The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico (LDS Church) is the largest body of members outside of the United States. The LDS Church claimed 1,455,774 members at the end of 2018. In the 2010 census, 314,932 individuals reported belonging to the LDS Church.[1]

The Mexico City Mexico Temple

History

Membership
YearMembers±%
2011 1,158,236    
2012 1,273,199+9.9%
2013 1,344,239+5.6%
2014 1,368,475+1.8%
2015 1,394,708+1.9%
2016 1,417,011+1.6%
2017 1,435,383+1.3%
2018 1,455,774+1.4%
2019 1,481,530+1.8%
Source: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/mexico

The first missionaries of the LDS Church in Mexico came in 1874. This was shortly after Daniel W. Jones and Meliton Trejo had begun to translate the Book of Mormon into Spanish. The first missionaries did not perform any baptisms. Later in 1879, more missionary efforts were started in Mexico City. The first person baptized a member of the LDS Church in that city was Plotino Rhodakanaty. In 1880, Desideria Quintanar de Yáñez became the first woman in Mexico to join the church. Missionary work in central Mexico continued until 1889 when it was halted for a time.

In 1885, a group of Latter-day Saints from Utah Territory and Arizona Territory settled in the state of Chihuahua. They were fleeing the U.S. federal government prosecution of Mormon polygamists. These Latter-day Saints eventually founded the settlements of Colonia Juárez, Colonia Dublán, four more in Chihuahua, and two in the state of Sonora.

In 1901, the Mexican Mission of the church was re-established with Ammon M. Tenney as president. In 1910, Rey L. Pratt became president. By 1912 he was forced to leave Mexico City but he was able to put most of the branches in Central Mexico under the leadership of local members. Among these was Rafael Monroy.

Most of the Mormon colonists left in 1912 due to rising violence,[2] but many were able to return in later years. Pratt remained as mission president until his death, also establishing missionary work among the Spanish-speaking populations in the Southwestern United States.

In 1936, a group of people called the Third Convention, influenced by the spirit of the Mexican Revolution, called for a Mexican to serve as president of the church's mission in Mexico. The tactics of this group led to the excommunication of its members. In 1946, George Albert Smith, the President of the Church, visited Mexico. He was able to establish a reconciliation with most of the members of the Third Convention and the vast majority of this group were brought back into the church.

In 1956, the Mexican Mission was divided for the first time, with the Northern Mexican Mission being organized. From this time forward the church focused on setting up the structure to organize stakes. In 1959, the church established a network of schools outside of Colonia Juárez. The longest lasting of these, the preparatory school Benemérito, was established in 1963 in Mexico City and taught students until 2013.

The first Spanish-speaking stake in Mexico was organized in Mexico City in 1961. In 1966 Agricol Lozano became the first indigenous Mexican to serve as a stake president. In 1970, the Monterrey Stake (now Monterrey Mexico Mitras Stake) was organized with Guillermo G. Garza as president. This was the first stake in Mexico outside of the Mormon colonies and the Mexico City area.

In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.[3]

Membership history

Year Membership[4]
19111,000
19202,314
19304,773
19404,196
19505,915
196012,695
197067,965
1974117,118a
1979231,266c
1985293,000b
1989570,000b
1995728,000b
2000884,071c
20051,043,718c
20101,197,573a
20121,273,199a
  • a Actual Membership for January 1 of the respective year
  • b Estimated membership for December 31 of the respective year
  • c Actual Membership for December 31 of the respective year

Missions

A private high school operated by the LDS Church in Mexico City known as Benemerito De Las Americas[5] was permanently closed at the end of the 2012–2013 term, and the Mexico City Missionary Training Center was relocated here, opening June 26, 2013. This greatly expanded the capacity of the Mexico City MTC, such that it is second in size only to the Provo MTC: the old building near the Mexico City Temple could only accommodate 125 missionaries at a time, but the new 90-acre campus can handle over 1,000.[6][7][8]

  • a Mexico Leon Mission announced to be renamed to Mexico Aguascalientes Mission in July 2013.[9]
  • b Announced to be created July 2013.[9]

Temples

Temples in Mexico
Red = Operating
Blue = Under Construction
Yellow = Announced
Black = Closed for Renovations

The Mexico City Mexico Temple was the first LDS Church temple in Mexico; it was dedicated in 1983 and was rededicated after renovation in 2008.

