Announced: March 1, 1975.
Location: In the Butanta section of Sao Paulo; Av. Prof. Francisco Morato 2390, Caxingui, 05512-300 Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil; phone, (55) 11-3721-9622.
Exterior finish: Reinforced concrete faced with quartz and marble aggregates.
Site: 1.85 acres.
Temple design: Modern design with Spanish influence.
Architect: Emil B. Fetzer, Church architect.
Construction chairman: Christiani Nielsen, general contractor.
Construction supervisor: Ross Jensen and James Magleby.
Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, two ordinance rooms, four sealing rooms.
Total floor area: Originally 51,279 square feet; 55,000 square feet after remodeling.
Dimensions: 116 feet by 256 feet.
District: 154 stakes and districts in Brazil.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: March 20, 1976, by Elder James E. Faust, then an Assistant to the Twelve.
Dedication: Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 1978, by President Spencer W. Kimball; 10 sessions. Rededicated after remodeling Feb. 22, 2004, by President Gordon B. Hinckley; one session.
Dedicatory Prayer
Done by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Our Father in Heaven, Thou who hast created the heavens and the earth, and all things, Thou most glorious One, we, Thy children, bow before Thee in this sacred house, built to Thy most holy name.
Beloved Elohim, Thou didst raise up Thy servant, Joseph Smith, a prophet, seer and revelator, and through the assistance of angels, Thou didst enable him to restore Thy glorious Church in all its fulness, by the power of Thy precious Melchizedek Priesthood revealed through holy angels, who held that special priesthood when the Savior was on the earth.
We thank Thee, Holy Father, that Thou didst reveal through the prophets to build many temples in which ordinances are and have been administered for the living and the dead.
We also thank Thee, our Father, for the perfect organization of Thy Church today.
To the First Presidency of Thy Church, please reveal in great clearness and power Thy mind and will unto them in all things essential for the welfare of Thy people. Give them heavenly wisdom, abounding faith to guide them to give proper and inspired leadership to Thy fast-growing earthly kingdom.
Remember in love Thy servant whom Thou hast called a prophet this day to all mankind, whose days have been many upon the earth. Yet lengthen his span of mortal life and give him the powers and gifts, and in like manner bless his counselors in the presidency. Give to the Twelve Apostles a rich endowment as Thy special witnesses.
Our Father, please bless the Patriarch to the Church and all the patriarchs throughout the world. Please inspire them in their blessings to Thy people of Israel. May they give to them comfort and consolation and encouragement.
Bless also Thy servants, the seventies, in their preaching of Thy word to the four quarters of the earth. May they reach the world with the gospel standard in every land, in every tongue, in all the islands and the continents.
Influence, we pray, the rulers of the nations and the governments of the earth, that the barriers that now stand in the way of the spread of Thy truths may be removed and the truths may permeate every corner of the earth and as directed by Thy Son, our Savior, that every nation, kindred, tongue and people may hear the message of salvation and exaltation.
We ask also for a special blessing upon the Presiding Bishopric. Inspire and guide them in their supervision of the temporal affairs of Thy Church.
Bless, we pray Thee, all the zone advisers, area supervisors, Regional Representatives, and stake and mission presidencies and bishoprics. May they deal justly in mercy.
Bless abundantly, O Lord, the high priests, seventies and elders as Thou hast called them as presidents, counselors, bishops, members of high councils, and in all offices to which their priesthood and calling gives them the right to serve. Bless the priests, teachers and deacons, that all may diligently perform their parts in the glorious labors Thou hast called the Aaronic Priesthood holders to bear.
Wilt Thou richly endow all the sisters with the spirit of their exalted callings and responsibilities. So, also, in their various needs, confer precious gifts of wisdom, faith and knowledge upon them.
Prosper all the institutions in our midst for the well-being of our children, the Church schools, seminaries and institutes, and the auxiliary organizations. May their membership be increased so that from their earliest years our children may be diligently brought up in the ways of the Lord.
Remember Thy missionaries who are proclaiming the saving truths revealed for man’s redemption to the millions now overshadowed by deep spiritual darkness. Bless them with the powers of their ministry.
Our Father, may peace abide in all the homes of Thy saints. May holy angels guard them. May prosperity shine upon them and sickness and disease be rebuked from their midst. May their land be made fruitful. May the waters be pure and the climate tempered to the comfort and well-being of Thy people.
Bless the poor of Thy people, that the cry of want and suffering may not ascend unto Thy saints.
We thank Thee that Thou didst bring Father Lehi and his family to this land of promise and Thou didst establish Thy people, the Nephites and the Lamanites and their Book of Mormon.
Lord, we regard with intense and indescribable feelings the completion of this holy temple. Please accept and bless it with holiness.
We are jubilant and have hearts filled with praise to Thee that Thou hast permitted us to see this day for which we have hoped and toiled and prayed. We dedicate unto Thee this sacred house which we have built to Thy most glorious name.
Today we dedicate this holy temple unto Thee, with all that pertains unto it, that it may be a house of prayer, a house of praise and of worship; that Thy glory may rest upon it; that Thy holy presence may be continually in it; that it may be the abode of Thy beloved Son, our Savior; that angels who stand before Thy face may be the hallowed messengers who shall visit it.
We pray that all who enter the threshold of this, Thy house, may feel Thy power and be constrained to acknowledge that Thou hast sanctified it, that it is Thy house, a place of holiness.
We pray Thee, Heavenly Father, to accept this building in all its parts from foundation to the steeple that graces the highest point.
We pray Thee to bless the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, roofs, the elevators, stairways, doors, windows and other openings, all things connected with the lighting, heating, and sanitary apparatus, the connecting pipes and wires, and all articles used in or connected with the holy ordinances administered here. Bless the veils and the altars, the baptismal font and the oxen on which it rests, and all that pertains thereto, washstands and basins.
