Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico Temple

Temple #88

Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

April 5, 2018

     Our vacation was going fantastic after the last temple we did in Merida. We went to Chichén Itzá, to a few cenotes, to the ruins of Tulum, to a beach where we swam with turtles and to Cancun. We were having a blast but we honestly couldn't wait to get to the next temple!

     The next stop on our vacation was Villahermosa (meaning beautiful city), a place we weren't sure we’d get to for a long time because it isn't a very popular tourist destination. We made plans though and figured out our flights and buses and we couldn't wait to go! 

     We took a flight from Cancun to Villahermosa at 6:05 in the morning. We arrived in a cloud of fog that covered the entire area. It seemed like a mysterious place as we took the Uber ride to the temple through all the fog. 

     We got to the temple and were pleased to see that the fog lifted in the area and the sun was shining. We didn't have much time though so we first ate a pastry for breakfast. It was crazy to look around the temple and see all the poor homes and run down buildings around the area. We then look at the temple and the beautiful temple grounds and are grateful that the church builds such pristine Houses of the Lord. 

     The temple was a small temple, built in the year 2000 just like all the other cookie cutter temples. The grounds were well done and they had a massive ceiba tree, a tree that was sacred to the Olmec people and still are sacred in a way to the people in the area. 

     We went into the temple and got changed and ready for the session. We met the Temple President who then helped us get our clothes and translated for us. We were both fairly sunburnt from the beach and so all the old Mexican ladies went up to Ivy and began touching her face and were so worried about her. It was very comical to say the least. 

      One thing we do really enjoy about the small, cookie cutter temples are that the first room you go into is rarely the same. In each one, such as the Villahermosa temple, there is a painted mural on the wall of what looks like the surrounding area. In Villahermosa it was a thick jungle with waterfalls and we even spotted a monkey and some butterflies. Yes, they're a little distracting sometimes but they're beautiful! 

      After the session we met up with the Temple President and his wife, President and Sister Turley. They were very kind and talked to us for a while and even gave us a ride to the bus station. That is one thing we absolutely love about the temples is the members we meet there who are so kind and have such a common interest as we do. 

     We then took a bus from Villahermosa to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, an absolutely beautiful drive that we wish we could have had more time doing. We passed banana tree orchards, rolling green hills and fields, and beautiful mountains that reminded us somewhat of China. It was gorgeous. We then arrived in Tuxtla Gutiérrez where we were so excited to be. 

     In Villahermosa we didn't really see anything in the city and all we did there was see the temple and do a session. Was the cost of the flight and bus worth it though? Most definitely! It was very enjoyable and worth it in every way. We got to see a little of the city and some of the surrounding areas, places that we never would have seen otherwise. The temple is what makes it all worth it for us and we hope we can make others have the same mindset as they travel, or even as they go to the temple wherever they live.