Sunday, July 27, 2008

Mexico City Temple

This is a really exciting day for us. This morning’s Church News announced the date for the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. Repairs began on July 1, 2007. The initial plan was to retrofit the Temple for seismic enhancements. Mexico City sits on a geological "bowl of jelly" which causes buildings to shift and lean. A lot of the buildings in town look like they are ready to topple over. Since 1983 when the Temple was first dedicated the elevation of Mexico City has dropped about 8 feet. Periodic adjustments to buildings is necessary to keep up with these conditions.

The Visitors Center was also completed about the same time as the Temple and has also suffered environmental damage. Besides shifting foundations, Mexico City is plagued with acid rain. The combination of high air pollution and heavy rainfall results in corrosive damage to the exterior of buildings. The concrete and rock chip exterior paneling needed replacement. In some places the corrosion had exposed the metal reinforcement bars. The Angel Moroni got beat up during all of this and now we get a refurbished gold-leafed angel Moroni (How many temples have an Angel Moroni facing south?)


Once these change were underway and everything was all torn up, why not make some more changes and improvements? So instead of being a one-phase project for the Temple it became a four-phase project and took a year longer than planned.

We can look out from the Visitors Center and see all sorts of activity going on over there — workers on the roof, painters, landscape people. It has really been exciting to watch the progress, especially lately as everything is in high gear. In fact the whole Manzana is getting a face lift. Some of the buildings such as the MTC buildings and our apartment building were an ugly grey. Now with the changes we are getting a bright new coat of white and it looks much better. There is also beautiful new landscaping going in everywhere on the Manzana. Some of the workers who have been working on these projects have come over to the Center for a tour and we are always glad to see them.



Mexico has 12 temples. For the more stout hearted members there are temple excursions from the Mexico City wards to the neighboring temples in Vera Cruz and Oaxaca. These trips involve a long bus ride.

A few weeks ago a handicapped American girl came in the Center on a Saturday afternoon and wondered what was happening at the Temple. She had arrived in Mexico a few days earlier for a Spanish program in Cuernavaca, several hours to the west by bus. She came to attend the Temple but didn’t know that it was closed. We took her through the Center and she seemed to enjoy that. Bless her soul!

The Temple open house will be from Oct. 20th to Nov. 8th. A cultural celebration we be held on Saturday Nov. 15th, the rededication on Sunday and temple sessions resuming on Monday. We expect lots and lots of people to attend the open house, many of whom will probably come into the Center, possibly as many as 2000 per day. It is going to be interesting working in those conditions. Hurrah for Israel!

We love the temple and have a strong testimony of the work that is done there. Before our mission we worked in the Salt Lake Temple and we were used to attending often. The last time we were able to attend was when we were at the MTC and went to the Provo Temple one time to do a session and some sealings. It is very exciting to think we will be living right next door to an operating temple and be able to attend frequently once again.

6 comments:

Kathy said...

That is really exciting! I remember how fun it was for us to watch the progress of the Redlands temple. So tell us, how many Angel Moronis are facing south? (And why?)

Grandma F said...

I know of two Angel Moronis that face south: Mexico Ciy. In Johannesburg they did it by accident. They then asked Salt Lake if they should change it and they told them no, because if doesn't really matter. In Mexico City the whole building faces south, so I suppose that's why they did it.

Dad F

karen louise said...

What an opportunity to watch all of the happenings of the temple reconstruction going on. That is neat! When do they expect it to be done? I often take time out to go up to Draper and watch them working on that temple...which is coming along quite fast. I appreciate comments you write on my blog! It's nice to hear from you and just want you to know that I too have very very fond memories of you and your family. You are great parents. I loved catching up with Julia a few weeks ago. Seeing her brought back so many good memories, and reminded me of what true friendship is. Thanks for being great examples. Good luck with the work this week!

loopyjulia said...

That's neat that you get to be there for the open house and everything. I would love to be able to come see the temple there. It looks like it is really beautiful!

GrandmaNutt said...

You two are certainly serving during an exciting time. It will be interesting to read your comments during the open house. I know that you will have many great conversion stories.

Randall Jones said...

Hello Again,

We attended a session at the Provo temple this very afternoon and how wonderful to be so close to a temple once again. While serving our 18 month mission in Germany, we were only able to go to the temple in Frankfurt on two different occasions since in was out of our Hamburg Mission boundaries....so we had to get permission. I missed attending the temple, too. As you recall I was a temple worker here in Provo before our mission. (this is Janet speaking)

We are thrilled for you both with your experiences and the good work you are doing. And thanks for the phone call!!

Love and Hugs,
Janet and Randy