Bogotá, Colombia - Mormon Temple
"What a beautiful building it is – the workmanship is superb. I have never seen any (stonework) finer, anywhere. It is beautiful, a fitting monument to the good people of Colombia," stated President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Mormon Church, at the dedication of the Bogota Colombia Mormon Temple on April 24, 1999.1
From the time the announcement of the Mormon Temple was made to the dedication in 1999, fifteen years had passed. Troubles with location and property for the Temple did not stifle the faith of the members, just the opposite. When a particular difficulty was faced, a special focus of fasting and prayer would produce miracles.2
Ten miles from downtown Bogota in the Niza section, sits the Bogota Colombia Mormon Temple. Combined with tall stained glass windows and silver-gray Brazilian granite on the exterior and marble finishes and motifs that are in the likeness of ancient Incan designs, the Mormon Temple creates an atmosphere both inside and out of peace and tranquility. The temple grounds are landscaped to express those plants and flowers that are native to Columbia, such as flowering eucalyptus trees with beautiful red flowers.
During the construction of the Mormon Temple miracles took place. Those that worked on the Temple who were not members of the Mormon Church gave special care to the project. As time progressed, workers developed a reverence and respect for the building they were constructing.
One electrician showed great faith and determination to complete his responsibilities on the temple. While working on the wiring, he was electrocuted so severely that he received third degree burns on his arms. Brother Aulesita, the temple project manager, described the following incident. "I thought that I would never see the man again. Monday morning he was there and I asked him, ‘Why are you here/’ He responded by saying, ‘Because we have not finished our work in the temple.’ I was very touched. He is a nonmember and he feels that he needs to complete the job and needs to do it well. I watched him as he went to work with his arms burned, covered with bandages, and in a great deal of pain. I then made the comment that because of his faithfulness that he would not have any problems recovering. A couple of months later his bandages were off and he barely had any scars. He worked to the last minute. Why didn’t he just quit? I think it is because he felt the Spirit of the temple.’"3
The Spirit of the Lord is felt in each Mormon Temple and many will feel that Spirit by just walking the grounds. Temples are sacred and are dedicated as a house of God, a place of peace, a place of holiness to shut apart from the world.
The Colombia Saints waited fifteen years for a Temple. While waiting for the Temple to be completed, they took the opportunity to do family history work. God wants all His children to return and live with him. For those who died without hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He has provided a way in which all can either accept or reject the ordinances that have and will be done for them in the Mormon Temple.
Colombia is a place of turmoil and upheaval and the Mormon Temple provides a place of refuge and peace. Even though there are challenges in this country, the House of the Lord, the Mormon Temple, is a great blessing in the lives of these faithful members.
To learn more about Mormon Temples please see the following websites:
Temple (Mormonism) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia