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

Temple Facts

The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was the fourth temple built in Peru.

The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was the third temple built in the same city as another operating temple, the Lima Peru Temple (1986), making Lima, Peru, the third city in the world to have more than one temple, following South Jordan, Utah; and Provo, Utah.

The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was the first temple built outside of the United States in the same metropolitan area as another operating temple.

The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was announced in the 30th anniversary year of the Lima Peru Temple.

Temple History

Announcement

The announcement of a second temple to be constructed in Lima, Peru, came during the Sunday morning session of General Conference on April 3, 2016. President Thomas S. Monson stood at the pulpit in the Conference Center, and before beginning his formal remarks, announced four cities where new temples would be constructed, including the city of Lima, Peru, for a second temple.

At the time of the announcement, Peru was home to well over half a million members of the Church and was one of only four nations with more than 100 stakes. There were 46 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area alone, yet it operated one of the smallest temples in the Church, dedicated in 1986 on the eastern side of the city. Long waiting lines outside the temple were common in Lima, especially on Saturdays when Saints from around the country traveled to the capital to participate in temple ordinances. In 2015, the country's second temple was dedicated in Trujillo, and the country's third temple was dedicated in 2019 in Arequipa.¹

Site

On October 20, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson visited the site for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple at the property were the Lima North Institute of Religion building and meetinghouse for the Habish and Cayetano Heredia wards stood on Avenida Eloy Espinoza in the San Martín de Porres District, just east of the Los Olivos District. Plans called for the existing buildings to be razed to allow for construction of the temple, a patron housing facility, a missionary housing facility, a utility building, and an underground parking garage.

On January 27, 2019, the institute building and meetinghouse that stood on the temple site were permanently closed for demolition. A special devotional in the institute building that evening with Elder César E. Villar of the Seventy. The stakes that had been assigned to the Lima North Institute were divided between a new Lima Northwest Institute and a relocated Lima North Institute.

Rendering

On March 7, 2019, the official rendering of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was released in conjunction with the groundbreaking announcement.

Groundbreaking

On Saturday, June 8, 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was held. Elder Enrique R. Falabella, president of the South America Northwest Area, presided over the services with his counselors Elder Hugo Montoya, first counselor, and Elder Mathias Held, second counselor. In his remarks, Elder Falabella said the groundbreaking would be an occasion never to be forgotten. "There is something special in the temples. As we spend more time in the Lord's house, our life will have greater meaning," he said. Elder Held remarked, "Temples have always been a beacon of light…[and] source of strength for His people and today is no different. This will be a beautiful building, where the spirit of the Lord will be strongly felt." Lima would become the first city outside of the United States to have two temples.²

Open House and Dedication

The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was dedicated on Sunday, January 14, 2024, in two sessions broadcast at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. PET by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. A public open house began on Friday, November 10, and continued through Saturday, December 9, 2023, excluding Sundays. A media day was held on Monday, November 6, with tours for invited guests following from Tuesday, November 7, through Thursday, November 9.³

Temple Design

Exterior

The temple features a symmetrical cement structure designed in an art deco style and clad in white granite. The light-colored stone contrasts with the surrounding cityscape. The exterior motifs carved in stone are abstract and reminiscent of textile fabrics and the harvest basket. The stained-glass windows contain creams, blues and greens, with a pale scarlet flower accent.

The gardens feature four mature olive trees, reflecting the name of the temple, planted at the four corners of the paths surrounding the building. The national flower of Peru, the cantua, has also been planted.

Interior

The interior stone floors are typical of Lima’s majestic buildings, made from solid travertine quarried in Peru. The main color is lilac, with pinto-brown nuances. The doors and decorative wood are stained cherry wood, with a simple finish and smooth lines and panels that reflect the exterior stone patterns. The interior stained-glass windows match the exterior design and again feature the national flower, the cantua or climbing trumpet, in scarlet buds and blossoms.