A rendering of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The location of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple site.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple site in relation to the state of Minas Gerais.Screenshot from Google Maps
Groundbreaking of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
The groundbreaking of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple was presided over Elder Juan A. Uceda, second counselor in the Church’s Brazil Area presidency, on June 17, 2023. Around 500 guests attended, including Duílio de Castro, the mayor of Sete Lagoas; Natalie Oliffson, the representative of the secretary of culture of Belo Horizonte; and Álvaro Azevedo, the secretary of social service from Nova Lima.
In his dedicatory prayer on the site, Elder Uceda said, “I ask Thee, dear Father, that this place and all who live within the boundaries of the temple district enjoy special protection. And may the light of the gospel shine throughout this region. We pray that no influence will stop or delay the building of the temple and that in due time it will be dedicated as the house of the Lord. May Thy spiritual power be strongly felt in this region.”
The temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held June 17, 2023, with Elder Juan A. Uceda, second counselor in the Brazil Area presidency, presiding. On-site attendance was by invitation only, with approximately 500 people attending.
The Belo Horizonte temple was announced April 4, 2021, by President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking and site dedication for this house of the Lord were held on June 17, 2023, and presided over by Elder Juan A. Uceda, second counselor in the Church’s Brazil Area presidency.
Architecture and Design of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 26,884 square feet. According to an exterior rendering released Sept. 23, 2021, the temple will have four pairs of rectangular windows on the front facade and two doors under an arch for the main entrance.
Atop the temple will be a wide tower with a pyramid roof and three windows on each side. The temple is planned to be built on an 11.9-acre site, with a long courtyard in front of the entrance and palm trees and flower gardens filling the grounds.
Groundbreaking Photos of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
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Elder Juan A. Uceda, General Authority Seventy, is joined by his wife, Maria, and other invited guests in ceremonially turning the dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan A. Uceda, General Authority Seventy, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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The shovels used for the ceremonial turning of the dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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A volunteer choir composed of Latter-day Saints from local congregations performs at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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A local member speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan A. Uceda, General Authority Seventy, greets invited guests in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan A. Uceda, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Maria, next to an artist’s rendering of the completed Belo Horizonte Temple on display at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Invited guests bow their heads in prayer at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Elder Juan A. Uceda, General Authority Seventy, is joined by his wife, Maria, and other invited guests in ceremonially turning the dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This was the 13th Latter-day Saint temple announced for Brazil. It will also be the first temple in the state of Minas Gerais.
The closest temple to Belo Horizonte had previously been the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, a travel distance of around 280 miles (around 450 kilometers).
Fact #4
Ground was broken for the Belo Horizonte temple the same day as the Montpelier Idaho Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony.
The closest temple to Belo Horizonte had previously been the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, a travel distance of around 280 miles (around 450 kilometers).
Fact #4
Ground was broken for the Belo Horizonte temple the same day as the Montpelier Idaho Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony.
