Where It's Located
The Toluca Mexico Temple is planned for:
Calle Guadalupe Victoria and Calle Uruapan
Colonia Las Jaras
52166 Metepec, Estado de Mexico
Mexico
Although the temple carries the name Toluca, it will actually be located in Metepec, a municipality immediately southeast of Toluca.
Metepec is part of the greater Toluca metropolitan area and provides a convenient location for serving Latter-day Saints throughout the region.
The Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Toluca Mexico Temple on October 2, 2022, during the October 2022 General Conference.
The announcement was part of a particularly significant period of temple expansion. Toluca was one of 18 new temples announced at that General Conference.
The announcement brought another temple to central Mexico, an area with a substantial population and a long history of Latter-day Saint activity.
About Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the capital of the State of Mexico.
The city is located approximately 40 miles west of Mexico City and has a population of roughly 900,000 people. It is the fifth most populous city in Mexico.
Its location makes it an important economic and transportation center in central Mexico.
The Temple Site
The temple site was officially announced on November 20, 2023.
The Church selected a 4.87-acre property at the intersection of Calle Guadalupe Victoria and Calle Uruapan in the Colonia Las Jaras neighborhood of Metepec.
Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 19,000 square feet.
The relatively compact design should allow the temple to fit naturally into its suburban setting.
Temple Rendering
The official exterior rendering of the Toluca Mexico Temple was released publicly on December 23, 2024.
The rendering gives members and the surrounding community their first substantial look at what the completed temple is expected to look like.
The temple will feature a single attached central tower.
Architecture
The planned temple will contain approximately 19,000 square feet of floor space.
Unlike some of the massive temples constructed in major metropolitan areas, the Toluca Temple will be a relatively modest-sized, single-story building.
Its planned architecture emphasizes a central tower while maintaining a low profile.
This approach is particularly appropriate for a suburban site like Metepec.
A High-Elevation Temple
One of the most interesting facts about the future Toluca Mexico Temple is its elevation.
The temple site sits at approximately 8,695 feet above sea level, or 2,650 meters.
That makes Toluca an exceptionally high-elevation temple location.
For comparison, the city is actually situated at a higher elevation than Denver, Colorado.
The high elevation contributes to Toluca's relatively cool climate compared with many other Mexican cities.
A Temple Near Mexico City
The Toluca Temple will be located only about 40 miles from Mexico City.
That places it within one of Mexico's most densely populated and economically important regions.
It will also add another temple option for members living in central Mexico, complementing existing temples in the broader region.
Why Metepec?
Metepec is a suburban municipality located southeast of Toluca.
The temple site in Colonia Las Jaras provides a location within the Toluca metropolitan area while avoiding the extreme density of Mexico City.
For local members, the location should provide a more convenient temple destination without requiring a trip into the enormous Mexico City metropolitan area.
A Temple Still in the Planning Stage
Unlike many temples with detailed construction timelines, the Toluca Mexico Temple has not yet reached groundbreaking.
As of 2026, the project remains in the planning stages, and no groundbreaking date has been announced.
That means additional details about construction, landscaping, interior design, and the eventual open house and dedication will come later.
For now, the released rendering and site announcement provide the clearest picture of the planned temple.
Temple Facilities
Because the temple remains in the planning phase, detailed information about its interior facilities has not yet been released.
The currently published plans establish a single-story, approximately 19,000-square-foot temple on the 4.87-acre site.
Additional details should become available as the project moves toward construction.
Exploring Toluca
A future temple trip to Toluca could provide an opportunity to explore one of Mexico's most interesting highland cities.
The area is known for:
- Historic architecture
- Mexican markets
- Museums
- Parks
- Traditional food
- Nearby mountains and volcanoes
- Colonial-era sites
Toluca's high elevation also gives it a climate noticeably different from Mexico's tropical and coastal regions.
Cosmovitral
One of Toluca's most famous attractions is the Cosmovitral, a spectacular building filled with enormous stained-glass windows.
The artwork depicts a variety of cosmic, natural, and philosophical themes and is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
It would be an obvious stop for anyone visiting Toluca.
Nevado de Toluca
Outdoor enthusiasts can also visit Nevado de Toluca, a large stratovolcano located southwest of the city.
The mountain is home to a national park and two famous crater lakes.
At more than 15,000 feet in elevation, it provides spectacular views of the surrounding Mexican highlands.
Mexican Food in Toluca
A visit to Toluca would also be a great opportunity to experience regional Mexican food.
Some local specialties and popular foods to look for include:
- Chorizo
- Tacos
- Tamales
- Mole
- Quesadillas
- Mexican soups
- Fresh pastries
Toluca is particularly famous throughout Mexico for its chorizo, so trying some locally would be an easy addition to a temple trip.
Why the Toluca Temple Matters
The Toluca Mexico Temple represents the continued growth of temple access in Mexico.
Mexico already has one of the largest concentrations of Latter-day Saint temples outside the United States, and the Toluca announcement continues that trend.
Rather than requiring members in central Mexico to travel long distances, additional temples can place sacred ordinances closer to the communities where members live.
A Temple for Central Mexico
Toluca's location is particularly significant because of the size of the surrounding population.
The city itself has roughly 900,000 residents, while the greater metropolitan region is considerably larger.
With Mexico City only about 40 miles away, the temple will be part of one of the country's most heavily populated regions.
Current Status
The Toluca Mexico Temple is currently in the planning and approval phase. The site has been announced and an exterior rendering has been released, but construction has not yet begun.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: October 2, 2022
- Site announced: November 20, 2023
- Exterior rendering released: December 23, 2024
- Planned site: 4.87 acres
- Planned floor area: 19,000 square feet
- Planned design: Single-story temple with a central attached tower
- Current status: Planning
- Groundbreaking: Not yet announced
Planning a Future Temple Visit
Because construction has not yet begun, there are currently no open-house or dedication dates to plan around.
Once construction begins, additional information should become available regarding the temple's schedule, public open house, dedication, and facilities.
For travelers, Toluca's proximity to Mexico City should eventually make it relatively straightforward to incorporate the temple into a broader central Mexico trip.
Final Thoughts
The Toluca Mexico Temple is still in the early stages of its story, but it is already an important addition to the growing number of temples in Mexico.
President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple on October 2, 2022, during the October 2022 General Conference.
More than a year later, on November 20, 2023, the Church announced that the temple would be built on a 4.87-acre property in Metepec, southeast of Toluca. The plans call for a 19,000-square-foot, single-story temple.
Then, on December 23, 2024, the official exterior rendering was released, giving the public its first look at the planned building.
One of the coolest facts about the temple is its elevation. At approximately 8,695 feet above sea level, the future Toluca Mexico Temple will be one of the highest-elevation temples in the world.
The temple will also serve an enormous population center. Toluca is the capital of the State of Mexico, sits about 40 miles west of Mexico City, and has roughly 900,000 residents.
For now, however, there is still some waiting to do. No groundbreaking date has been announced, and the temple remains in the planning stage.
When construction eventually begins, the Toluca Mexico Temple will become another important landmark in central Mexico—and another place where Latter-day Saints can gather to worship closer to home.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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