March 3, 2025, 2:10pm
The ground is broken due to the Cali Colombian Temple, the third home of the Lord’s Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints in South America.
Elder Jorge T. Bekera, 70 years old and president of the Northwest South America region, hosted the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, March 1st. He made his remarks to the congregation and offered prayers to offer the site and construction process.
This will be the southernmost point of Colombia and the Holy Temple in the west and west. Information and photos from the Invitation-only event were published on Monday, March 3rd at Churchofjesuschrist.org.
Elder Besera explained that the broken ground of the Lord’s house symbolizes the change in the hearts of people. This is an essential process for getting closer to God.
“In a way, we ‘break’ our hearts,” he said. “The basis of our minds experiences change.”
He referenced the parable of sowing and invited the attendees to heartily remove the weeds and change their habits. “Each of us needs to change something in our lives so that the Lord can so be in our hearts and therefore achieve greater peace and happiness.”
In his dedicated prayers at the site and construction process, Elder Becerra prayed: Help us live the gospel and convert to your son more fully. ”
Among the Latter-day saints was Cali Mayor Alejandro Edder, a civic leader and a member of the community present.
“The Church of Jesus Christ is a religion that is important to our community,” Edder said. “Thank you for making this investment. It will create jobs in our city during construction and create a glorification of the region of Laflora district, a traditional area of Cali city. It will also enhance the freedom of worship and religious services in our city.”
Elder Harold Torque, a 70-person area that held the meeting, explained the basic reason why the sacred temple was built. “We can make a covenant with our Heavenly Father.”
About the House of Lord Kari
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Cali Temple in Colombia on April 4, 2021. This was one of 20 locations around the world that he identified at the end of his Sunday afternoon session.
The Cali Colombian Temple is planned as a single-storey building of approximately 9,500 square feet, and is located on a 3.14 acre site along Avenida 4A Norte in the Laflora district of Cali.
Kali Temple joins the two main operators, Bogota Colombia and Baranquila Colombia Temples, dedicated in 1999 and 2018, respectively. The fourth Medellin Columbia Temple is currently in the planning stages after it was announced by President Nelson in October 2024.
Missionary work began in Colombia in 1966, and its first mission was held in 1971. Today, Colombia has more than 215,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 260 congregations.
