Veracruz Mexico Temple

Dedication of the Veracruz Mexico Temple

“A temple in Veracruz has not been a dream; we just knew it would happen,” said Susan Dozal de Noriega, who joined the Church 21 years before the dedication of the Veracruz Mexico Temple, after learning about the gospel from friends.

The foundation for the membership in Veracruz was laid long before the foundation of the house of the Lord. In 1955, Rex E. Lee — later president of Brigham Young University — and his missionary companion Walter Butler opened Veracruz for missionary work.

Over 20 years before Meliton Lagunes was called to be the first president of the Veracruz Mexico Temple, he was a nonmember in Veracruz. On a late night, Lagunes was driving in a bad part of town and saw two missionaries walking alone. He offered to give them a ride, which led to meetings and eventually accepting an invitation to be baptized.

Despite rain on the day of dedication, 5,171 people attended one of the four dedicatory sessions. President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the house of the Lord in Veracruz on July 9, 2000.

Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Bless them with love for the Savior of the world, our Lord and Master, that they may pattern their lives after the pattern of His life. May they come to this, Thy house, to be sealed together as husband and wife, under Thy divine plan. Strengthen their will, and fortify their resolution to live as Thou wouldst have them. May Thy work grow and strengthen in this part of Thy vineyard.”

Read the dedicatory prayer of the Veracruz Mexico Temple here.

The Veracruz Mexico Temple was announced on April 14, 1999, with the groundbreaking happening a month and a half later, on May 29. Elder Carl B. Pratt of the Seventy presided at the groundbreaking. President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the temple on July 9, 2000.

Architecture and Design of the Veracruz Mexico Temple

The Veracruz Mexico Temple, located less than half a kilometer from the Gulf of Mexico, is 10,700 square feet, standing on a 3.37-acre site, with a meetinghouse also on the property. The exterior of the temple is made of Blanco Guardiano white marble, brought in from Torreón, Mexico. The house of the Lord has a celestial room, a baptistry, two instruction rooms and two sealing rooms.