1978 Dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple
On March 1, 1975, President Spencer W. Kimball — 12th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — spoke to Church members in São Paulo, Brazil, and announced that a temple would soon be built in their city. At the time of the announcement, few Brazilian Saints had been able to attend the temple, as the closest temple was located 4,700 miles away, in Washington, D.C.
Church members in Brazil and throughout South America contributed to the temple efforts, selling their gold and jewelry to donate money to the temple construction and giving their time to build the house of the Lord. Once it was constructed, one Brazilian member named Luiz Pires de Godoy distributed more than 1,000 tickets to the open house with the help of his wife.
After the open house, the São Paulo Brazil Temple was dedicated by President Kimball throughout 10 sessions during four days, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, 1978.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Today we dedicate this holy temple unto Thee, with all that pertains unto it, that it may be a house of prayer, a house of praise and of worship; that Thy glory may rest upon it; that Thy holy presence may be continually in it; that it may be the abode of Thy Beloved Son, our Savior; that angels who stand before Thy face may be the hallowed messengers who shall visit it.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the São Paulo Brazil Temple here.
2004 Rededication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple
After a year and a half of renovations, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the São Paulo Brazil Temple on Feb. 22, 2004. He was joined by President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency. Church members from all over Brazil and surrounding South American countries attended the dedication, some of whom came by boats along the Amazon River to be at the rededication of the house of the Lord.
Later, a visitors’ center — which included interactive exhibits and a Christus statue — was dedicated on Jan. 21, 2019. This was the first visitors’ center built in South America.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Father, we are so deeply grateful for this, Thy temple. We thank Thee for the priesthood under which it will operate. We thank Thee for the dedicated servants who will labor here. We are grateful for the many faithful Saints who will come to this house as patrons. Bless each one, we humbly pray.”
Read the rededication prayer of the São Paulo Brazil Temple here.
Timeline of the São Paulo Brazil Temple
Church President Spencer W. Kimball announced a temple for São Paulo on March 1, 1975, to a large group of Church members in São Paulo. Just over a year later, the groundbreaking ceremony for the São Paulo Brazil Temple was presided over by Elder James E. Faust, assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Kimball dedicated the São Paulo temple in 10 sessions from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 1978. The temple was then closed for renovations in August 2002 until construction was completed, after which the public was invited to tour the finished building from Jan. 17 through Feb. 14, 2004.
It was then rededicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on Feb. 22, 2004. A visitors’ center was later added to the temple grounds, with its dedication taking place on Jan. 21, 2019.
Architecture and Design of the São Paulo Brazil Temple
The São Paulo Brazil Temple originally had an area of 51,279 square feet, but after renovations, it was enlarged to occupy an area of 55,000 square feet. The temple sits on 1.85 acres of land, and the exterior is made up from reinforced concrete faced with quartz and marble aggregates. The blocks of concrete were made by members of the Church in São Paulo from a mixture of small marble chips and white cement, followed by a silicone coating.
The interior of the temple contains a baptistry, two ordinance rooms and four sealing rooms. Furniture that was created in the factory of Walter Spat, first president of the first stake in Brazil, when the temple was originally constructed was refurbished during the renovation and remains in excellent condition because of the high quality of the original work.
São Paulo Brazil Temple Visitors’ Center Photos
