Fun Facts on the McAllen Texas Temple

The McAllen Temple is the 183rd dedicated Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The McAllen Temple was announced by President Russel M. Nelson in the October conference of 2019.

The Groundbreaking of the McAllen Temple was done in 2020, and the Covid restrictions only allowed for a small in-person group, but the groundbreaking was available virtually for more to participate.

The McAllen Temple is the fifth temple in Texas, Joining the Dallas Texas Temple, Houston Texas Temple, Lubbock Texas Temple and the San Antonio Texas Temple.

Missionaries first arrived in Texas in 1843. In 1898, about 300 Church members settled on land purchased by the Church in northeast Texas. The settlement became the colony of Kelsey.

The temple, located less than 15 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, serves Latter-day Saints in both countries. The temple monument sign in front of the house of the Lord even has the name of the Church and temple in both English and Spanish.

Elder Uchtdorf said the nearby border wall “is a sign of individual problems and challenges, but here at the temple you are in a place of peace. The Spirit and your love for one another have no borders.” That’s why, Latter-day Saints need to continue to build bridges in a world with a lot of walls. “The temple is a beautiful symbol for that peaceful effort, and it will radiate throughout the community here, ... and it will spread out all across the world.” The restored gospel didn’t stop at political or social boundaries. “It expanded on both sides of the Rio Grande.”

The exterior of the McAllen Temple was inspired by Spanish colonial architecture in the area and citrus crops grown in and around McAllen. Such patterns include designs of scrolls, ribbons, citrus blossoms and barbed quatrefoils.

The blues through the building are a nod to both the bluebonnet — the state flower of Texas — and the nearby Gulf of Mexico. The complementing golds and greens are a call to the other colorful elements of the Texas landscape.

The temple’s height to the top of the dome is 98 feet; to the top of the spire, 108 feet.