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When Tegucigalpa Honduras Guaymuras Stake
President Jose Torres recently picked up his young
son Jose Lehi from Primary, the 5-year-old had
already learned the happy news. Honduras would
have its own temple.
"Now
I'm really going to try to be good" Jose Lehi said
excitedly.
President Torres shared Jose Lehi's
enthusiasm. Having a temple in his country's
largest city, he said, would change many lives.
The First Presidency announced in a June 9 letter
that a temple will be built in the Honduran
capital of Tegucigalpa. It will be the first of
its kind in Honduras, and the fourth in Central
America. Temples are operating in Guatemala City,
Guatemala, and in San Jose, Costa Rica. Meanwhile,
construction continues on a future temple in
Panama City, Panama.
"We
are confident that this will be a blessing to the
many faithful saints in this and surrounding areas
who have had to travel long distances to enjoy the
blessings of the temple," said the First
Presidency in a letter to general and local
priesthood leaders.
Central America Area President Spencer V. Jones of
the Seventy delivered the news to the Honduran
members June 18 during a visit to the country. His
announcement was the beginning of a dream
fulfilled.
"They
were very, very happy," Elder Jones said.
For many LDS Hondurans, a trip to attend the
temple in Guatemala City has been a sobering
expense and hardship, often undertaken amid
challenging circumstances. Some faithful families
have only been able to make a temple trip once
every three years, President Torres said.
Honduras' first temple "will bless the lives of
people in Honduras and in Nicaragua," added
Elder Jones. Members in some regions of Nicaragua
have to endure several days on the road to make it
to the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple and then
back home. With a temple in Honduras, Nicaraguan
members will be able to make a temple trip in just
a few hours.
Elder Jones said the Honduran members recognize
the responsibility that comes with the new temple,
adding many members are already working on
preparing themselves to one day be able to work
inside the sacred edifice.
In its recent letter, the First Presidency noted
that members who would like to donate to the
temple construction project should simply indicate
"temple" on the "other" line of the donation
receipt.
Some 112,000 members live in Honduras. |