From 1999 to 2002 an additional 11 temples were dedicated in Mexico. This comes after historic June 29, 1993, when the Mexican government formally registered the LDS Church, allowing it to own property.[10]

26. Mexico City Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
Rededicated:
 Size:
Style:
 Notes:

Mexico City, Mexico
3 April 1976
2 December 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
16 November 2008[11] by Thomas S. Monson
116,642 sq ft (10,836 m2) and 152 ft (46 m) high on a 7 acre (2.8 ha) site
Modern adaptation of ancient Mayan architecture - designed by Emil B. Fetzer
The Mexico City Mexico Temple was closed March 30, 2007 for renovations[12][13] and was rededicated Sunday, 16 November 2008.[14] The temple was again closed in early 2014 for renovations.[13] A public open house was held from Friday, 14 August 2015, through Saturday, 5 September 2015, excluding Sundays.[15] The temple was rededicated on Sunday, September 13, 2015.[16]

55. Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
4 October 1997
6 March 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
6,800 sq ft (630 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1 acre (0.4 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

71. Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
7 May 1998
26 February 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.63 acre (0.7 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

72. Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
20 July 1998
27 February 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley
10,769 sq ft (1,000 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.54 acre (0.6 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

74. Oaxaca Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Oaxaca City, Mexico
3 February 1999
11 March 2000 by James E. Faust
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.87 acre (0.8 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

75. Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
25 February 1999
12 March 2000 by James E. Faust
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.56 acre (0.6 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

83. Tampico Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico
8 July 1998
20 May 2000 by Thomas S. Monson
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 2.96 acre (1.2 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

85. Villahermosa Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
30 October 1998
21 May 2000 by Thomas S. Monson
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.36 acre (0.6 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

92. Mérida Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
25 September 1998
8 July 2000 by Thomas S. Monson
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.53 acre (0.6 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

93. Veracruz Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico
14 April 1999
9 July 2000 by Thomas S. Monson
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 3.39 acre (1.4 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

105. Guadalajara Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
14 April 1999
29 April 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley
10,700 sq ft (990 m2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 2.69 acre (1.1 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services

110. Monterrey Mexico Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
Style:

Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
21 December 1995
28 April 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley
16,498 sq ft (1,533 m2) on a 7.78 acre (3.1 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo

149. Tijuana Mexico

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
 Notes:

Tijuana, Mexico
2 October 2010
13 December 2015 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
33,367 sq ft (3,100 m2)
Announced by Thomas S. Monson on October 2, 2010, during General Conference.[17] Ground was broken to commence construction on 18 August 2012.[18] A public open house was held from Friday, 13 November 2015, through Saturday, 28 November 2015, excluding Sundays. The temple was formally dedicated on Sunday, December 13, 2015.[19]

182. Puebla Mexico (Under Construction)

Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
 Notes:

Puebla, Mexico
7 October 2018
30 November 2019 by Arnulfo Valenzuela
Announced by Russell M. Nelson on October 7, 2018[20][21]

Current status

As of January 2014, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 1,273,199 members, 222 stakes, 36 districts, Congregations (1,543 wards,[22] and 457 branches[22]), 24 missions, and 13 temples in Mexico.[10]

As of January 2009, two men of Mexican birth and descent were serving in the First Quorum of the Seventy: Benjamin de Hoyos and Octaviano Tenorio. Carl B. Pratt, another general authority, was born and raised in Mexico but is of Anglo-American descent. Clate W. Mask of the Second Quorum of the Seventy is a native of El Paso, Texas, whose mother was an immigrant from Mexico and whose grandfather was the first native Mexican to serve as a missionary for the church.

