Fortaleza Brazil Temple

Fortaleza Brazil Temple
Number164
Dedication2 June 2019, by Ulisses Soares[4]
Site10 acres (4.0 ha)
Floor area36,000 sq ft (3,300 m2)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Additional information
Announced3 October 2009, by Thomas S. Monson[1][2]
Groundbreaking15 November 2011, by David A. Bednar[3]
Open houseApril 27 to May 18, 2019
Current presidentMarco Antônio Rais
LocationFortaleza, Brazil
Geographic coordinates3°44′52″S 38°27′39″W / 3.74778°S 38.46083°W / -3.74778; -38.46083
Exterior finishBranco Ceara granite
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2
Sealing rooms2
()

The Fortaleza Brazil Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. With its white granite exterior and single domed tower, the temple sits on top of a sloping site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and has floral motifs inspired by native Brazilian orchids. The temple is the church's first in Ceará and the seventh in Brazil. Announced on October 3, 2009, by church president Thomas S. Monson during general conference, the temple was designed with a neoclassical influence and constructed using local Branco Ceará granite. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 15, 2011, presided over by David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Following construction, a public open house drew approximately 60,000 visitors in spring 2019. The temple was dedicated by apostle Ulisses Soares on June 2, 2019, in three sessions. The building includes two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.

History

The intent to construct the Fortaleza Brazil Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson on October 3, 2009, during general conference,[5][6][2] concurrently with the Brigham City Utah, Concepción Chile, Fort Lauderdale Florida, and Sapporo Japan temples. It became the church's seventh temple in Brazil and the 164th worldwide.[6]

On November 15, 2011, the church held a groundbreaking ceremony on an 10-acre site located at Avenida Santos Dumont in the Dunas neighborhood,[7][8] across from FANOR University in Fortaleza.[9] The ceremony was presided over by David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with local members and civic leaders in attendance.[6][3][10]

The initial design featured a two-towered structure, but in early 2015, local authorities rejected the twin-tower plan for not complying with city code, prompting a redesign to a single-domed tower.[9] Although the groundbreaking occurred in 2011, the site remained undeveloped for several years as the revised architectural plans were reviewed and approved.[9] In early 2015, Fortaleza’s municipal government granted approval for the redesigned temple complex, which included a meetinghouse and a lodging facility, and full construction began shortly afterward.[9]

On May 16, 2014, Fortaleza's mayor, Roberto Cláudio, visited the temple site with church officials. He expressed support for the project and requested a tour during construction and the open house.[9]

After construction was completed, the church announced a public open house that was held from April 27 to May 18, 2019, excluding Sundays.[6][11] During the open house, approximately 60,000 people toured the temple.[6]

On June 1, 2019, the evening before the dedication, two devotionals for youth and missionaries were held in the adjacent meetinghouse.[6] Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged youth to remain worthy to enter the temple and emphasized its role as a spiritual fortress.[6]

The Fortaleza Brazil Temple was dedicated on June 2, 2019, by Soares.[6][4] The dual-language dedication, the first in church history to include a temple dedicatory prayer offered entirely in Portuguese, marked a milestone for the church in Brazil.[6][12] It was also the first time in church history that the entire dedication was held in a language other than English.[6]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Fortaleza Brazil Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Design and architecture

The temple is on an 10-acre plot in Fortaleza’s Dunas neighborhood, near the Atlantic Ocean.[14] The site includes not only the temple but also an arrival center, meetinghouse, missionary housing, and a maintenance building.[9]

The temple’s exterior has locally quarried Branco Ceará granite,[11][9] and a single domed tower rising over 100 feet, with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni on its top.[11] This single-spire design replaced the twin-tower plan after the local government denied that original plan.[9][15]

The interior of the temple includes an ordnance room,[16] two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.[6] Decorative features include custom glasswork, carpets, and woodwork incorporating Brazilian floral motifs such as orchids and vine patterns.[11][17]

Temple presidents and admittance

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[9]

Serving from 2019 to 2021, Paulo R. Grahl, was the first president, with Zuleika M. Grahl serving as matron.[18][19] As of 2024, Francisco J. da Silva is the president, with Maria E. da Silva serving as matron.[20]

Admittance

From April 27 to May 18, 2019 (excluding Sundays), the church held a public open house for the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, which was dedicated on June 2, 2019, by Ulisses Soares in three sessions,[6][11] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[21][22][23]

See also

References

  1. ^ "President Thomas S. Monson: 'Welcome to Conference'", Deseret News, October 3, 2009, retrieved 2012-11-06.
  2. ^ a b Talor, Scott (October 4, 2009), "Brigham City among five new locales for LDS temples", Deseret News, retrieved 2012-11-06.
  3. ^ a b "Ground Broken for Fortaleza Brazil Temple", Newsroom (News Release), LDS Church, November 15, 2011, retrieved 2012-11-06
  4. ^ a b "Elder Ulisses Soares Dedicates Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Temple is the 7th in the country, 164th worldwide". Newsroom. LDS Church. 2 June 2019.
  5. ^ "President Thomas S. Monson: 'Welcome to Conference'". Deseret News. 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Fortaleza Brazil Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  7. ^ "Ground Broken for Fortaleza Brazil Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  8. ^ "LDS temple news in Brazil, Guatemala and France". Deseret News. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Presidents and Matrons of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  10. ^ Garcia, Nei; Weaver, Sarah Jane (November 19, 2011), "Work begins in Fortaleza, Brazil", Church News, retrieved 2012-11-06
  11. ^ a b c d e "See these new interior photos of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple before the open house begins". Church News. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  12. ^ "A look back at the first converts in Fortaleza and what it's taken to build a temple there". Church News. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  13. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  14. ^ "How the dedication of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple by Elder Soares became a historic event". Church News. 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  15. ^ "6 Mormon temples that took longer than 10 years to complete". BYU Daily Universe. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  16. ^ "Latest General Handbook Release Includes Temple-Related Updates". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  17. ^ Ingram, Aleah (2019-04-25). "Here's Your First Look Inside the Fortaleza Brazil Temple". LDS Daily. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  18. ^ "New temple president and matron called to serve in Brazil". Church News. 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  19. ^ "New Temple Presidents and Matrons for 2021". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  20. ^ "Read about the leaders of 10 temples around the world — from Brazil to British Columbia". Church News. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  21. ^ "Brazil Temple Nearly Ready for Open House Visits". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  22. ^ "Elder Ulisses Soares Dedicates Fortaleza Brazil Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  23. ^ "Fortaleza Brazil Temple: Recommend Desk". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2025-07-18.


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