Stories: Caracas Temple (English)
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| Photo taken by Hermano Cheney, caudillo in charge of the construction of the temple. Thanks to Alan Manning for making this photo available to the web master |
The Caracas D. F. Venezuela Temple
byErin Howarth
01-24-2002 (Updated 07-01-2002)
Although the Church has only been in Venezuela since 1966 (36 years), the wait for the temple has seemed very long. From 1966 to 1974 (8 years), the closest temple to Venezuela was the one in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1974 (28 years ago), the Church built the first temple east of the Mississippi River, the Washington D.C. temple. Thirteen years later, the first temple in South America was built in Sao Paulo Brazil in 1987. In 1983, the temple was built in Mexico City. In 1986, Venezuela became part of the Lima Peru temple district, when that temple was completed. Still it was too far away for full-time missionaries to receive their endowments or to attend the missionary training center.
By 1991, when the author lived in Venezuela, missionaries had begun traveling to Mexico City to receive their endowment and three weeks of training at the MTC. Other members who wished to go to the temple had a variety of options. The closest temple was still in Peru, 2,000 miles away. One family in Guarenas sold empenadas (pastries stuffed with meat and cheese) in order to save the money for the trip. They traveled over the Andes Mountains by bus. It took days, and it was a very uncomfortable journey, but they remember it fondly. Those members with the means to buy airline tickets were more inclined to travel to Mexico City or Washington D.C.
The Bogota Colombia temple was announced in 1984. One of the authors Venezuelan companions couldnt believe that Colombia, a nation full of drug lords, would get a temple before her country. And indeed, it looked like she might have been proven right. Construction progress was stalled by bureaucratic red tape and protests lead by the Catholic Church. The author was home from her mission for two months before they broke ground for the temple in Colombia in 1993 (9 years after it was first announced). Still, it would be six more years before the temple was dedicated in 1999.
The missionary training center in Bogota was completed in 1992, before ground was broken for the temple in Bogota. Venezuelan missionaries began to attend there.
September 30, 1995: During the priesthood session of general conference, President Hinckley announced that the planned temple for Hartford, Connecticut would not be built. Instead, the Church planned to build two temples in White Plains, New York and Boston, Massachusetts. He also said: "We are working on the possibility of a temple in Venezuela."
October 4, 1997: President Hinckley announced "plans to construct small temples in remote areas of the Church that have a small LDS population." He explained that such temples would have everything necessary to perform all the temple ordinances and they would be presided over by local leadership. At that same meeting, President Hinckley gave the following update on the Caracas Temple "Our previously announced plan to construct a temple in Venezuela is also going forward and we are hopeful of acquiring a site in the very near future."
April 5, 1998: In the closing session of general conference, President Hinckley acknowledges the presence of a group of Otavalo Indians from the highlands of Ecuador. He then takes the "opportunity to announce to the entire Church a program to construct some 30 smaller temples immediately.
These will be in addition to the 17 buildings now going forward
This will make a total of 47 new temples in addition to the 51 now in operation. I think we had better add 2 more to make it an even 100 by the end of this century
" Not everyone took him seriously. At the next conference, he had to reassure the membership that it was indeed possible.
May 23, 1998: a letter to priesthood leaders, announced that the temple for Venezuela would "be a small temple, built in Caracas". Searches had been conducted previously for a site in Valencia. A traditional sized temple may have included plans for a missionary training center. Provisions have been made to expand smaller temples when the need arises.
January 10, 1999: Elder Francisco J. Vinas of the Seventy and president of the South America North Area presided and spoke at the temple groundbreaking ceremony, held at the Caurimare meeting house near where the temple would be built. Click here to read more about the groundbreaking ceremony.
The first temple president was to be Mac Rey Call, age 70, of the Roswell 1st Ward, Roswell New Mexico Stake. Click here to read more about President Call and his wife.
August 5-12, 2000: The temple open house was conducted every day except on Sunday. 27,806 people attended. Click here for facts and figures regarding the temple.
Brother David C. Bell one of the first four missionaries sent to Venezuela in November of 1966 was able to return to Venezuela for the open house and dedication of the temple. He and his wife Diane carried with them, The Opening of Venezuela For The Preaching Of The Gospel by Alan Manning. They presented these histories to Elder Francisco G. Gimenez of the Seventy. In addition tot he text which appears on this web site, these histories contained many photos and copies of old newspaper articles. Elder Gimenez asked Brother and Sister Bell to participate in a ceremony in which they closed a capsule in the wall of the temple.
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 | | Photos courtesy of David Bell. Thanks to Alan Manning for making these photos available to the web master |
Sunday, August 20, 2000: President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple in four sessions. 5,973 saints attended. Click here to read the dedicatory prayer.
Monday, August 21, 2000: The temple was open for ordinance work.
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| Photos taken by Hermano Cheney, caudillo in charge of the construction of the temple. Thanks to Alan Manning for making these photos available to the web master |
More about the temple
- Caracas Venezuela Temple from LDS.org
- Caracas Venezuela Temple from LDS Church Temples.com
- Pictures submitted by alumni.
- From Around the World, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, February 29, 1992.
"The new center will now train all local missionaries called to serve in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
- Two Temples to be Built in Eastern United States, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, October 7, 1995.
"We are working on the possibility of a temple in Venezuela."
- Five new temples are announced, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, October 11, 1997.
"Two will be traditional-size temples, 3 in areas of limited membership.
- Temples in Operation, Liahona, February 1998, page 39.
"Announced:
Valencia Venezuela
- New Temples to Provide Crowning Blessings of the Gospel by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1998, page 87.
"
I take this opportunity to announce to the entire Church a program to construct some 30 smaller temples immediately."
- Locations for six of 30 small temples given, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, May 23, 1998.
"In addition, a temple previously announced for Venezuela will be a small temple, built in Caracas, according to the announcement."
- Caracas Venezuela Temple Groundbreaking By Timothy Nicolaysen, LDS World.com, Sunday, January 10, 1999.
- Venezuela groundbreaking: Build foundations in life that allow spiritual growth, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, January 30, 1999.
- Venezuela saints rejoicing at new Caracas temple, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, August 26, 2000.
- New temple president, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, August 12, 2000.
Mac Rey Call, 70, Roswell 1st Ward, Roswell New Mexico Stake, called as president of the new Caracas D.F. Venezuela Temple, which will be dedicated Aug. 20, 2000.
- Dedicatory prayer: 'This most significant gift from Thee'
The full text of the dedicatory prayer for the Caracas Venezuela Temple given by President Gordon B. Hinckley on August 20, 2000.
- Caracas Venezuela Temple: Facts and figures, LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, August 26, 2000.
- Comment on this article.
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