Basilica on the eastern side of Tegucigalpa. President Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy presided at the event, which was attended by invited priesthood leaders and their families—several of whom participated in the first ceremonial scoops of dirt with gold-colored shovels. Stake presidents from Nicaragua expressed gratitude that the temple would be only four hours away, allowing them to spend more time doing ordinance work than traveling, as had previously been the case.²

The First Presidency announced a temple for Honduras' largest and capital city of Tegucigalpa in a letter dated June 9, 2006. The Honduran members received the news at the hand of Central America Area President Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy, who was visiting the country on June 18. The Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple is Honduras' first. Area members, who have had to travel 12 hours to the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, are delighted with the news, as temple trips come at a great cost for many. The First Presidency added its confidence that "this will be a blessing to the many faithful saints in this and surrounding areas who have had to travel long distances to enjoy the blessings of the temple."³