WHY ARE TEMPLES IMPORTANT??
Temples are considered "houses of the Lord" where Christ's teachings are reaffirmed through sacred ordinances such as marriage that unite families for this life and all eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants with God to serve Him and their fellow man. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services.

MY FEELING FOR THE MEXICO CITY TEMPLE began long before I heard Pres. Spencer W. Kimball express his "vision of the Lamanites” at the Area Conference in Mexico City in 1977. He had been assigned to visit Mexico in 1946, three years after being sustained as an apostle ... “I was dreaming for the people of Mexico,” he said, “and I had a dream of your progress and development. This is precisely what I dreamed. I got up and wrote my dream. Maybe it was a vision: ‘As I look into the future, I see other Lamanites from the isles of the sea and the American continents rise to a great destiny. … “ ‘I see you children of Lehi with flocks on thousands of hills. Instead of seeing you work for others, I see you managing; the owners of farms, ranches, homes and gardens. … “ ‘I see you as the masters of banks and businesses; engineers, builders, building lofty bridges and great edifices. “ ‘I see you in great political positions and functioning as administrators over the land. I see many of you as heads of governments [and] in legislatures. …’ ” He described how many of the Lamanites would become attorneys; administrators and teachers in schools and universities; doctors; great lecturers; publishers; artists; moviemakers; and playwrights. “You have already arrived in many ways to make dreams real,” the prophet said, challenging parents to make the required sacrifices to provide educational opportunities for their sons and daughters. http://www.lds.org/ Jay M. Todd, “Report of the Seminar for Regional Representatives,”
Ensign, May 1977, 104–6

Only six years later, the Mexico City Temple was dedicated. It was the first of 12 temples constructed in Mexico, and was originally dedicated on 2 December 1983. Now the temple has opened its doors after a 19 month renovation
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/mexico-city-temple-opens-its-doors-to-the-pub

Pres. Kimball's words inspired me to see great potential in my students at the JSA as well as the Young Women of the Juarez Stake, and the Relief Society sisters of the Colonia Juarez Stake as I served in the stake organizations. My love for Mexican people is now broadened to include the valiant members of the Merida Temple district who come to the temple at such great sacrifice and find such joy in receiving ordinances for themselves and serving their kindred who did not have the opportunity to participate in these ordinances in their lifetime.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/mexico-city-temple-opens-its-doors-to-the-public

We have met many members here in Mérida who were sealed as eternal families in the Mexico City Temple before there were any other temples in Mexico. Nov. 16, 2008 was a wonderful day for them, and for all members who were able to watch the proceedings of the re-dedication of the
Mexico City Temple by satellite transmission to their stake centers.
As we sat reverently waiting for the ceremony to begin, a video showed the rooms on the interior of the temple as well as the grounds, the shining white exterior of the temple and the Mexican flag which waves nearby.
The Celestial room
The baptismal font
The first and second counselors and their wives bore their testimonies of the benefits of temple work in their own lives and those of their wives. Messages of inspiration were given by Pres. Eyring, who counseled us to express gratitude, to be worthy to experience the light of understanding through the Holy Ghost and to feel the love of God; additionally Ann M. Dibb (Pres. Monson's daughter) spoke of her appreciation of the cultural program the previous night and her desire that young people as well as older ones would look to the temple, look to and follow the prophets and especially follow the Savior.
Pres. Monson's thoughts impressed Gerhard to write the quote: "Desire no future without ties to the past." That sums up our desire for eternal progression in company with our ancestors as well as our descendants--the epitome of family togetherness.
A strong feeling came to me as Pres. Monson spoke--sometimes humorously, always positively and in a way that motivated us to become better servants and followers of the Master--that he is a humble man who has been chosen and prepared to be our Prophet. I want to do better to learn his counsel and apply it in my life.

The night of Saturday, Nov. 15 was the cultural celebration, so we joined the members of the Centro Stake in the Madero chapel for the transmission. We took our car with the Oropezas, whose car was in the repair shop, and the new missionary couple who have joined us, Elder and Sister Smith. It was a fun ride because our car only seats 5, and we crowded 6 big people into it. Bro. Oropeza served as the navigator.
We arrived 1/2 hour early, so had time to introduce the Smiths to members of the stake that we knew from the temple and from attending other meetings. The chapel area with the big screen had air conditioning, and Gerhard felt that would not be good for his sore throat and his ear problem. A member of the stake presidency took us into a small room and helped us reduce the air conditioning. It was like a private showing for two English-speaking couples. We enjoyed the combination of video and live representations that showed Book of Mormon, Church and Mexican history and culture. Gerhard hope they would do the dance of "Los Viejitos," and it was almost the last number, just before the missionaries paraded to "Llamados a Servir."

The Deseret News reported the story on Monday, Nov. 17. "Some 87,000 people squeezed into the open-air [Azteca]stadium to hear counsel from President Thomas S. Monson and enjoy a Mexican cultural event that boasted a cast of more than 8,000 youths. It featured an 80-minute display of music, dance and Mexican history and featured folk dances from Mexican regions such as Chihuahua, Veracruz and Jalisco. The young actors also re-enacted moments from Mexican history, including the battle for independence and the Mexican Revolution. The show concluded with a medley of LDS hymns and a procession of full-time missionaries across the Aztec Stadium field. It was perhaps the largest gathering to ever listen to an LDS president in person.... [W]ith its sheer size and attendance, the event doubled as a reminder of the church's strength in Mexico....
President Monson spoke of his childhood connection to Salt Lake City's Mexican community. He had Spanish-speaking pals and developed a taste for enchiladas at their family dinner tables. He even performed an impromptu verse of the Spanish folk song "El Rancho Grande."
Events such as Saturday's program are special, he said. He urged his listeners to secure them to memory. "Write in your journal tonight or tomorrow what you saw this evening; how you felt this evening," President Monson said.

President Monson was joined by his first counselor in the First Presidency, President Henry B. Eyring, along with his daughter, Sister Ann M. Dibb, both of whom spoke.

When the weather cooled, President Monson and President Eyring pulled on colorful Mexican serapes to keep warm. The tens of thousands inside the stadium closed the evening by coming to their feet and waving white handkerchiefs in the direction of the two church leaders. President Monson and President Eyring pulled out handkerchiefs of their own and returned the salute.