Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Wiki

Description

Brazil has a population of nearly 200 million people, including more than 1.4 million members of the Church, with 277 stakes, more than 2,000 congregations (1,774 wards and 402 branches), 36 missions, and 40 districts.^[1]”Statistics and Church Facts.” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/brazil. Accessed 27 June 2023. Rio de Janeiro, the location of the 2016 Summer Olympics, is the second-largest city in Brazil and home to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue

History

Announcement

On Saturday, April 6, 2013, President Thomas S. Monson announced plans to construct the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple on the opening day of the April 2013 General Conference. A large concentration of Church members lived in the Rio de Janeiro region, but they traveled some 310 miles (500 km) to participate in temple work at the Campinas Brazil Temple.

The temple was announced concurrently with the Cedar City Utah Temple

Government Approval

Plans for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple were submitted to the local government in late 2015, and various approvals were subsequently obtained. In November 2016, an environmental license was issued, which was required before construction could begin.

Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arequipa Peru Temple on March 4, 2017. Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, president of the Brazil Area, presided at the services. To prepare the site for groundbreaking, youth service projects were held to clear the land. “Today is a historic day for the Church in this city and in Brazil,” said Elder Costa. “Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful city, a city that welcomes all with open arms like the Christ Statue.”^[2]Jason Swensen, “Ground broken for future temples in South America,” Church News, 9 Mar. 2017.

Open House and Dedication Announcement

On February 12, 2020, the LDS Church announced that a public open house was scheduled to be held from April 17 through May 2, 2020 with a dedication on May 17, 2020.^[3]Sydney Walker, Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple open house, dedication dates announced , Church News , 12 February 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

COVID DELAY

Just over a month later, as a result of other adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic , those arrangements were postponed until large public gatherings were again permitted by the Brazilian government.^[4]Sydney Walker, Postponed: Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple open house and dedication , Church News , 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

RESCHEDULED

On November 5, 2021, the church announced that a public open house would be held from March 26 through April 16, 2022.^[5]Scott Taylor, First Presidency announces Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple open house, dedication dates — see interior, exterior images of new temple , Church News , 5 November 2021.

Open House

In response to government guidelines that seek to limit the spread of COVID-19, the public open house and dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple were postponed until large public gatherings were deemed safe. Originally, the open house was to be held Friday, 17 April through Saturday, 2 May 2020. Nearly 21 months after releasing a schedule for the open house and dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, the First Presidency announced a new open house and temple dedication schedule.

Media day was held Monday, 21 March 2022; invited guests toured from Tuesday, 22 March 2022, through Friday, 25 March 2022. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, a General Authority Seventy, hosted the tours for invited guests.

Elder Soares is a native of Brazil. As a young man, he served a two-year mission for the Church in Rio de Janeiro. He commented, “Rio de Janeiro has a special place in my heart because my wife and I served as missionaries there when we were young. What a beautiful thing it is to see the beloved place where we labored as young people now be ready to have a dedicated temple.”

He further commented, “I feel honored, happy and humbled by the opportunity to participate in the open house for the Rio de Janeiro temple. This city is an icon in Brazil and has drawn visitors from all over the world. It is significant to me that the Christ the Redeemer statue that stands over Rio de Janeiro is, in most people’s minds, one of the most prominent emblems of Christianity in the world. What a beautiful new emblem of Christianity the people of Rio de Janeiro will soon have!”

Elder Soares also said, “I hope that those who come through the open house will feel the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for them and realize they can experience that same love as a constant in their life. I hope they can feel in their heart how precious life is and that as they learn a little bit about the plan of salvation, they catch a glimpse of the eternal happiness the plan of salvation offers us.”

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella added, “All temples are sacred and invite us to come to Christ and bind us to Him through ordinances and covenants.” “What makes the open house of the Rio de Janeiro Temple so particular is that Rio is an international city, and it consequently attracts people from all the world and from different states in Brazil as well. This makes it possible for many people who would otherwise not be aware of and not have the chance, to visit the temple.”

A public open house was held Saturday, 26 March 2022, through Saturday, 16 April 2022, except 27 March, 2-3 April, and 10 April 10.

Invited guests and the general public were invited to tour the interior of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple during a five-week open house held from Saturday, March 26, through Saturday, April 30, 2022. A media open house was held on Monday, March 21, followed by invited guest tours from Tuesday through Friday, March 22–25.

Youth Devotional

On the eve prior to the dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with the youth of the temple district to speak about the temple and other “fires of faith” that can help young people find their way on the path of life including scriptures, family, friends, leaders, the Children and Youth program, the For the Strength of Youth booklet, FSY conferences, priesthood quorums and classes, and the temple. He said, “Doing what you’re doing will prepare you for whatever the Lord has in store for you.”^[6]Jon Ryan Jensen, “On the eve of the temple dedication in Rio de Janeiro, Elder Stevenson answers questions about the gospel path,” Church News, 8 May 2022.

