CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Some 1,700 members from both sides of the border gathered Jan. 9 to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua Temple, the sixth temple started in Mexico. The groundbreaking here was the second in Mexico during the day. (See related article on this page.)
Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy and president of the Mexico North Area, accompanied by his wife, Katherine, presided and spoke at the afternoon ceremonial start of the second temple in the state of Chihuahua. The first temple in Chihuahua, now being completed in Colonia Juarez, will be dedicated in March.
Other recent temple groundbreakings in Mexico were held in Tampico on Nov. 28 and in Hermosillo on Dec. 5.
At the Ciudad Juarez ceremony, remarks were also given by Pres. Raul Torres Medina of the Chihuahua Mexico Stake, Pres. Octavio Seanez Flores of the Ciudad Juarez La Cuesta Mexico Stake, and Pres. William Scott Johns of the El Paso Texas Stake. Hector Escobar Alcantar, patriarch of the El Paso Texas Stake, presented a history of the Church in the area. These leaders represented the 10 stakes and two districts in the temple district.
A regional choir under the direction of Jaime Morales Ruiz performed.
In his remarks, Elder Call testified that temples are evidence of Church members' belief that life extends beyond the grave. He said each child, youth and adult member in the temple district would receive a picture of the temple to remind them of the sacred nature of the building.
"We live in an historic period in the Church and in the world, when the president of the Church has announced that 30 temples will be built," said Elder Call.
Temples have existed in all periods of the history of the world when the fullness of the gospel has been on the earth. The temple is a sacred building, dedicated to a sacred work, he emphasized.
He said the decision to build a temple in this location was one made by inspiration. President Gordon B. Hinckley visited the site and selected it for the temple.
"This was not my decision. The decision was made by him."
Elder Call also said that instructions have come to move forward rapidly, and to prepare for the dedication of the temple. "I suppose," he noted, "that within a year we will complete this beautiful edifice and begin to function as a House of the Lord."
Because of this, "We want to be prepared and attend the temple, not just to have the temple as a monument," he said. Such preparation will bring the members more faith, more purity, more cleanliness, more integrity, more love and more dedication to the callings they hold in the Church.
"In this temple district, we have members on both sides of the border. This will bring a uniting and joining of members on both communities. This temple is a great thing for members in the United States as well."
Pres. Seanez of the Juarez La Cuesta stake, said, "This land has a destiny, and that destiny where we are, is to have a House of the Lord where we can do His work and our work to gain exaltation."
He said that in his 30 years as a member of the Church, it is difficult for him to find a blessing to compare with that of having a temple.
"Never have I been so filled with joy as at this moment."
Patriarch Escobar noted that in 1936, Ciudad Juarez received its first meetinghouse, and now, 63 years later, is receiving a temple. "The Lord has revealed to our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, that a temple should be built in this part of His vineyard. We, the Saints in this part of the vineyard, accept the responsibility to be worthy of this high position and to strengthen the Church in this place."
In his remarks, Pres. Johns said that "this is an historic day for our community. But when I speak of our community, I am not speaking of the cities that have borders and restrictions; I am speaking of the community of the Latter-day Saints."
