Description

History

The first missionaries arrived in Brazil in the 1920s. Most of the early converts in Brazil were German immigrants coming to Brazil after World War I. In 1931, the 80 members of the small branch near São Paulo built the first LDS meetinghouse in Brazil. During World War II missionaries were removed from Brazil, but when missionaries returned after the war Brazilian natives began joining the church by the hundreds. Church membership in Brazil continues to grow quickly. The Campinas Temple serves more than 117,000 members from 36 stakes in the area. Brazil is home to more Latter-day Saints than any other country in the world, except the United States and Mexico.

Because of the dedicated Brazilian members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received recognition for the outstanding humanitarian work it has done in Brazil. In November 2002 the Church’s Helping Hands organization, which is made up of member volunteers, was honored as being among the most significant volunteer-based institutions in the country.

Announcement

Plans to build the Campinas Brazil Temple were announced on April 3, 1997. More than 30 temples were announced on this day, and Church leadership requested that members send in donations to help specifically with the temple work. The Mormon members from the Campinas area responded quickly, sending in donation after donation.

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on May 1, 1998. It was presided over by James E. Faust a member of the First Presidency, who had served as a missionary in Brazil in the 1940s. Hundreds of people came for the groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication.

As President Faust addressed the 3,000 people in attendance, he said, “None of us will ever forget how we feel today because of the Spirit of the Lord that is present.”^[1]James E. Faust, quoted in “President Faust Honored, Breaks Ground for Two Brazil Temples,” Ensign, Aug. 1998, .

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy and president of the Brazil Area remarked, “It was heartwarming to see about 50 buses that had been used to transport the people, and to see the people assembled on the hill; it was a multitude of faithful saints. The whole experience felt Pentecostal.” Referring to a letter from an eight-year-old boy, who had worked hard to earn a $100 donation to help with the construction of the thirty new smaller temples announced in April conference, President James E. Faust observed that he and a man who sent in one million dollars that same day “[would both] be equally blessed for their faithfulness, regardless of the size of their donation”. ^[2]Church News, 9 May 1998

Members devoted much time and energy to the temple’s development, and Campinas mayors Antonio da Costa Santos and Izalene Tiene admired the temple during its construction.

Open House

The temple was open to the public April 20, 2002 through May 11, 2002. About 75,000 people visited the temple, including Mayor Tiene. Near the end of the temple’s construction, Campinas had seen an increase in civil unrest and violence. Mayor Tiene commented on the peace she felt at the temple site, saying, “The city was in need at this time of precisely this kind of spiritual refuge.”^[3]Izalene Tiene, quoted in Fernando Assis, “Beacon of Light in Campinas,” Church News, May 25, 2002, .

Dedication

President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Campinas Brazil Temple on May 17, 2002. Four sessions were held which allowed more than 8,500 to attend the dedication. Before the dedication, Hinckley met with a large group outside and the final cornerstone was placed in the temple. Former Brazilian Church leaders participated in the cornerstone ceremony, in which sealing the cornerstone in place symbolically finishes the temple’s construction.

In his beautiful dedicatory prayer President Hinckley said, “Bless Thy Saints in this great nation of Brazil. As they walk in obedience before Thee, open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them. May faith grow in the hearts of Thy people. May their testimonies never waver. May they ever look to Thee with love and confidence.”^[4]Campinas Brazil Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, May 25, 2002,.

All attending the dedication could feel the Spirit of God and the enthusiasm of the members for this beautiful temple. “It is brilliant,” noted Nei Tobias Garcia Jr., the son of Campinas’s first stake president, the leader over a group of congregations of members. “Its light in the dark night serves as a teaching that proclaims the truth.”^[5]Nei Tobias Garcia Jr., quoted in Fernando Assis, “Beacon of Light in Campinas,” Church News, May 25, 2002, .

Dedication Order

The Campinas Brazil Temple was the fourth temple built in Brazil and the second built in the state of São Paulo, following the São Paulo Brazil Temple (1978) and the
is the 111th operating temple built in the world.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Gilson R. Prieto	2019–2019
Alceu Arndt	2016–2019
Silvio Geschwandtner	2013–2016
George A. Oakes	2010–2013
Izaias P. Nogueira	2007–2010
Adhemar Damiani	2005–2007
Sadayosi Ichi	2002–2005

Details

Location

The temple site has 6.18 acres (25,000 m²). On its hillside location, the beautiful Campinas Brazil Temple is visible from many parts of the city of Campinas, population two million. The site is near three major highways making it readily accessible to automobiles and buses.

Stretching 6.18 acres, the grounds are adorned with crisp lawns, tropical palm trees and vividly colored flowers. Near the front of the temple there is a fountain, where Mayor Tiene, so impressed by her first visit, asked to be allowed to sit for moments of reflection and peace away from her office.

Exterior

A light gray Asa Branca granite imported from Ceara, an eastern coastal Brazilian state, finishes the exterior and shines in the sunlight. The granite dresses rising archways one each of the four sides of the temple, including the entryway.

Beautifully colored glass with intricate diamond designs covers the majestic front window and other windows throughout the temple.

Spire

The most prominent feature of the edifice is the single spire topped with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni. Moroni, who was a prophet described in the Book of Mormon, is blowing a trumpet, signifying the Second Coming of the Savior and the spreading of the restored gospel throughout the world.

Symbolism

Inscription

Above the entryway of the temple an engraving in the stone says, “Santidade ao Senhor, a Casa do Senhor,” which means “Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.”

SANTIDADE AO SENHOR
A CASA DO SENHOR

Interior

The temple has a total area of 48,100 square feet (4,470 m²), which includes four ordinance rooms and three sealing rooms.