Ground was broken for the Belém Brazil Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis of the Brazil Area presided at the traditional ceremony on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Also participating were community leaders.
Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, president of the Brazil Area for the Church, gathers with local Church and community leaders to signal the beginning of construction for the Belém Brazil Temple on Saturday, August 17, 2019.
Before pronouncing the dedicatory prayer on the temple site, Elder Aidukaitis said, “The building being constructed here is in honor of the Father and [His Son], Jesus Christ.”
During the prayer he said, “May the members of the Church be inspired to find solutions to the problems and challenges that arise. May the neighbors feel the spirit of the work and may [they] be happy as they pass by and may the temple contribute to the beautification of this beautiful city.”
Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis of the Seventy presides at the Belém Brazil Temple on Saturday, August 17, 2019. The temple rendering is displayed at the right. |
The other Brazilian temples include the Campinas Brazil Temple, Curitiba Brazil Temple, Fortaleza Brazil Temple, Manaus Brazil Temple, Porto Alegre Brazil Temple, Recife Brazil Temple, and São Paulo Brazil Temple. The Fortaleza Temple became the Church’s newest operating temple on June 2, 2019. Currently under construction is the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, and announced are the Brasília and Salvador temples. Once those are completed and dedicated, Brazil will have 11 temples.
Upon completion of the temple, open house dates will be announced and public tours conducted. A date for dedication will also be announced.
There are currently 209 temples throughout the world either in operation, under construction, being renovated or announced.
Rendering of the Belém Brazil Temple.
Members of the Church consider temples to be the “house of the Lord,” the most sacred places on earth. Unlike meetinghouses, where Sabbath worship and weekly activities take place, temples are open throughout the week and closed on Sundays.
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