Did you know that Mexico City has twenty stakes? That is right here at Centro de Estaca Centenario. Welcome to a place where faith and community intertwine. The Centro de Estaca Centenario is a vibrant hub. It fosters spiritual growth in Mexico City.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has deep roots in Mexico. The story began long before this stake was established. The Third Convention reunited with the Church. Local leadership and temples strengthened the Church in Mexico. Stakes and temples became a reality.
In 1961, the first stake outside Anglo-American colonies was created. Harold Brown was called as stake president. He called native Mexicans as counselors. Agricol Lozano Herrera became the first ethnic Mexican stake president in 1967. He served in the Mexico City North Stake.
A significant event occurred in 1972. The second area conference outside the United States took place in Chapultepec Park. President Harold B. Lee and other leaders attended. Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined the gathering of Israel. He called it a great missionary undertaking. The place of gathering is in each nation for its own people. This discouraged converts from gathering to Utah.
The Church grew rapidly in Mexico after reunification. From 1946 to 1961, membership increased from 5,300 to nearly 25,000. By 1983, it reached around 240,000. Institutional growth was definitely occurring in Mexico. Eleven stakes existed in Mexico City by 1975. Elder Howard W. Hunter created sixteen new stakes in November 1975. Fifteen were in Mexico City. One was in Veracruz. By late 2023, Mexico had 227 stakes. Mexico is one of three countries with over one million members.
Temples also signal institutional strength. Members traveled to the Mesa Arizona Temple after temple ceremonies translated into Spanish in the 1940s. These trips were demanding. The Mexico City Mexico Temple construction in the early 1980s was a welcome development.
In 1976, the First Presidency announced a temple in Mexico. Obtaining building permits was challenging. Laws required buildings to be open to the public. Importing materials was forbidden. The Church obtained the permits in 1979 when the laws changed. They also secured an exception to import materials. Groundbreaking occurred in November 1979.
The temple site posed challenges. It was built on the marshy bed of Lake Texcoco. The land was unlikely to support the temple’s weight. Earthquakes were prevalent. Steel pilings were used to strengthen the foundation. Recent renovations have further strengthened it against seismic activity.
Emil B. Fetzer designed the temple. He was known for his work on the Ogden and Provo Utah Temples. Fetzer proposed five designs. The chosen design had a white marble cast stone facing. The style is a modern adaptation of original Mayan architecture. Arched openings inspired by Mayan corbelled vaults were incorporated.
Local Latter-day Saints sacrificed to make the temple a reality. They raised 1.5 million dollars. Some sold family heirlooms. Others dedicated crops. Construction was mostly by hand due to scarce equipment.
Dedication ceremonies were held in December 1983. President Gordon B. Hinckley performed the dedication. The Mexico City Temple was the fifth largest in the world at the time. It was the largest outside of the United States.
Since then, more temples have been built in Mexico. In 1999, a small temple was constructed in Colonia Juarez. Eight more temples were dedicated the following year. President Russell M. Nelson announced four more temples in 2022. These will be in large metropolitan areas. The Church has a strong presence and a promising future in Mexico.
The Centro de Estaca Centenario stands as a testament. It reflects the dedication of its members. It symbolizes the growth of the Church. It continues to serve as a spiritual anchor. It invites all to join in faith-based activities. The Centro de Estaca Centenario embraces neighbors. It welcomes families and friends.