Where It's Located
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple is located on Bulevar José Antonio Peraza, San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras, near the Academia Americana and Torre Banco del País. The temple sits on a 9-acre (3.6-hectare) property.
The temple is in the northwestern portion of San Pedro Sula, an important commercial and population center in Honduras.
Getting There
International travelers will generally fly into Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP), which serves the San Pedro Sula metropolitan area.
Because the temple is located within the city, it can be incorporated into a broader trip through northern Honduras.
San Pedro Sula also provides access to some of the country's most interesting destinations, including Caribbean beaches, Mayan ruins, mountains, and national parks.
A Bit of History
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple was announced on April 7, 2019, by President Russell M. Nelson during the April 2019 General Conference. It became the second temple in Honduras, following the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple, which was dedicated in 2013.
The announcement was especially significant for members in northern Honduras. At the time, 11 stakes were organized in the San Pedro Sula metropolitan area, with additional stakes elsewhere in northern Honduras. Members had been traveling more than 200 miles to the Tegucigalpa temple.
Honduras had also experienced substantial Church growth. Membership increased from approximately 6,300 members in 1980 to 178,200 in 2019.
Temple Site
The temple's location was announced on August 5, 2020, along with an official exterior rendering.
The property is in the northwest section of San Pedro Sula along Bulevar Mario Catarino Rivas, placing the temple within the city's urban environment while giving it a substantial amount of surrounding property.
Groundbreaking and Construction
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on September 5, 2020.
Elder José Bernardo Hernández, an Area Seventy who was originally from San Pedro Sula, presided over the ceremony.
Elder Hernández emphasized personal preparation for temple worship and encouraged parents to teach their children about keeping God's commandments and encouraged youth to attend the temple regularly.
An interesting detail is that the San Pedro Sula groundbreaking occurred on the same day as the groundbreaking for the Orem Utah Temple.
Open House and Dedication
The completed temple held a public open house in September 2024, giving the public an opportunity to tour the building before its dedication. A media day and invited-guest tours preceded the public opening.
The temple was dedicated on October 13, 2024, by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Two dedicatory sessions were held, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple is now an operating temple and is listed as the 198th dedicated temple in operation.
Design and Architecture
The temple contains approximately 35,818 square feet (3,328 square meters) of floor space and stands approximately 98 feet 3 inches (30 meters) tall.
Its exterior is finished with Moleanos limestone from Portugal.
The building features a single attached end tower, giving it a distinctive silhouette while maintaining the relatively streamlined architectural style common among many modern temples.
Inside the Temple
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple contains:
- Four instruction rooms
- Three sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The relatively large number of instruction and sealing rooms reflects the temple's role as an important regional temple for northern Honduras.
Temple Services
The property has a distribution center, but it does not have a public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing.
Since the temple has already been dedicated, normal interior access is reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Why the San Pedro Sula Temple Matters
The temple's greatest significance is its impact on members in northern Honduras.
Before the temple was built, members in the San Pedro Sula area faced a journey of more than 200 miles to Tegucigalpa for temple worship.
The new temple substantially reduced that travel burden and created a second major center of temple worship in Honduras.
It also reflects the remarkable growth of the Church in the country over several decades.
Honduras's Two Temples
Honduras now has two operating temples:
Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple
Dedicated in 2013, it was the country's first temple.
San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple
Dedicated in 2024, it became the country's second temple.
The two locations make temple worship considerably more accessible to members across Honduras, particularly with San Pedro Sula serving the northern portion of the country.
Exploring San Pedro Sula
A trip to San Pedro Sula can be combined with some fascinating destinations in northern Honduras.
One of the most famous nearby attractions is Copán, home to the remarkable ancient Maya ruins at Copán.
Travelers can also explore Honduras's mountainous landscapes, tropical forests, and Caribbean coastline.
Lake Yojoa, Pico Bonito National Park, and the Caribbean island of Roatán are among the region's notable destinations.
For travelers interested in history, the combination of the temple and the ancient Maya civilization makes northern Honduras particularly compelling.
Planning a Temple Trip
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple is currently operating, so Latter-day Saints can plan an actual temple visit.
Travelers should check the temple's current operating schedule and make the necessary arrangements before traveling. The temple's information page provides a link to the official schedule.
Visitors who are not eligible for temple worship cannot tour the interior during normal operations. There is also no public visitors' center at the property.
Final Thoughts
The San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple is an important milestone in the history of the Church in Honduras.
Announced in April 2019, groundbreaking took place in September 2020, and the completed temple was dedicated by Elder Dale G. Renlund on October 13, 2024.
Its 35,818-square-foot design, Portuguese Moleanos limestone exterior, attached tower, four instruction rooms, and three sealing rooms make it a substantial regional temple.
More importantly, the temple brought temple worship much closer to the growing Latter-day Saint population of northern Honduras. Members who previously traveled more than 200 miles to Tegucigalpa now have a temple in their own region.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a trip to San Pedro Sula could combine temple worship, Honduran culture, Caribbean scenery, mountain landscapes, and the remarkable history of the ancient Maya civilization.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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