Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
Dedication of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
Prior to the dedication of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple, Latter-day Saints on the island of Hispaniola — which is split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti — would have to travel to Guatemala or Florida to visit a house of the Lord. After the temple was constructed in Santo Domingo, however, both Dominicans and Haitians could drive to a temple to perform sacred ordinances.
Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple on Sept. 17, 2000. At the dedication, Domingo Aybar, president of the Santo Domingo Villa Mella Stake, told the Church News that “the Church is growing here because of the quality of the people — Dominicans are believers.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “May this be a house of peace and a refuge from the noise and confusion of the world. May there grow in the hearts of those who come here a certain conviction concerning the validity and the purpose of that which they do in service to Thee and Thy children.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple here.
Timeline of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
November
16
1993
August
18
1996
Groundbreaking
Ground was broken for the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple on Aug. 18, 1996. Around 4,000 Church members from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti attended the groundbreaking ceremony, which was presided over by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
August
26
2000
Open house
The public was invited to tour the completed house of the Lord from Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, 2000. Approximately 39,520 visitors attended the open house.
September
17
2000
Dedicated
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple was dedicated throughout four sessions on Sept. 17, 2000, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.
SEE ALL Timeline of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
The First Presidency announced a temple for Santo Domingo on Nov. 16, 1993. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house of the Lord was held Aug. 18, 1996.
Visitors toured the temple during its open house from Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, 2000. The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple was dedicated Sept. 17, 2000.
Architecture and Design of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
The 67,000-square-foot Santo Domingo temple was built on 6.42 acres of land. Tall, arched windows can be seen around the structure, and a multilevel tower on a square base stands above the entrance. The site, adorned with palm trees, offers an expansive view of the Caribbean Sea to the south.
The temple interior contains four instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, a celestial room and a baptistry.
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