Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Temple Locale

The Arequipa Peru Temple is located just three miles north of the city center near the entrance to the quiet village of Carmen Alto. The land stands on a bluff rising from the Chili River and surrounded by breathtaking pastures and mountain views including the prominent volcano Misti. Carmen Alto is easily accessible by public transportation and is described by visitors as "heaven like."

Temple Facts

The Arequipa Peru Temple was the third temple built in Peru, following the Lima Peru Temple (1986) and the Trujillo Peru Temple (2015).

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Arequipa Peru Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple.

Temple History

Announcement

The Arequipa Peru Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson on October 6, 2012, during the opening session of the 182nd Semiannual General Conference. At the time of the announcement, there were over a half million members of the Church in Peru organized into 101 stakes and 19 districts. Missionary work officially began in the country in 1956.¹

Governement Approval

In January 2016, the site for the Arequipa Peru Temple was rezoned, which allowed for the acquisition of building permits. The general contractor was selected in March 2016.

Groundbreaking

on Saturday, March 4, 2017, Elder Carlos A. Godoy, president of the South America Northwest Area, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arequipa Peru Temple. "I have no doubt, brothers and sisters, that somehow all of us need to change something in our lives; to make a change in our hearts," said Elder Godoy. "This is an opportunity, perhaps, to evaluate ourselves and to qualify to be here in this house with our heart turned towards God and to be more like His Son Jesus Christ."²

Angel Moroni

On November 30, 2018, the Saints of Arequipa and Southern Peru celebrated as a brilliant gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was hoisted to stand atop the lantern that caps the cupola of the Arequipa Peru Temple. Hundreds of spectators gathered for the event and expressed their enthusiasm.

Open House

During the two-week open house held in November 2019, more than 80,000 people toured the interior of the Arequipa Peru Temple. Visitors were given information on why the Church builds temples and an explanation of the ordinance work performed there.

Dedication

The Arequipa Peru Temple was dedicated on December 15, 2019, by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He prayed: "We are grateful for the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru — for their pioneering work and courage. We pray that many more may come to a knowledge of their Redeemer and His holy work."

Temple Design

A stylized version of the Flor de Texao Arequipa, is used in many places throughout the temple — in the carved hardwood, art glass windows, metal fixtures, stonework and flooring decorative painting. The Flor de Texao Arequipa is also featured in the art glass window panels on the exterior of the temple. Of special note are the large windows on the landing and at both central axes of the structure.

In addition to white and cream carpets, interior floors feature Perlantino marble tiling from Italy as well as multi-colored woolen area rugs from China.

The temple’s walls and corridors are adorned with giclee prints of familiar and beloved artwork depicting the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

A Spanish-style water fountain near the main entrance of the temple is of similar design to those seen in other plazas and courtyards of Arequipa.

The landscape design highlights a mixture of grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees native to the region that beautify the gardens surrounding the temple. Among the many plants found in the gardens are the cantuta, the national flower of Peru; the queñua, a small Andean tree found at higher elevations; and the achupaya, traditionally used in Incan handicrafts. There are dozens of additional flowering trees, evergreens and palms.³