Dedication of the Bogotá Colombia Temple
Elder William R. Bradford, a General Authority Seventy and president of the South America North Area, presided at the groundbreaking of the Bogotá Colombia Temple on June 26, 1993. Elder Bradford spoke at the ceremony about the power the temple would bring to the people of Bogotá, Colombia.
“When we are truly sealed,” he said, “when the poor have their needs satisfied and all the children are cared for, when worthy members enter the temple to receive their covenants and ordinances, then this grand valley of Santa Fe of Bogotá will be Zion in the sense that here will dwell the pure in heart.
“It is for Zion that we struggle,” continued Elder Bradford, adding that Zion is “where the Saints have temples and are worthy to enter them, and pray often. The Lord has blessed us with a temple. Let us feel the urgency of this great work.”
Almost six years later, there were 11 dedicatory sessions over three days, from April 24 to April 26, 1999. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the house of the Lord in the first session then immediately left with his wife, Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, to a large regional conference in Santiago, Chile. President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, presided at the next six sessions. President Hinckley returned after the conference and presided at the final four sessions. Accompanying President Hinckley on his return was Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“What a marvelous occasion this is,” President Hinckley said in a Church News interview. “From the initial announcement of this temple until now has been 15 years. We’ve had trouble of one kind or another — the location, the site, trying to get property and many other factors, but finally it has happened.”
President Faust observed that “our Saints have been moved to tears to be able to participate in the dedicatory sessions. People have come from as far as Pasto and Medellín and other places, traveling by bus up to 22 hours, and then getting on the bus and going back to Medellin and other places that are so far distant.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “The faithful Saints of Colombia have given generously of their means to this cause. Bless them, dear Father, for their faith. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them, and bless their posterity after them, that they may continue in faithfulness.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Bogotá Colombia Temple here.
Timeline of the Bogotá Colombia Temple
The Bogotá Colombia Temple was announced April 7, 1984, by President Gordon B. Hinckley. A groundbreaking ceremony was held almost six years later, on June 26, 1993. After an open house from March 27 to April 18, 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple April 24, 1999.
Architecture and Design of the Bogotá Colombia Temple
The Bogotá Colombia Temple is 53,500 square feet and stands on a 3.71-acre property. Much of the design and craftsmanship of the temple was done by local Colombians. The exterior of the temple is granite, with a single spire reaching 124 feet high. Inside the house of the Lord are four instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, a baptistry and a celestial room.