Bogotá Colombia Temple

The Bogotá Colombia Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in Bogotá, Colombia. The intent to construct the temple was announced on April 7, 1984, by Gordon B. Hinckley, a counselor in the church's First Presidency. The temple was the first built in Colombia and the fifth in South America.^[1] The temple is on a 3.71-acre site and has a single spire rising to 124 feet, with Brazilian granite on its exterior. Its interior includes four instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 26, 1993. After construction was completed, a public open house was attended by over 127,000 visitors. It was dedicated from April 24–26, 1999, by Hinckley, who by then was the church's president.

Missionaries of the church first arrived in Colombia in 1966, when Spencer W. Kimball, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated the nation for the preaching of the gospel and organized the first branch in Bogotá.^[2] Growth was rapid: a mission was created in 1971 and the first stake was organized in 1977.^[2] By 1984, church membership in the country had reached approximately 12,000, and members rejoiced when the temple was announced that year.^[3]

The temple was announced by Gordon B. Hinckley on April 7, 1984, when he was the second counselor to church president Spencer W. Kimball.^[4][3] On May 28, 1988, the church announced that a site had been purchased in Bogotá.^[5] Plans called for a 53,500-square-foot temple with four instruction rooms and three sealing rooms, located on a 3.71-acre site.^[4][6] The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 26, 1993, presided over by William R. Bradford, a general authority and president of the church's South America North Area.^[4][1] In the groundbreaking prayer, Bradford mentioned the history of the area and local features, including the valley, and the capital of a civilization,^[1] and urged members to see the temple as the center of building Zion in Bogotá.^[4]

During the planning and construction period, leaders noted delays and challenges related to property acquisition and site selection, which Hinckley later described as “trouble of one kind or another.”^[3][7] Part of the problem also included getting proper permitting, and all of these factors ended up causing a delay of more than a decade.^[3] Despite these obstacles, construction moved forward, and as construction neared completion the church announced a public open house for March 27–April 18, 1999, preceded by VIP tours beginning March 24, 1999.^[4][8] During the open house, approximately 127,00 visitors toured the temple, including diplomats, government officials, educators, business leaders, and members of the press.^[4][8] Around 10,000 missionary referrals were received as a result of tours.^[4]

The temple was dedicated by Hinckley on April 24, 1999, with eleven total sessions held from April 24–26, 1999.^[4][7][9] James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, presided over several sessions while Hinckley traveled to Chile, and Russell M. Nelson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, accompanied Hinckley for the closing sessions.^[4][7] More than 11,300 church members attended the dedicatory sessions, despite a citywide transportation strike, which held up 500 members for the dedication.^[7]

At the time of its dedication, the temple district included Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.^[1] Housing was also built on-site for patrons traveling long distances to attend.^[1][10]

The temple temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened in phases, starting November 30, 2020, under the church's global phased reopening plan.^[11][12]

The temple combines modern and classical design elements, using Brazilian granite on its exterior, and with a spire reaching 124 feet.^[13] It occupies a 3.71-acre landscaped site in northern Bogotá at Carrera 46 #127-45, which also includes facilities for temple patrons.^[4][14]

The church's architectural and engineering teams collaborated with a local firm, Cuéllar, Serrano Gómez S.A., on the temple's design.^[13][10] Much of the detailed work of design and craftsmanship was completed by Colombian artisans.^[7][13] Hinckley noted the “superb workmanship” of Colombian artisans.^[3] Inside, the temple contains four instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry.^[4][13]

An angel Moroni statue on top of the spire represents the preaching of the gospel to all nations, while the twelve oxen supporting the baptismal font symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel.^[15][16]

For local members, the temple quickly became a center of spiritual strength. On its first day of operation, 82 couples were sealed, including one woman in late-stage cancer who was brought in on a hospital gurney to receive her endowment before dying days later.^[3] Early years of operation saw busloads of members traveling across Colombia, sometimes through unsafe cartel-controlled areas, to participate in ordinances. Many sold goods or organized fundraising activities to afford annual temple trips.^[3]

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. Serving from 1999 to 2002, Jeremiah P. Cahill was the first president, with Lela B. Cahill serving as matron.^[17][18] As of 2023, Christian Pico Castro is the president, with Victoria Prada de Pico serving as matron.^[19]

A public open house was held March 27–April 18, 1999, with special visitor tours beginning March 24.^[1][8] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.^[20][21][22]

• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia

• "Colombia temple groundbreaking", Church News, July 10, 1993
• "Bogota Colombia Temple: 'Most beautiful building' opens doors to public", Church News, April 3, 1999
• Hart, John L. (May 1, 1999), "Cover Story: Bogota Temple — Gift of inner peace in a troubled land", Church News
• Swensen, Jason (March 30, 2002), "LDS Columbians enlist faith amid troubled times", Church News

• Bogotá Colombia Temple Official site
• Bogotá Colombia Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org