Fortaleza Brazil Temple

The Fortaleza Brazil Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. With its white granite exterior and single domed tower, the temple sits on top of a sloping site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and has floral motifs inspired by native Brazilian orchids. The temple is the church's first in Ceará and the seventh in Brazil. Announced on October 3, 2009, by church president Thomas S. Monson during general conference, the temple was designed with a neoclassical influence and constructed using local Branco Ceará granite. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 15, 2011, presided over by David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Following construction, a public open house drew approximately 60,000 visitors in spring 2019. The temple was dedicated by apostle Ulisses Soares on June 2, 2019, in three sessions. The building includes two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.

History

The intent to construct the Fortaleza Brazil Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson on October 3, 2009, during general conference, concurrently with the Brigham City Utah, Concepción Chile, Fort Lauderdale Florida, and Sapporo Japan temples. It became the church's seventh temple in Brazil and the 164th worldwide.

On November 15, 2011, the church held a groundbreaking ceremony on an 10-acre site located at Avenida Santos Dumont in the Dunas neighborhood, across from FANOR University in Fortaleza. The ceremony was presided over by David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with local members and civic leaders in attendance.

The initial design featured a two-towered structure, but in early 2015, local authorities rejected the twin-tower plan for not complying with city code, prompting a redesign to a single-domed tower. Although the groundbreaking occurred in 2011, the site remained undeveloped for several years as the revised architectural plans were reviewed and approved. In early 2015, Fortaleza’s municipal government granted approval for the redesigned temple complex, which included a meetinghouse and a lodging facility, and full construction began shortly afterward.

On May 16, 2014, Fortaleza's mayor, Roberto Cláudio, visited the temple site with church officials. He expressed support for the project and requested a tour during construction and the open house.

After construction was completed, the church announced a public open house that was held from April 27 to May 18, 2019, excluding Sundays. During the open house, approximately 60,000 people toured the temple.

On June 1, 2019, the evening before the dedication, two devotionals for youth and missionaries were held in the adjacent meetinghouse. Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged youth to remain worthy to enter the temple and emphasized its role as a spiritual fortress.

The Fortaleza Brazil Temple was dedicated on June 2, 2019, by Soares. The dual-language dedication, the first in church history to include a temple dedicatory prayer offered entirely in Portuguese, marked a milestone for the church in Brazil. It was also the first time in church history that the entire dedication was held in a language other than English.

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Fortaleza Brazil Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design and architecture

The temple is on an 10-acre plot in Fortaleza’s Dunas neighborhood, near the Atlantic Ocean. The site includes not only the temple but also an arrival center, meetinghouse, missionary housing, and a maintenance building.

The temple’s exterior has locally quarried Branco Ceará granite, and a single domed tower rising over 100 feet, with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni on its top. This single-spire design replaced the twin-tower plan after the local government denied that original plan.

The interior of the temple includes an ordnance room, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry. Decorative features include custom glasswork, carpets, and woodwork incorporating Brazilian floral motifs such as orchids and vine patterns.

Temple presidents and admittance

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.

Serving from 2019 to 2021, Paulo R. Grahl, was the first president, with Zuleika M. Grahl serving as matron. As of 2024, Francisco J. da Silva is the president, with Maria E. da Silva serving as matron.

Admittance

From April 27 to May 18, 2019 (excluding Sundays), the church held a public open house for the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, which was dedicated on June 2, 2019, by Ulisses Soares in three sessions, Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.

See also

* Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
* Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil

References

External links

*
Fortaleza Brazil Temple Official site
(Official in English)
Templo de Fortaleza Brasil Official site
(Official in Portuguese)
Fortaleza Brazil Temple
at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

21st-century Latter Day Saint temples
Buildings and structures in Ceará
Buildings and structures in Fortaleza
Temples (LDS Church) completed in 2019
Temples (LDS Church) in Brazil
2019 establishments in Brazil

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