Dedication

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, 8 May 2022.

He said, “Brazil now has eight temples and eight more on the way — either under construction or in the planning phase. Why? It’s the people here. Members congregate together, and the Lord blesses those members with a temple.”

He recalled the words of President Russell M. Nelson from four years ago when he said in general conference, “After we receive our own temple ordinances and make sacred covenants with God, each one of us needs the ongoing spiritual strengthening and tutoring that is possible only in the house of the Lord. And our ancestors need us to serve as proxy for them.”

As is customary during the first dedicatory session of a temple, the cornerstone of the temple was symbolically sealed by invited Church leaders, the new temple presidency and Primary children. Elder Stevenson said, “It is upon His foundation we are built. We can think of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our hearts.”

Elder Stevenson was joined by his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson; Elder Carlos A. Godoy of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Mônica Godoy; Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, General Authority Seventy; and Elder Joni L. Koch of the Brazil Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Michele Koch.

Elder Stevenson further commented that the temple is the Church’s witness that Jesus Christ is indeed the Redeemer of the world. . . . temples are a symbol of Zion and the protection from the storm the Lord promises to those who build up the stakes of the Church.

^[7]”Apostle Dedicates the Rio De Janeiro House of the Lord,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 8 May 2022.

Dedication Order

The Rio de Janeiro Brazil is the eighth dedicated temple in Brazil.

Presidents and Matrons

Details

Location

The Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple and an adjoining meetinghouse are constructed on the property next to a nature reserve on Avenida das Américas in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood. Barra is a beautiful development on the Atlantic Ocean that hosted most of the venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Rio de Janeiro Temple is located at Avenida das Américas, #8547, in Barra da Tijuca.

Exterior

The Rio de Janeiro Temple is part of a larger Church complex that includes a full-size meetinghouse and shared parking. The buildings were designed to complement one another, with the temple being the premier structure. The temple was also designed to fit well with the surrounding architecture in Barra da Tijuca, with an Art Deco influence. Rio de Janeiro is considered the Art Deco Capital of South America.

It is fitting that the exterior of this temple’s concrete structure is covered with “Branco Ceará” granite quarried in northeastern Brazil. This is Brazil’s whitest and most uniform granite, and the same stone has also been used on several other temples, including the Recife, Campinas and Fortaleza Brazil temples and the Trujillo Peru temple.

The strong, simple, and symmetrical design of the exterior focuses on the entablature and window surroundings composed of carved stone representing the Art Deco arches motif. The beautiful single spire rises over 140 feet high and is topped by the gilded statue of the ancient prophet Moroni.

The site and landscape design derived from local horticulture and plants native to the region. In addition to shrubs, flowering perennials, vines and ground covers, there are 129 palms, 33 flowering trees, and 18 shade trees of numerous varieties and sizes. Architects selected trees and plants that would thrive in the local climate while meeting standards for maintenance and appearance. Interior walkways surrounding the temple and connecting to the adjacent chapel are built with stone pavers of Brazilian granite.

The fountain is constructed of Branco Ceará stone and white bronze nozzles. The fountain spray pattern recalls the fountain pattern found in the carved stone and the art glass patterns.

Interior

Design elements are finished with simple clean lines that evoke and reinforce a planar feel. The most notable among the contemporary design elements of the building are the Art Deco chandeliers and pendants, stylized railings in the baptistry and main stairwell, and expertly crafted millwork in carved column capitals and details around doors and windows. Decorative art painting is done in silver with cooler tone accents.

The window panels throughout the temple were designed jointly with GSBS Architects and Holdman Studios. The proximity of Rio de Janeiro to the ocean influenced the colors selected for the art glass, with shades of blue, aqua, and purple offset with soft gold. The patterns consist of geometric Art Deco Fountain motifs.

Brazil is known for its stone and the design team took great care to select finishes quarried in or available through Brazilian suppliers. The carpets come from Bentley Mills in California. The design in the blue carpet was influenced by the ocean, and carpet carvings in the celestial and sealing rooms was inspired by the fountain pattern found in the art glass windows.

Native Brazilian Jequitibá hardwoods are used throughout the temple. The designs are simple to reflect the clean modern style of the building and allow the natural beauty of the wood to shine. The recommend desk has metal details that were influenced by the Historic Bank of São Paulo building. The altars in the temple continue the Fountain motif from the windows and are painted wood with metal inlay.

The temple’s walls and corridors are adorned with familiar Latter-day Saint artwork along with original pieces with scriptural themes and native landscape scenes from Brazil.^[8]”Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Opens to the Public,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 21 Mar. 2022.