As Sacred as Solomon’s Temple

Guatemala Temple cornerstone

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf places mortar on the cornerstone of the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple as Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, Sister Kathy Sue Andersen, and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles look on.

As Sacred as Solomon’s Temple

“This temple will bring eternal families to this place and country,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said at the dedication of the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple. “After this day, this temple will be as sacred as the temple of Solomon, the temple in Nauvoo, the temple in Salt Lake City, or as sacred as any of the temples in the world.”

President Uchtdorf was accompanied at the dedication by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who said at the cornerstone ceremony that it was a great blessing to be with the Latter-day Saints of western Guatemala. The dedication took place on December 11.

Guatemala Temple

Members gather outside the temple prior to the dedication.

The day before the dedication, President Uchtdorf told some 2,400 youth from across the new temple district, “You are representative of the values of the temple to all the world.” Referring to the Mayan ancestry of many who live in Guatemala, President Uchtdorf said, “You are truly children of our wonderful Father Lehi.” He passed along President Thomas S. Monson’s greet to them and said President Monson is fond of cultural programs.

“There is such an abundance of goodness and strength and power coming from these events,” he said.


Photos courtesty of Jason Swensen, Church News.

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