Where It's Located
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple is located at Avenida Bolivar N° 825, Los Robles, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic.
The temple sits only a few minutes from the center of Santo Domingo, next to the National Music Conservatory.
The 6.42-acre property is slightly elevated and heavily covered with trees. One of the most beautiful features of the location is its expansive view toward the Caribbean Sea to the south.
Getting There
International travelers will generally fly into Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the primary international airport serving Santo Domingo.
Because the temple is located within the capital itself, it can easily be incorporated into a trip exploring Santo Domingo's historic neighborhoods, Caribbean coastline, museums, restaurants, and cultural attractions.
A Bit of History
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple was announced on November 16, 1993.
It was a particularly significant announcement because it would become:
- The first temple in the Dominican Republic
- The first temple in the Caribbean
The temple ultimately became the 99th dedicated temple in operation.
At the time, it represented a major step in making temple worship more accessible to Latter-day Saints throughout the Caribbean.
Groundbreaking and Construction
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on August 18, 1996, with Elder Richard G. Scott presiding.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Elder Scott encouraged members to have a temple recommend with them when the temple was dedicated and to continue keeping it current.
He also encouraged members to make Jesus Christ the center of their lives, follow His teachings, and seek to make God's will their own.
A Powerful Groundbreaking Story
One of the most memorable stories associated with the groundbreaking involves a group of missionaries.
The missionaries had walked approximately three miles from a nearby meetinghouse after attending a countrywide three-mission conference.
When they arrived at the groundbreaking, they were separated from family members by a rope barrier.
Parents who had not seen their sons and daughters for some time were anxious to reach them, but could only wave from across the barrier.
Elder F. Burton Howard used the scene as an analogy for the purpose of temples.
He taught that family relationships can continue beyond this life through the ordinances performed in temples.
It became a particularly fitting illustration for the dedication of the first temple in the Caribbean.
Public Open House
The completed temple was opened to the public from August 26 through September 9, 2000.
The open house lasted 14 days.
The open house gave members of the public an opportunity to see the interior of the temple before it was dedicated.
Dedication
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple was dedicated on September 17, 2000, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
With its dedication, the Dominican Republic became home to its first temple, while the Caribbean received its first Latter-day Saint temple.
Temple Site
The temple occupies approximately 6.42 acres (2.6 hectares).
The property is particularly attractive because of its elevated, tree-covered setting.
Rather than being surrounded by a large parking lot or dense commercial development, the temple is set within extensive greenery.
The location is also open to the public, allowing visitors to enjoy the grounds and views even though the temple itself is reserved for authorized temple worship.
Architecture and Design
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple contains approximately 67,000 square feet (6,225 square meters) of floor space.
The exterior is finished with Regina white granite, giving the temple a bright appearance that works particularly well with the tropical surroundings.
The building features a single attached end spire topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
At an elevation of approximately 132 feet (40 meters), the temple is relatively low in elevation compared with many temples located in mountainous regions.
Inside the Temple
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple contains:
- Four instruction rooms
- Four sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The four instruction rooms and four sealing rooms give the temple substantial capacity to serve members throughout the Dominican Republic.
The First Temple in the Caribbean
The Santo Domingo Temple has a particularly important place in Latter-day Saint temple history.
It was the first temple built in the Caribbean and the first temple built in the Dominican Republic.
Its construction established a permanent temple presence in the Caribbean and eventually paved the way for additional temple announcements throughout the region.
The temple's importance has continued to grow as the Church has expanded throughout the Dominican Republic and neighboring Caribbean nations.
The Temple and Family History
The story from the groundbreaking ceremony gives an especially fitting insight into why the temple was so meaningful to Dominican Latter-day Saints.
The sight of parents separated from their missionary children illustrated the importance of family relationships and the Church's belief that temple ordinances allow families to be united beyond death.
That theme became especially meaningful as the Dominican Republic received its first temple.
Exploring Santo Domingo
A visit to the Santo Domingo Temple can easily be combined with exploring the oldest European-founded city in the Americas.
Santo Domingo offers an incredible combination of Caribbean culture, colonial history, beaches, food, and modern city life.
Major attractions include:
- Zona Colonial
- Alcázar de Colón
- Catedral Primada de América
- Fortaleza Ozama
- Parque Colón
- Malecón
- Los Tres Ojos
- Local Dominican restaurants and markets
Zona Colonial
The Zona Colonial is one of the city's biggest attractions.
The historic district contains centuries-old streets, churches, plazas, and colonial buildings.
It is particularly interesting for travelers because Santo Domingo played a major role in the early history of European settlement in the Americas.
A temple trip can therefore easily become a broader exploration of Caribbean and Spanish colonial history.
The Caribbean Coast
The temple's elevated position provides views toward the Caribbean Sea, and the city's Malecón provides an excellent place to experience Santo Domingo's waterfront.
The coastline, tropical climate, and vibrant city culture give Santo Domingo a completely different atmosphere from many temple destinations in North America.
Why the Santo Domingo Temple Matters
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple is significant because it opened a new chapter in Latter-day Saint history in the Caribbean.
It gave Dominican Latter-day Saints their first temple and established the first permanent temple in the Caribbean.
The temple also became a symbol of the growing Church presence in the region.
A Major Regional Temple
With 67,000 square feet, four instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, and one baptistry, the Santo Domingo Temple was designed as a substantial regional temple.
Its size reflects the important role Santo Domingo plays as a population and transportation center for the Dominican Republic.
The temple's location within the capital also makes it accessible to members throughout much of the country.
Visiting the Temple
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple is an operating temple.
The property has an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center. There is no visitors' center open to the public.
The temple grounds themselves are open to the public, but the interior is reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Travelers planning to attend should check the current temple schedule before making their trip.
Final Thoughts
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple is one of the most historically important temples in the Caribbean.
Announced on November 16, 1993, the temple broke ground on August 18, 1996, opened to the public in August and September 2000, and was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on September 17, 2000.
It became both the first temple in the Dominican Republic and the first temple in the Caribbean, making it a landmark in the expansion of Latter-day Saint temple worship throughout the region.
The temple's 67,000-square-foot design, Regina white granite exterior, single attached spire, four instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, and beautiful tree-covered setting give it a distinctive presence in Santo Domingo.
Its location is equally remarkable. Sitting just minutes from downtown beside the National Music Conservatory, the temple grounds provide an expansive view toward the Caribbean Sea.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a trip to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple offers an opportunity to combine temple worship, Caribbean culture, colonial history, beautiful beaches, Dominican food, and the vibrant atmosphere of one of the Caribbean's most historic cities.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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