Guatemala Temple construction begins

Church leaders challenge local members to make homes a 'temple'QUETZALTENANGO, Guatemala — On a lovely spring-like morning, more than 700 LDS Church leaders and other guests were witnesses to the March 14 groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple. Central America Area President Don R. Clarke of the Seventy presided at the historic ceremony. He was joined by his counselors Elder Shirley D. Christensen and Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the Seventy, along with Area Seventies Elders Poloski Cordon and Carlos Astorga. The spirit of the ceremony was enriched by an 80-voice choir that featured many woman dressed in the indigenous style that is typical of the Quetzaltenango region in northwestern Guatemala.Upon its completion, the future temple will be the second of its kind in this Central American nation. The Guatemala City Guatemala Temple opened in 1984.In his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, Elder Clark spoke to the Guatemalan members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the essential role of temples.\"It is because of your obedience and diligence that the Lord has permitted the construction of this sacred house,\" he said.  Elder Clarke then challenged Mormons to make their homes a temple.\"Our own homes should be a house of prayer and order and faith. Outside of the temple itself, our homes should be the most sacred place there is. What a blessing to have these principles that can bring such happiness to our lives.\"Elder Clarke also expressed his thanks to the national and local officials who attended the open-air ceremony. He said that the new temple would be a blessing for those selected to build the edifice and to all who live in the new temple district.A native Guatemalan, Elder Falabella spoke of the many early members of the Church here who made faithful temple trips to the Mesa Arizona Temple and later to Mexico and the beloved temple in Guatemala City. He asked, what motivated those pioneers in Guatemala to sell their valuables and their properties and risk losing their jobs in order to travel to the temple?\"Each of those members possessed a testimony of the sacrifice of the Savior and had a hope that they could live forever with family members who had passed on,\" Elder Falabella said.In his remarks, Elder Christensen said the sacred doctrines found in the temple are not new.See the rest of this story on ldschurchnews.com.