PANAMA CITY, PANAMA - Mormon Temple
During a conference held in December 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley told over 4,500 members of Panama that ‘the [Mormon] Church would find a way to build a Temple there if they faithfully paid their tithing and kept the other commandments’. President Hinckley understood and expressed his concern that the cost of a temple would far exceed the members tithing contributions, but ‘promised them that the Lord would bless them through the exercise of their faith to obey the [tithing] law.’1
That announcement came in August 2002 by the First Presidency. This would be the first Mormon Temple to be built in the country of Panama. In March of 2006, there were more than 39,000 members of the Mormon Church and which, for many years, sacrificed to attend the closest Temple, in Guatemala.
Hurricane Beta lingered over the coasts of Panama and Costa Rica the day before the groundbreaking. But, by the next day it had moved north leaving a beautiful sky enjoyed by those in attendance.
With Elder Spencer V. Jones presiding over the groundbreaking on October 2005, the construction of the Temple officially began. Elder Jones promised great blessings to those families who studied the scriptures, held family home evening and prayed together consistently. He admonished the members that it was time to ‘get their houses in order’ in which he quoted Doctrine and Covenants 109:8 from the Book of Mormon.2
The Panama Temple is located on a hill adjacent to the Church building in Panama and can visibly been seen by travelers from the Canal and across the Country. On the property of the Temple, there will be offices and housing that will accommodate the temple presidency, temple missionaries and those members attending the temple. The Mormon Temple will now be able to accommodate all members of the country of Panama. Worthy members will be able to enter the Temple doors and continue to learn truths. It is a place where all can gain a better understanding of the purpose of life and the relationship we all share with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Sacred ordinances can be performed for themselves as well as their ancestors who have passed to the next life.
The completion of the Panama City Panama Mormon Temple is expected to be completed sometime in late 2007.
For more information about the Mormon Church and Mormon Temples, please see the following websites: