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In all the world, there is only one temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a jungle. The Panama City Temple is unique in other ways, as well. For example, it overlooks a most famous international waterway.
The Panama Canal is 50 miles long, and every ship passing through it travels through three sets of locks. Many times a day, 26 million gallons of water is moved within the locks in just eight minutes. One voyage through the canal was a homecoming for many onboard. Latter-day Saints had traveled from throughout the United States. At one time they were the first church members in Panama, pioneers, and the Panama Canal was a part of their lives.
Judy Hickman Clark, of Centerville, Ohio, said, "I'm called a Zonian because I was born in the canal zone."
On returning to the canal she said, "It is glorious, like full circle to see a temple coming to these people in Panama, which is a great blessing to all of us and to them in particular."
Susan McDonald Chestnut, now from American Fork, is another Zonian, born there in 1955. Her parents were among the American pioneers. She said, "This is my homeland. This is where I was born, and I'm so proud of it. I love this part of the world, and I'm excited to be here, and I will be back."
And out of the trees in the rainforest an LDS temple now rises above the canal, with an Angel Moroni standing on the spire. It's there for all to see. Every ship from every nation will pass the new landmark, the Panama City Temple.
"Beacon Above the Seas: the Panama City Temple" airs Sunday at noon, on KSL 5.
Also, a new art exhibit is on display in downtown Salt Lake this weekend. Photographer Mark Mabry has created 28 images of Jesus Christ taken from The New Testament scriptures. He hopes people will see his work and imagine they are actually there.
"Reflections of Christ" photographer Mark Mabry, said, "It was a life-changing experience to have to immerse myself and picture how Christ would have moved and acted. Luckily we had a lot of good actors, all volunteer."
A book and DVD will be available at Deseret Book later this month.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
