Ground Broken for Managua Nicaragua Temple

Ground was broken on Saturday, November 26, in the city of Managua, Nicaragua, for the country’s first temple. Elder Taylor G. Godoy, First Counselor in the Central America Area Presidency, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Managua Nicaragua Temple. 

Elder Godoy urged members to conduct themselves as citizens of heaven, as mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the scriptures.  

"Outside the temple, there will be a very large sign that will say 'Holiness to the Lord,’” added Elder Godoy. “The temples are a representation of what we try to be as people, Latter-day Saints, trying to align our way of living to what the life of the Savior was.” 

Jennifer López, a local Latter-day Saint, expressed her gratitude for God's great love for His children, adding, “This temple is a great blessing to live sacred experiences. My parents have taught me to stay true to the covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father, and I have been blessed.” 

Silvano Roberto García, a pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ in Nicaragua, shared his feelings about the construction of the Managua Temple. He mentioned that 44 years ago, when he was a child, his family sacrificed much to be able to go to the Mesa Arizona Temple in the United States and, years later, the Guatemala City Temple. They were motivated by the chance to make eternal promises that are possible through Jesus Christ. 

In the dedicatory prayer, Elder Godoy thanked Heavenly Father for “the wonders of Your creation and for the infinite mercies and blessings that you allow to be poured out on us.”  

"Bless the members of the Church in this wonderful country, so that at the same time that the temple is built, they can build and strengthen their testimonies of the Savior Jesus Christ with the resolution to be His disciples forever,” he said. 

Church President Russell M. Nelson first announced plans to build the Managua Nicaragua Temple in April 2018. 

Nicaragua is home to just over 100,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 100 congregations. The first Latter-day Saint in Nicaragua was baptized in 1954.  

Open house dates for the general public will be announced when construction is complete. The dedication date will also be announced at a later time. 

Latter-day Saints consider temples as houses of the Lord and the most sacred places of worship on 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 is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living. 

This article originally appeared in Spanish Newsroom.