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

Temple Facts

The Salvador Brazil Temple will be the eleventh temple built in Brazil.

Temple History

Announcement

On October 7, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Salvador Brazil Temple at the end of the 188th Semiannual General Conference. At the time of the announcement, Brazil was the country with the third most Latter-day Saints at 1.39 million members. There were six dedicated temples in Brazil: the São Paulo Brazil Temple, the Recife Brazil Temple, the Porto Alegre Brazil Temple, the Campinas Brazil Temple, the Curitiba Brazil Temple, and the Manaus Brazil Temple. The Fortaleza Brazil Temple and Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple were under construction, and plans had been announced for the Belém Brazil Temple, Brasília Brazil Temple, and Salvador Brazil Temple. The Saints of Salvador were making a journey of 500 miles (800 km) to participate in temple ordinances at the Recife Brazil Temple.¹

Site

The Salvador Brazil Temple is located on a knoll on Av. Luís Viana (also known as Av. Paralela) in the Patamares neighborhood of Salvador. It is a highly accessible location on the main avenue through the state of Bahia that is located less than 5 miles from the Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport and less than a half mile from the Bairro da Paz subway station.

Rendering

On May 4, 2021, an official exterior rendering was released for the Salvador Brazil Temple, inspired by the Portuguese colonial-style architecture found in the historic center of Salvador. A two-story ancillary building would also be constructed with an accommodation center, temple missionary apartments, and auxiliary areas. The art glass windows would feature the red mandacarú flower, which is native to the region.

Groundbreaking

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, president of the Brazil Area, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Salvador Brazil Temple on Saturday, August 7, 2021. Elder de Paula Parrella was accompanied by his wife, Elaine, and joined by other guests including his counselors in the presidency and their wives, the mayor of Salvador, and other local government and Church leaders. Elder Joni L. Koch, first counselor in the presidency, offered the dedicatory prayer. "We recognize this city whose name, Salvador, refers to your Son," prayed Elder Koch. "May the construction of this holy house on this mountaintop…symbolize, for everyone here and around the world, a testimony of thy greatness and the certainty of eternal life."²

Open House and Dedication

The Salvador Brazil Temple opened to the public for free tours from Thursday, August 22, and through Saturday, September 7, 2024 (excluding Sundays). Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the temple in two sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. UTC on Sunday, October 20, 2024. Both sessions were broadcast to all units in the temple district. Prior to the open house, a media day was held on Monday, August 19, followed by two days of tours for invited guests.³