The Colonia Juárez Temple A Prophet's Inspiration (Hard Cover Book) by Virgina Hatch Romney, Richard
Item #9780842527279
The story of the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Temple has its roots in American Latter-day Saint history. Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in 1830, its members were continually on the move. President Brigham Young understood that the Salt Lake area was not the final spot for the Saints. Settlers were called on colonizing missions, and once again they were on the move to begin scores of new communities in the north and south.

Before 1895 the Latter-day Saint colonies in Mexico were under the jurisdiction of the Mexican Mission. On December 9 of that year, however, the Colonia Juárez Stake was organized with Anthony W. Ivins as president. This was the first stake organized in Mexico and the second stake established outside of the United States (the Alberta Stake having been organized in Canada six months earlier).

Following the Mexican Revolution, only about a third of the original colonists returned to begin anew. They were only able to reestablish five of the original eight colonies. Isolation, transportation difficulties, and the lack of schools eventually caused all but two of the colonies to be abandoned. By the mid-twentieth century, only Colonia Juárez and Colonia Dublán remained as viable agricultural communities, and these two continued as strong centers of Latter-day Saint activity. Still, the colonies' isolation was an asset, and the faithful Saints were able to create an environment that encouraged living the gospel.

Many felt the colonies were a great place to live and to raise their children. Colonists have a saying, "You can take the boys out of the colonies, but you can never take the colonies out of the boys." To maintain this atmosphere, they believed, "We must never become complacent. Our well-being -- spiritually and otherwise -- lies in keeping the commandments.
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