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

Temple Facts

The Brasília Brazil Temple was the tenth temple built in the country of Brazil and the first built in the Federal District.

Temple History

Announcement

On April 2, 2017, President Thomas S. Monson announced the Brasília Brazil Temple, Brazil's tenth temple, during the Sunday Morning Session of the 187th Annual General Conference. At the time of the announcement, there were six operating temples in Brazil including the Campinas Brazil Temple, Curitiba Brazil Temple, Manaus Brazil Temple, Porto Alegre Brazil Temple, Recife Brazil Temple, and São Paulo Brazil Temple. Three other temples were announced or under construction including the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple, and Belém Brazil Temple. More than 1.3 million members of the Church lived in Brazil—more than any nation in the world other than the United States and Mexico. The temple would bring the blessings of the temple closer to the thousands of members living in Brazil's vast interior. There were five stakes in the immediate Brasília area with additional stakes in the surrounding region.¹

Rendering

On February 26, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Brasília Brazil Temple was released to the public, featuring a single-level, 25,000-square-foot temple with numerous arches complementary to Brasília's famous architectural style. In addition to the temple, a patron housing facility and new meetinghouse would be constructed.

Groundbreaking

"Bless us so that we continue to strive to be good citizens who serve and bless our neighbors and to never forget the poor and needy," said Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, president of the Brazil Area, in his site dedicatory prayer at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Brasília Brazil Temple held Saturday, September 26, 2020. Elder Parrella was accompanied by Elder Joaquin E. Costa and Elder Joni L. Koch of the Brazil Area presidency, along with Damares Alves, Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights in Brazil at the event. Due to social distancing guidelines, attendance was limited. The 25,000-square-foot temple would be constructed on a six-acre site near an arm of Paranoá Lake alongside a patron housing facility and meetinghouse.²

Open House and Dedication

The public was invited to tour the interior of the Brasília Brazil Temple at an open house beginning Saturday, August 5, and concluding Saturday, August 26 with no tours held on Sundays. Before the public tours began, a media day was held on Tuesday, August 1, and invited guests were given tours from Wednesday, August 2, to Friday, August 4. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the dedication of the temple in two sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 17, 2023. The dedicatory sessions were broadcast to all units in the temple district.³

Temple Design

Exterior

Brasília’s house of the Lord is a symmetrical structure of cement clad in sparkling white Brazilian marble. One small tower rises from the center. The external windows are of hand-colored stained glass, forming from the dark blue at the bottom to light blue at the top, with details in cream and white. These windows highlight the exterior design, providing ample light to the rooms inside. The windows were made in Brazil by Atelier Artistic Sarasá (São Bernardo do Campo).

The front of the temple is contoured by reflecting pools with ceramic tiles in shades of blue and white, which complement the colored glass. They are strategically positioned to reflect the temple’s modern columns for approaching guests.

The outdoor area and gardens use drought-tolerant native species suitable for the local arid climate. The grounds have thousands of shrubs, perennials and over 200 trees, including shade trees, evergreens, flowering trees and palm trees. The fence surrounding the property is built of galvanized steel with a bronze paint finish. Interlocking concrete pavers are used in the parking lot, on the sidewalks and in smaller squares. Granite paving is used in the main square and in the temple entrance.

Interior

The interior floors are a combination of Paraná white marble (native to Brazil), tiles from porcelain and Bahia blue stone accents and borders. Carpets manufactured in Brazil in a customized palette of colors soften and enhance various rooms and runners. The plaster works and ceiling moldings are enriched with decorative painting with a simple line and gold leaf finish.

Crystal chandeliers add elegance to the lighting in larger rooms, and decorations are used in many other main spaces. The baptismal font’s handrails are made of transparent glass, mounted on a metal frame with a gold matte finish. This same structure is covered with a polished wooden handrail. Light brown jequi tibá wood, native to Brazil, is used in carpentry, furniture and pews throughout the temple. Door locks have gold finish to match the paint and structure of the railings.

Three original works of art are featured in the Brasília Temple. They depict the flight of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus to Egypt; Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, from the book of Ruth in the Holy Bible; and a Brazilian rural landscape. The last two are by Brazilian artists.