Where It's Located
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is located at Calle Ronda #123 in the Villa Andalucía neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The temple sits on a 2.97-acre (1.2-hectare) property on a small hill near the Expreso Trujillo Alto highway, providing a central location within the San Juan metropolitan area.
The property had already been an important center of Church activity on the island before the temple was built. It was formerly the site of the Trujillo Alto Ward meetinghouse, which was permanently closed for demolition in January 2019.
Getting There
Travelers from the United States will generally fly into Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), the primary international airport serving San Juan.
Because the temple is located within the San Juan metropolitan area, it can easily be incorporated into a broader Puerto Rico vacation.
San Juan offers a particularly interesting combination of beaches, Caribbean scenery, Spanish colonial history, historic forts, restaurants, and vibrant local culture.
A Bit of History
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple was announced on October 7, 2018, by President Russell M. Nelson. It became the first temple in Puerto Rico and the third temple in the Caribbean, following the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple and the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple.
The announcement came just over a month after President Nelson had traveled to Puerto Rico for a meeting with Church members following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
At the time of the announcement, there were more than 23,000 Latter-day Saints on the island organized into five stakes.
Before the temple was built, Puerto Rican members who wanted to participate in temple ordinances generally had to travel by plane to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. The San Juan Temple made regular temple attendance substantially more accessible for members on the island.
Groundbreaking and Construction
The groundbreaking and site-dedication ceremony took place on May 4, 2019, with Elder Walter F. González, president of the Caribbean Area, presiding.
The groundbreaking was particularly notable because ceremonies for three international temples were held on the same day:
- San Juan Puerto Rico
- Praia Cape Verde
- Yigo Guam
The temple was built on the former site of the Trujillo Alto Ward meetinghouse.
During the groundbreaking, Elder González encouraged members to prepare themselves spiritually by building the temple first in their hearts.
Open House and Dedication
The completed temple was opened to the public for 16 days from December 1 through December 17, 2022. This gave members of the public an opportunity to tour the interior before the temple was dedicated.
The temple was dedicated on January 15, 2023, by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Three dedicatory sessions were broadcast to congregations throughout the temple district.
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is now an operating temple and is listed as the 176th dedicated temple in operation.
Design and Architecture
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple contains approximately 6,988 square feet (649 square meters) and stands 74 feet (22.6 meters) tall. Its relatively compact size reflects the temple's role as a regional temple serving Puerto Rico.
The exterior combines stonework and hand-troweled stucco and follows a Spanish Colonial architectural style, reflecting the historic architecture of San Juan.
The temple features a single attached end tower.
The San Juan City Hall Inspiration
One of the temple's most recognizable features is its tower.
The official rendering, released in January 2019, showed a tower inspired by the Spanish Colonial architecture of historic Old San Juan. In particular, the tower is a modern interpretation of the towers found at San Juan City Hall.
The design also draws inspiration from Castillo San Felipe del Morro, commonly called El Morro, one of San Juan's most recognizable historic landmarks.
This gives the temple a strong visual connection to Puerto Rico's Spanish heritage.
Inside the Temple
The temple contains:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
Although considerably smaller than many temples built in recent years, the building contains the essential facilities needed for Latter-day Saint temple ordinances.
Puerto Rican Design Elements
The Spanish Colonial influence continues throughout the interior.
The temple uses quatrefoil motifs inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture in its interior glass patterns and ordinance-room fabrics. Colors including blue, gold, opal white, and green were incorporated throughout the design.
Decorative painting was also inspired by historic buildings in San Juan. Spanish scroll leaves, quatrefoil designs, arabesque patterns, and ornamental scrollwork were incorporated into the interior.
The temple's original artwork includes “From the Mountain to the Sea” by Brad Aldridge.
Temple Services
The temple has an arrival center and a distribution center on the property, but there is no public visitors' center and no patron housing.
Because the temple has been dedicated, regular interior access is reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Exploring San Juan
A temple trip to San Juan can easily be combined with some of the most historic and beautiful destinations in Puerto Rico.
Old San Juan is the obvious highlight. Its colorful Spanish Colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, plazas, churches, and historic fortifications provide an excellent complement to the temple's architecture.
Travelers can also visit:
- Castillo San Felipe del Morro
- Castillo San Cristóbal
- San Juan Cathedral
- Paseo de la Princesa
- Condado
- Ocean Park
- Puerto Rico's surrounding beaches and natural areas
The temple's Spanish Colonial design makes visiting Old San Juan particularly worthwhile because many of the architectural influences used in the temple can be seen throughout the historic district.
Why the San Juan Temple Matters
The temple's significance goes far beyond its relatively small size.
It became the first temple in Puerto Rico, giving Latter-day Saints on the island a permanent house of the Lord within their own community. Before its construction, members had to travel internationally to the Dominican Republic for temple ordinances.
The temple also has a meaningful connection to the difficult period following Hurricane Maria. President Nelson's visit to Puerto Rico shortly before the temple announcement included expressions of admiration for members who had remained faithful and served others following the disaster.
Planning a Temple Trip
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is currently operating, so Latter-day Saints can plan a temple visit without waiting for a future open house.
Travelers should check the temple's current operating schedule and make the necessary arrangements before traveling.
Those who are not eligible for temple worship cannot tour the interior during normal operations, and there is no public visitors' center at the property.
Final Thoughts
The San Juan Puerto Rico Temple is a relatively small temple with an enormous historical significance.
As Puerto Rico's first temple and the third temple in the Caribbean, it represents a major milestone for Latter-day Saints on the island.
Its architecture is particularly successful at connecting the temple to its surroundings. The Spanish Colonial style, San Juan City Hall-inspired tower, historic San Juan design motifs, quatrefoil patterns, and Puerto Rican color palette make the building feel distinctly connected to the island.
Announced in 2018, groundbreaking took place in 2019, the public open house occurred in December 2022, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson dedicated the temple on January 15, 2023.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple offers an especially memorable combination of temple worship, Spanish Colonial architecture, Caribbean beaches, Puerto Rican culture, and the history of Old San Juan.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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