Open House Invites All to Tour Yigo Guam Temple

The Yigo Guam Temple opened their doors for local media and prominent officials Monday, May 2nd following a 10 a.m. News Conference. Andrea Wykstra, Yigo Temple sub-committee head, lead off with opening remarks. Elder John C. Pingree Jr., a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke. Following remarks were given by Yigo Mayor Anthony P. Sanchez and R. Ching Batimana, a multigenerational member of the Church. Elder John C. Pingree Jr., Assistant Executive Director of the Temple department; Elder James R. Rasband, First Counselor in the Asia North Presidency; and Elder John A. McCune, Second Counselor in the Asia North Area Presidency were available for interviews following the media event.

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Tours were then hosted by Elders Pingree, Rasband and McCune. Youth, Kipatson Martinez, Gerald Kho, and Chris Taiwerbwe, known as 'Connectors', made sure each group were connected with their appropriate tour host. 

That afternoon, invited guests, to include government leaders, toured the temple in small groups.

Tuesday, May 3rd, the interfaith group tour was hosted by Area Seventy Elder William H.K. Davis with his wife Wanda. Elder Davis, along with R. Ching Batimana, hosted a tour for Michelle Perez with DISID. Bishop Rod Boss with his wife Lori hosted local business leaders as they took their turn on tours.

Wednesday, May 4th, R. Ching Batimana hosted a tour for Phyliss Leon Guerrero of DISID and Ms Taitano, formerly of Guam EPA.

Among our honored guests were Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Lt Governor Joshua Tenorio, Senator V. Anthony Ada, Senator Telo Taitague, Senator James C. Moylan, and Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muna Barnes to name a few. Chris Taylor, Leonard Iriarte, Pramila Sullivan, and Benny Ng were among a variety of interfaith members that joined us for tours. Michelle Perez and Phyliss Leon Guerrero with DISID, and Christine Baleto with DOCOMO joined the tours as well as many other business leaders.

The Church's N. Area Director Takanori Mochuzuki, from Japan, joined our Open House along with communications department Soojung Yeon, from Korea and Chandae Jeon from Korea, a videographer with the Church's publishing and media department (PSD).

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The Yigo Guam Temple was announced October 7^th, 2018, by Church president Russell M. Nelson with the groundbreaking on May 4, 2019. This is the 172^nd temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be built. It is the first temple in Guam and will serve 9,600 members of the Church in Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Palau, and the islands of the Federated States of Micronesia.

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The temples entry, with tower above facing east, catches the morning rays of sunshine on the Moleanos, a Portuguese limestone, which blends with the beige stucco to give an aesthetic beauty. This temple adds another historic event to Guam's already extensive list.

The Temple architecture and design is inspired by the culture of Guam. The temple retains the essence of local vernacular with hints of proportions derived from the ancient latte stones found in the area. A latte is comprised of two stones—the shaft stone, called the “haligi,” and the rounded capstone called the “tasa.” Remnants of these latte stones come from the Chamorro culture, which was spread across Guam, Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. 

All were invited to come tour the Yigo Guam Temple, newly built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at the corner of Marine Corps Drive and Milalak Drive in Yigo, Guam.

The Yigo Temple doors were open to the public for tours May 6th through May 14th, 2022, for all the public to participate.

A first ever ‘Islands Open House’ throughout the Micronesian Islands and the Republic of Palau was hosted May 6th & 7th  in Koror Topside, Palau; Colonia, Yap; Mwan, Chuuk; Panasang, Pohnpei; Lelu, Kosrae, and Chalan Kiya, Saipan.

Photo gallery of the Yigo Guam Temple and facts link:.

One highlight was an interfaith guest, Leonard Iriarte, who spoke of the Yigo Temple site as holy ground relating to his ancestors. He shared with us his Chamorro Prayer Chant which can be viewed below:

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R. Ching Batimana recalls in previous months how he showed interest in a homeless man, Timothy, and states, "because of Timothy, a humanitarian wheelchair project recently came to fruition." Hearts were touched seeing his delight with his brand-new wheelchair. The Church is grateful to bring joy while it continues to be aware of ways it can serve.

"I did this all so our Heavenly Father would have the glory for the donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to DISID,' states Ching Batimana, who felt this project would expand the Church’s presence on the island of Guam and indirectly would share more about our Yigo Guam temple and its members."

During the wheelchair ceremony, this was proven to be true as both Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio expressed their feelings and knowledge of the Yigo Guam Temple they had recently toured, showing the great influence the members and the temple have on the community.

The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in three sessions 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at which time it will be open to faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as eternal marriages, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors denied the opportunity of baptism while living. This beautifully constructed temple is dedicated to being the house of the Lord which makes it different than the regular church meetinghouses. All are invited to attend the local meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We hope you will share in our excitement of having this beautiful structure in Guam and allow us to host a tour for you. Come feel of the peace and sacredness this temple offers.