Trujillo Peru Temple Wiki

Details

The Trujillo Peru Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple serves more than 88,000 members of the Church in and around Trujillo. Saints from all over the country have been attending the Lima, Peru Mormon temple, and those from the Trujillo area have been traveling by bus for 9-10 hours in order to do so. Often they would have to patiently wait for hours before there was room in the temple for them.^[1]“New temple announced in Trujillo, second in Peru”, Church News, December 13, 2008, retrieved 2012-11-05^[2]Swensen, Jason (January 3, 2009), “Peru celebrates news of future temple”, Church News, retrieved 2012-11-05

History

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in Trujillo when missionaries arrived in 1960, and the first members in Trujillo were baptized in 1961. The Church dedicated Trujillo’s first meetinghouse in 1963 which was dedicated by Church president Spencer W. Kimball

and the first stake, or large group of congregations similar to a diocese, was organized in 1978 by Thomas S. Monson.^[3]Swensen, Jason (June 25, 2015), “Temple dedication highlights unforgettable Father’s Day in Peru“, Church News, retrieved July 5, 2015 The Trujillo Peru Temple’s construction is evidence of the significant growth of the Church in the area and in Peru. The temple serves approximately 88,000 Church members in its district.

Announcement

The Church announced the construction of the Trujillo Peru Temple in a special meeting for local Church leaders on December 13, 2008.

In the announcement, the First Presidency of the Church referred to the devoted service of the Church members in Peru: “We are confident that this will be a blessing to the many faithful Saints in this and surrounding areas who have had to travel long distances to enjoy the blessings of the temple. We commend the Saints for their devotion and faithfulness, and are thankful for the blessings that will come to them through the construction of this new temple.”^[4] “New Temple Announced in Trujillo, Second in Peru,” Church News, Dec. 13, 2008, .

The coastal city of Trujillo is approximately 340 miles north of Lima, and Church members traveled several hours by bus from Trujillo to attend the Lima Peru Temple before the Trujillo Peru Temple’s dedication. Many members live in more distant areas and journey for days so they may participate in temple worship. News of Peru’s second temple spread quickly in December 2008 and brought immeasurable joy for the holidays to Church members living in the future temple’s district. Local Church leader Ismael Diaz said, “There have been many, many tears. This is wonderful news. Everyone in Trujillo is thrilled.”^[5] Jason Swensen, “Peru Celebrates News of Future Temple,” Church News, Jan. 3, 2009.

Groundbreaking

Construction of the temple began following a groundbreaking ceremony held on September 14, 2011. Many local members and Church leaders attended the ceremony, as well as Trujillo’s mayor, Mr. Cesar Acuna, and the mayor of the district of Huanchaco, Mr. Fernando Bazan. Rafael E. Pino, of the Seventy, presided over thrgroundbreaking ceremony.^[6]”Church Breaks Ground for Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Trujillo Peru Temples“. Newsroom (Press release). LDS Church. September 17, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2012. with an official rendering of the completed building also released.^[7]Swensen, Jason; Nery, Guillermo Estrugo (September 30, 2011), “Trujillo Peru Temple: A holy place of learning“, Church News, retrieved November 5, 2012

Open House

An open house for the Trujillo Peru Temple was held from May 8 to May 30, 2015. Almost 100,000 visitors of all faiths, including many civic and educational leaders, toured the temple interior and enjoyed the beautiful temple grounds. Attendants were present to assist visitors and answer any questions they had regarding the temple and its importance to Latter-day Saints.^[8]“Summer 2015 Opening for New Temples”, Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-01-16

Cultural Celebration

On June 20, 2015, the day before the temple’s dedication, a cultural event was held in the Coliseo Gran Chimu sports arena to celebrate Peru’s rich culture and the upcoming temple dedication.^[9]Swensen, Jason (June 25, 2015), “Temple dedication highlights unforgettable Father’s Day in Peru“, Church News, retrieved July 5, 2015^[10]“Youth Pay Tribute to Rich Culture at Trujillo Peru Temple Celebration”, Church News, June 20, 2015, retrieved 2015-07-05

Dedication

On June 21, 2015, the Trujillo Peru Temple was dedicated in three sessions by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency. The temple dedication services were broadcast at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to meetinghouses in Peru. The regular three-hour block of meetings were cancelled so that Latter-day Saints could have the opportunity to participate in the dedicatory sessions.

President Uchtdorf was accompanied by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Michael John U. Teh of the Seventy, and a representative of the Church Temple Department. Two choirs of Latter-day Saints from the temple district provided music for the cornerstone ceremony and inside the temple for the dedication services.^[11]“Church Dedicates Trujillo Peru Temple: The second temple in Peru and 147th in the world”, Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-06-21

During the cornerstone ceremony, President Uchtdorf remarked: We express our gratitude to the community, to the city, to the country, for making possible that this beautiful edifice, is being built on this historic location. And let this cornerstone, become a cornerstone in your lives, to build a foundation, of values, built on the gospel of Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this work, and of our lives.

In the dedicatory prayer, he said, “Increase our love for Thee and Thy Son in our hearts and in our lives. May this love be expressed in our compassion one for another, by our keeping Thy commandments and honoring the covenants made in Thy holy temple.”^[12] Trujillo Peru Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 29, 2015, .

The Trujillo Peru Temple is the second temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru. The Lima Peru Temple, dedicated in 1986, was the first. A Third Temple for Peru was dedicate in Arequipa Peru on 15 December 2019. A fourth temple for Peru was announced April 3, 2016 for Lima Peru Los Olivos.

Details

Location

The temple is just off the highway to Huanchaco, near the beautiful Parque Eterno cemetery.^[13]”Ground broken in Peru“, Church News, September 17, 2011, retrieved November 5, 2012

Visitors are welcome to tour the temple’s manicured grounds and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Exterior

The exterior is finished in “Branco Ceara” Brazilian granite. The temple’s exterior includes a single domed tower with a statue of the angel Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, fixed atop the spire. Arched and rectangular windows adorns the tower beneath the statue.

Interior

The building has a classic inspired colonial Spanish architecture accented with a white, green and amber finish. TThe interior finish has a vine motif throughout including the wood, stained glass and much of the granite. The wood of the doors and trim are made of African makore. Most floors and stone ornamentation are made out of Peruvian limestone.^[14]”Trujillo Peru Temple: ‘We dedicate it unto Thee as Thy hallowed dwelling place‘”, Church News, June 27, 2015, retrieved July 5, 2015