See also

References

  1. "Panorama de las religiones en México 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). INEGI. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. Rentería, Ramón (2012-07-28), "100th anniversary of arrival of Mormon refugees in El Paso celebrated Saturday", El Paso Times
  3. Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
  4. "Country information: Mexico", Deseret News Church Almanac (multiple almanacs from various years), Deseret News
  5. Juarez Rubio, Tarcisio R. (November 27, 1999), "Benemerito! Church's vanguard school in Mexico", Church News
  6. Walker, Joseph (January 30, 2013), "Missionary surge prompts LDS Church to open new MTC in Mexico", Deseret News
  7. Walker, Joseph (June 26, 2013), "First LDS missionaries arrive for training at Mexico City MTC", Deseret News
  8. "Mexico MTC Opens to Train Hundreds of Missionaries", MormonNewsroom.org (News Story), LDS Church, June 26, 2013
  9. New mission presidents by area for 2013
  10. LDS Newsroom (Statistical Information)
  11. After being closed again for renovation in 2014, a rededication took place on Sunday, 13 September 2015.
  12. Mexico City Mexico Temple, LDSChurchTemples.com, retrieved 2012-10-07
  13. "México City México Temple", churchofjesuschrist.org, LDS Church, retrieved 2012-10-07
  14. "Mexico City Temple Opens Its Doors to the Public", Newsroom (News Story), LDS Church, 2008-10-16, retrieved 2012-10-07
  15. "Late 2015 Opening for New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-03-13
  16. "Mexico City Temple Is Rededicated", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-09-13
  17. Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved 11 November 2012.
  18. "Se efectúa la palada inicial del Templo de Tijuana", Sala de Prensa: México (Noticia [News Release]) (in Spanish), LDS Church, August 20, 2012, retrieved 2012-11-11
  19. "Late 2015 Opening for New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-03-13
  20. "Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes: Number of temples operating, announced or under construction now above 200", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 October 2018
  21. LDS Church announces plans to build 12 new temples worldwide, pioneer generation temples will be renovated, KSTU Fox 13, 7 October 2018
  22. LDS Meetinghouse Locator. Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).

Further reading

  • Bridgemon, Rondal R. "Mennonites and Mormons in Northern Chihuahua, Mexico." Journal of the Southwest 54.1 (2012): 71–77.
  • Dormady, Jason H., and Jared M. Tamez, eds. Just South of Zion: The Mormons in Mexico and Its Borderlands. University of New Mexico Press, 2015.
  • Hardy, B. Carmon. "The trek south: How the Mormons went to Mexico." The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 73.1 (1969): 1-16.
  • Hardy, B. Carmon. "Cultural" Encystment" as a Cause of the Mormon Exodus from Mexico in 1912." Pacific Historical Review 34.4 (1965): 439-454.
  • Janzen, Rebecca. Liminal Sovereignty: Mennonites and Mormons in Mexican Culture. SUNY Press, 2018.
  • Knowlton, David Clark. "How many members are there really? Two censuses and the meaning of LDS membership in Chile and Mexico." Dialogue: A journal of Mormon thought 38.2 (2005): 53.
  • Naylor, Thomas H. "The Mormons Colonize Sonora: Early Trials at Colonia Oaxaca." Arizona and the West 20.4 (1978): 325–342.
  • Sally Johnson Odekirk, "Mexico Unfurled: From Struggle to Strength", Liahona, January 2014
  • 2009 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2008) pp. 413–419
  • F. LaMond Tullis. Mormons in Mexico: The Dynamics of Faith and Culture. (Provo: Museo de Historia del Mormonismo en Mexico A. C., 1997)
  • F. LaMond Tullis. "Mexico" in Arnold K. Garr, et al., ed. The Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000) pp. 741–743.
  • Tullis, LaMond. "Tzotzil-Speaking Mormon Maya in Chiapas, Mexico." Journal of Mormon History 43.2 (2017): 189–216.
  • Robinson, Shirley Taylor (1992), "Mexico, Pioneer Settlements in", in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 895–897, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.
  • Rubalcava, Boanerges (1992), "Mexico and Central America, The Church in", in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 897–902, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.
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