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New temples announced for Mexico, Nevada

New temples will be built in Reno, Nev., and in Guadalajara and Veracruz, Mexico, the First Presidency announced.

The three new temples were announced by letter to local priesthood leaders in the Reno area April 12, and in Mexico April 14. These temples, coupled with the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple, which was announced in general conference by President Gordon B. Hinckley April 4, bring the total number of planned temples to 56 — the same as the number of temples in operation.

With the announcement, the number of temples in Mexico will be 12, with two in operation and 10 in some stage of planning or construction; and two in Nevada, with one functioning.

The first temple in Nevada was dedicated in Las Vegas in 1989.

The Reno Nevada Temple District is comprised of eight stakes, with a total of 25,474 members. All the temple district stakes are in Nevada, except the Quincy California Stake.

The first stake in Reno was created in 1941 and membership has continued to grow in Reno and in cities nearby.

Temple districts for the Guadalajara and Veracruz temples have not yet been announced.

Of the 10 planned temples in Mexico, only three, including the two new ones, have not had groundbreaking ceremonies. Temples in operation in Mexico are in Mexico City, dedicated in 1983, and in Colonia Jauarez, dedicated earlier this year.

Guadalajara, located at the southern end of the Mexico North Area, is Mexico's second largest city. Missionary work began there some 40 years ago. Work proceeded more slowly in Guadalajara than in some other cities, but it has grown solidly.

"The Church has grown well, and there is a strong contingency of the Church there with eight stakes and a mission," said Elder Eran A. Call of the Seventy and president of the Mexico North Area. "We have strong stake presidents and good members."

He said that a temple in Guadalajara would save members a six-hour ride to Mexico City. "It is a crucial city in the southwest part of Mexico, a very important city in the republic of Mexico and for the Church as well," he observed.

The first stake in Guadalajara was created in 1975, and a mission was created there that same year.

A strong Church base also exists in Veracruz, said Elder Carl B. Pratt of the Seventy and president of the Mexico South Area.

"The city of Veracruz has four stakes, and within a hundred-mile radius, we have four more," said Elder Pratt. "This will be the fifth temple in our area."

He said the temple will provide a tremendous blessing to the Saints in Veracruz because of the savings in transportation costs in traveling to the temple in Mexico City.

The first stake in Veracruz was created in 1975. The roots of the Veracruz mission go back to 1963 when the Southeast Mexican Mission was created. From the Southeast Mexican Mission have come all or part of four other missions.

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