Description

The Córdoba Argentina Temple is  in the Villa Belgrano neighborhood of Córdoba, Argentina. Prior to the construction of this new temple,members in the northern areas of Argentina have had to travel some 400 miles to reach the one existing Argentina temple in Buenos Aires.

History

The seeds of the Church were first planted in Argentina when European immigrants came to the country in the early 1920s. They began sharing the gospel with their neighbors and then requested that missionaries be sent to Argentina to preach the word of God. In 1925, that request was fulfilled when Apostles Melvin J. Ballard and Rulon S. Wells came to Argentina and Elder Ballard dedicated South America as a place where missionaries could come and share the gospel. He shortly thereafter professed, “The work of the Lord will grow slowly for a time here just as an oak grows slowly from an acorn. … [But] the South American Mission will be a power in the Church.”^[1] Judy C. Olsen, “Argentina’s Bright and Joyous Day,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 32–33. Just six days after their arrival, the first convert baptisms were performed in the Río de la Plata.^[2]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “A Second Temple in Argentina is Announced,” 4 Oct. 2008.

Since that time, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expanded throughout Argentina, and that growth has resulted in a second temple.

Announcement

The temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson on 4 October 2008, during the church’s 178th Semiannual General Conference. ^[3]Monson, Thomas M, “Welcome to Conference,” LDS.org, 4 October 2008. accessed 16 October 20016 It was announced in conjuntion with Rome Italy, Kansas City Missouri, Calgary Alberta, and Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temples.^[4]Dougherty, James M (October 5, 2008), “Rome LDS temple, four others announced“, Deseret News, retrieved 2012-10-29 Members throughout northern Argentina received the announcement with great joy as long-distance travel is currently required to attend the temple in Buenos Aires. Faithful Saints in Córdoba make a 430-mile trip, while members from northern communities like Salta and Jujuy travel over 900 miles.

A later press release indicated that the temple would be built adjacent to the Argentina Córdoba Mission headquarters at the site of one of the first Chapels in Cordoba.^[5]”New Temple Site Locations Announced“, Mormon Newsroom, October 7, 2008, retrieved 2012-10-29^[6]”Church Dedicates Córdoba Argentina Temple: The second temple in Argentina and 145th in the World“, Newsroom, LDS Church, 17 May 2015. accessed 16 October 2016

In February 2010, the Church finalized acquisition of property adjacent to the Villa Belgrano meetinghouse for construction of the Córdoba Argentina Temple. The property was legally joined to the meetinghouse property as a single parcel before temple plans were presented to City Hall.^[7]Daniel Moreno, “Temple Web site,” Email to Rick Satterfield, 25 Feb. 2010. The property is a former sports complex that was owned by a local foundation. One foundation member was reluctant to part with the entire complex, leading to lengthy negotiations.

Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking was October 30, 2010, presided over by Neil L. Andersen, who was accompanied by Walter F. Gonzalez, Mervyn B. Arnold, and Marcos A. Aidukaitis.^[8]Swensen, Jason, “Ground is broken for Cordoba Argentina Temple“, Church News, 2 November 2010. accessed 16 October 2016

The temple site formerly housed one of the earliest Latter-day Saint chapels in Argentina. Regarding this, Elder Andersen stated: “The history of the Church here in Córdoba has, to a large extent, been built beginning at this site. How wonderful that its final purpose will be to embrace the house of the Lord, a temple to our God prominently in place for the generations to follow.”^[9] “New Temple Underway in Cordoba, Argentina,” Mormon Newsroom, Nov. 2, 2010, .

Elder Arnold, president of the South America South Area, said, “It was a day to express our thanks for the many pioneers who had paved the way and have been true and faithful to their temple covenants over these many years and have greatly sacrificed their time and talents to build the kingdom of God in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.”^[10]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “New Temple Underway in Cordoba, Argentina,” 2 Nov. 2010.

Open House

A public open house was held from Friday, 17 April 2015, through Saturday, 2 May 2015, excluding Sundays (a total of 14 days.) An Estimated 49,000 attended the open house, an average of 3,500 per day.^[11]”Church Dedicates Córdoba Argentina Temple: The second temple in Argentina and 145th in the World“, Newsroom, LDS Church, 17 May 2015. accessed 16 October 2016

Cultural Celebration

The temple dedication was preceded by a cultural celebration Saturday evening in the Orfeo Superdome in Córdoba, Argentina. ^[12]”Church Dedicates Córdoba Argentina Temple: The second temple in Argentina and 145th in the World“, Newsroom, LDS Church, 17 May 2015. accessed 16 October 2016 The theme of the celebration was “The Light of the Gospel Shines.”

Dedication

The Córdoba Argentina Temple was dedicated on Sunday, 17 May 2015, in three sessions by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.He was accompanied by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy and the executive director of the Church Temple Department; Elders Walter F. Gonzalez, Jorge F. Zeballos, and Francisco J. Vinas, the South America South area presidency; and temple president and matron, President and Sister Mario Cecilio Cristóbal and Vilma Marta Cattaneo de Romero. [backref name=”dedicated”]

Two choirs made up of Latter-day Saints from the temple district provided music for the cornerstone ceremony and inside the temple for the dedication services.

The Córdoba Argentina Temple was built on the site of one of the first chapels in Córdoba and the Argentina North Mission home. Previously Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided as mission president over the mission there. During that time Elder Christofferson was one of his missionaries.

Elder Christofferson commented:

It’s almost surreal. Something beyond my fondest imaginations that we [the Church] would be here dedicating a temple, some 50 years, more or less, from my mission service time. It’s a great blessing, a miracle, really.^[13]”Church Dedicates Córdoba Argentina Temple,” Newsroom, 17 May 2015.

The Córdoba Argentina Templeis the 145th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple district includes the northwest half of Argentina. There are more than 380,000 members of the Church in Argentina and currently one operating temple which is located in Buenos Aires.

Dedication Order

The Córdoba Argentina Temple is the 145th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the second temple in Argentina built by the Church. A third temple has been announced for Salta Argentina.

Presidents

Details

Location

Argentina’s second temple is located in the northwestern quarter of the city of Córdoba next to the recently rebuilt Argentina Córdoba Mission home on the grounds of the Villa Belgrano meetinghouse, which houses the Córdoba Argentina Sierras Stake.^[14]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “New Temple Site Locations Announced,” 7 Oct. 2008. The temple will be located on the public bus route near a major stop. The City of Córdoba recently improved Villa Belgrano with paved streets and a new sewer system.

Exterior

Cladding

Windows

Spires and Moroni

Spire

Moroni

The traditional gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was installed atop the spire of the Córdoba Argentina Temple on 13 August 2014.

Symbolism

Inscriptions

Cornerstone

Interior

The Córdoba Argentina Temple includes a baptistry, a celestial room, sealing rooms, and instruction rooms.

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Links

External links

• Cordoba Argentina Temple at LDS.org(official)
• Cordoba Argentina Temple at MormonTemples.org (official)
• Cordoba Argentina Temple at MormonNewsroom.org (official)
• Cordoba Argentina Temple at LDSChurchTemples.com
• Cordoba Argentina Temple at LDSChurchNewsArchive.com
• Cordoba Argentina Temple at Wikipedia

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation

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