Where It's Located
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple is located at 9A Calle 4-03, Zona 9, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, commonly known as Xela. The temple sits on a 6.47-acre (2.6-hectare) property on a hill along the western edge of the city, near Parque Zoológico Minerva and across from the Los Cerezos residential development. Its elevated setting provides beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes.
The temple grounds include an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center. While there is no visitors' center, the beautifully landscaped grounds are open to the public, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy the peaceful setting around the temple.
Getting There
For travelers from the United States, the most convenient international gateway is generally La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City. From Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango is approximately a 3- to 4-hour drive, depending on traffic and road conditions.
Quetzaltenango itself is one of Guatemala's most interesting destinations for travelers. The city sits at approximately 7,958 feet (2,426 meters) above sea level, surrounded by spectacular volcanic and mountainous scenery. The high elevation also gives the city a considerably cooler climate than Guatemala's tropical lowlands.
A Bit of History
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley on December 16, 2006, making it the second temple in Guatemala, following the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, which was dedicated in 1984.
The temple was particularly significant for Latter-day Saints in western Guatemala. Before the Guatemala City Temple was built, members traveled internationally to attend the Mesa Arizona Temple and later the Mexico City Mexico Temple. Even after the Guatemala City Temple opened, members in western Guatemala still faced substantial travel to attend the temple. The Quetzaltenango Temple brought temple worship much closer to these communities.
Groundbreaking and site-dedication services were held on March 14, 2009, with Elder Don R. Clarke, then president of the Central America Area, presiding. More than 700 Church leaders and other invited guests attended the ceremony.
A major milestone came on October 1, 2010, when the gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was raised to the top of the temple's tower.
The temple held its public open house from November 11–26, 2011. More than 126,000 people toured the temple during the 15-day open house, including approximately 16,500 visitors on the final day.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf dedicated the temple on December 11, 2011. It was the first temple he dedicated while serving as Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Dedicatory services were broadcast to meetinghouses throughout Guatemala, allowing members across the country to participate.
Design and Architecture
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple contains approximately 21,085 square feet (1,959 square meters) of floor space and rises approximately 80 feet (24.4 meters) above its site. Its exterior is constructed with precast concrete panels imported from Mexico.
One of the temple's most distinctive characteristics is its Mayan-inspired design. The architecture incorporates visual elements that complement the cultural heritage of the region while maintaining the recognizable form of a Latter-day Saint temple. Its single attached tower is topped by an angel Moroni statue.
The temple follows the same basic architectural plan as the Snowflake Arizona Temple and Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple, with two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry.
The surrounding landscape is an important part of the temple experience. Located high above the Quetzaltenango Valley, the temple is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, while the carefully maintained gardens provide a peaceful contrast to the urban area around it.
Visiting Quetzaltenango
A trip to the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple can easily be combined with exploring the city and surrounding highlands.
Quetzaltenango offers travelers a very different experience from Guatemala City or the country's Caribbean and Pacific coastlines. Its highland setting, historic architecture, indigenous cultural traditions, markets, and surrounding volcanoes make it an excellent destination for travelers interested in experiencing a less-touristed side of Guatemala.
The temple itself is not a visitors' center, and entrance to the temple is reserved for those who meet the Church's requirements for temple worship. However, the landscaped temple grounds are open to the public, providing an opportunity to appreciate the exterior architecture and peaceful setting.
Final Thoughts
The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple holds a special place in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Central America. As Guatemala's second temple, it brought temple worship substantially closer to thousands of members in the western part of the country.
Its setting is equally remarkable. Perched high above the Quetzaltenango Valley and surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the temple combines a distinctive Mayan-inspired design with one of the most dramatic natural settings of any temple in Central America.
For Latter-day Saint travelers visiting Guatemala, Quetzaltenango offers an especially memorable combination of temple worship, cultural history, and spectacular mountain scenery.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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