Mayor welcomes Valley’s only Mormon temple to McAllen

As Rio Grande Valley cities grow, so too are new amenities and outlets that continue to spring up locally and which are meant to bolster infrastructure and quality of life, and the faith community has not been the exception.

More recently, in fact, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appears closer to opening what many are calling the only Mormon temple in the region and one of only several in Texas.

Located at 250 W. Trenton Road in McAllen, the temple has already taken shape and construction looks to be nearing completion.

The temple was built on nearly 11 acres and measures around 29,732 feet and stands 107 feet high, according to the Church of Jesus Christ Temples, which monitors the construction of Mormon temples throughout the U.S. but is not an official LDS site.

The sun sets on the spire of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormon temple on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

LDS representatives have not responded to calls requesting an interview.

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, however, spoke about the temple recently and pointed to the new house of faith as a sign of progress.

“One of the things that we do is that we are always concerned with the quality of life — from parks to health care to religion to the acceptance of everybody,” Villalobos said in a Dec. 21 interview about the new temple being located in the city, adding that enriching the lives of residents is a priority.

According to the Church of Jesus Christ Temples, the groundbreaking for the temple was held Oct. 5, 2019 and construction began in November 2020.

Sun hits the top of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormon temple on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

“We’re glad that we’re very inclusive with everybody,” Villalobos said. “McAllen seems to somehow draw the people whether they live here or not.”

Valley residents have already shared their excitement for the new church in Google reviews going back as long as two years ago, when construction officially began.

“The McAllen temple represents the hard work of many faithful members that have been pioneers on (sic) this area, leaders and thousands of missionaries that have been serving with all their heart,” Edgar De Anda said in one review. “It will be beautiful and will be a blessing for all the people in the Valley.”