Groundbreaking of the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple
The groundbreaking of the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple was presided over by Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, a General Authority Seventy who was president of the Church’s South America Northwest Area, on June 8, 2024. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Carmen Zeballos, and about 500 other attendees, including Santa Cruz Mayor Jhonny Fernández, city councilor Juan Carlos Medrano and other civil, police and religious leaders from the city and surrounding areas.
In his remarks, Elder Zeballos called the temple an atmosphere of caring, respect and love for one another.
“We ask that Thy hand be present in all processes related to planning, permitting and construction so that the completion of the temple is achieved according to Thy will and Thy time. ... We also understand it is necessary for each of us to reinforce our dedication and devotion to Thee and to Thy Son, Jesus Christ, especially through our fidelity and obedience to the covenants we have made with Thee,” Elder Zeballos said in his dedicatory prayer on the site.
Timeline of the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple
The Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple was announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson on Oct. 4, 2020. Almost four years later, ground was broken for the temple on June 8, 2024, with Elder Jorge F. Zeballos presiding.
Architecture and Design of the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple
According to site plans released by the Church on Nov. 28, 2022, the Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 29,000 square feet. The edifice will be constructed in the Santa Cruz de la Sierra Metropolitan Region, the most populous city in Bolivia.
Architectural renderings of the house of the Lord show an off-white exterior surrounded by rectangular windows and an arched entryway. A multilevel tower with arched and rectangular windows stands above the center of the building. White, orange and yellow flower gardens adorn the grounds.