Also Bless, O Father, the safes and vaults and the records themselves, and books, documents, and papers appertaining to the temple.
We pray Thee to bless all the furniture, seats, locks and fastenings and all other appliances and appurtenances found in this temple and the annexes and all ornamentation thereon, the painting, the gilding and bronzing, the fine work in wood and metal of every kind, the embroidery and needlework; the iron and all other metals and stones.
O Lord, we pray Thee to bless and sanctify the whole ground on which these buildings stand, the walls and fences, the walks, paths, the trees, plants, flowers and shrubbery that grow in this area. May their beauty add sacredness and holiness to this temple program.
Preserve these buildings, we beseech Thee, from every destructive element, destruction by flood or fire or earthquake.
Bless, Heavenly Father, Thy servant, the temple president, and those associated with him. Endow them all richly with the spirit of their callings and with the gift of discernment.
Bless all who are associated with him in the performance of the ordinances–baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, sealings, endowments, and ordinations, that all may be holy and acceptable unto Thee, our Heavenly Father.
Bless also, in their several callings, the recorders, the engineers, the watchmen.
Remember also in Thy mercy all those who have labored in the erection of this house, or who have, in any way by their means or influence, aided in its completion.
Confirm upon us the spirit of Elijah, we pray Thee, that we may redeem our dead and also connect ourselves with our fathers back to the beginning in indissoluble links welded by the holy priesthood.
Almighty Father, increase within us the power of faith, strengthen us by the memories of the glorious deliverances of the past.
And now, our Father, we praise Thee; we glorify Thee; we worship Thee. Day by day we shall magnify Thee and give Thee thanks. We pray Thee in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, to hear these, our humble petitions, and answer us from heaven, and accept this holy house and all that pertains to it and bless it and protect it. We dedicate it to Thee with all our love and devotion in Thy purposes in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen and amen.
99,000 visit Sal Paulo temple: Including governor of Sao Paulo, and former Brazilian president
During the four-week open house, the Sao Paulo Brazil Temple received 99,000 visitors, including neighbors, construction workers, government and religious leaders, businessmen, journalists, and people coming from all over the state, as well as from other parts of the country and several other countries.
On Feb. 14, the last Saturday of the open house, more than 13,000 people visited the rooms of the newly remodeled temple. More than 6,000 families have asked to have the missionaries visit them, and there have been many stories of conversion.
One day after the public open house concluded, the temple was opened specially on Feb. 15th, for the visit of the Sao Paulo State Governor, Geraldo Alckmin, who was greeted by Elders Neil L. Andersen and Paulo R. Grahl of the Seventy and area presidency, and by Elders Joao R.C. Martins Silva and Flavio A. Cooper, Area Authority Seventies.
When he went through the celestial and sealing rooms, the governor expressed his feelings of peace and beauty. While still at the temple he received a statue depicting family ties and other gifts.
Other distinguished guests included former Brazil President Fernando Collor de Mello, who was there on Jan. 29. Mr. Collor de Mello governed Brazil from 1990 to 1992.
His admiration for the LDS people and their holy temple was recorded in these words: “The temple is magnificent. Congratulations on your faith in Brazil and on the strength and faith of your people.”
Besides the former president, various civil authorities and friends of the Church were present.
Sao Paulo temple ready for re-dedication
Open house visitors say Brazil edifice exceeds expectations
By Fernando Assis
Brazil director of public affairs
SAO PAULO, Brazil — More than 40,000 people toured the Sao Paulo Brazil Temple in its first two weeks of public open house, and another 200,000 are expected to visit before the doors close to the public Feb. 14.
The temple has changed significantly, with a statue of the Angel Moroni added to its spire and the basement finished into additional space. The mechanical systems have also been upgraded. The original furniture, made in the factory of Walter Spat, first president of the first stake in Brazil, was refurbished and remains in excellent condition because of the high quality of the original work. Nearly all of the construction and finish materials came from Brazil.
The temple now has 55,000 square feet.
The first temple in Latin America, the Sao Paulo temple was the only temple in Brazil for just over two decades. For a period, the temple operated 24 hours a day to accommodate the many members who used it.
Today, there are also temples in Campinas, Recife and Porto Alegre; a fifth temple will be constructed shortly in Curitiba. The rededicated temple will serve about 190,000 members in the city of Sao Paulo, and the other temples serve the additional 670,000 Brazilian members.
Many of the members and their friends from throughout Brazil who went through the Sao Paulo temple are among the visitors, as well as others who are only familiar with it from the outside, having never been inside.
The temple closed in August 2002 following the dedication of the Campinas Brazil Temple, which is also in the state of Sao Paulo. The renewed temple opened to the public Jan. 17, and will be rededicated Feb. 22, following a cultural evening for an expected 56,000 spectators.
The open house has received significant coverage in the local media.
Representative of the visitors are D. Idaline de Juazeiro from Bahia, Anderson Monteiro from Belo Horizonte and Maria Graciete from Pernambuco. With efficient and well-prepared organization, more than 800 people an hour were received.
“The organization, the manner in which everything was prepared to receive the visitors, is what most calls attention,” said Anderson Monteiro, a leader in Belo Horizonte, who came in a caravan with his family and members from his region.
For Maria Jose Correia, whose son is a member of the Church, the visit served to resolve concerns. “As I had already heard that here in the temple there were many strange things, I came and found out that it is totally different from what they say outside. I found everything very beautiful and I felt great peace.”
As they arrived, guests were guided to the chapel next to the temple to view an introductory film, in which President Gordon B. Hinckley explains a little about the importance of this sacred building. Following the film, they follow guides into the temple. Before entering, they put on plastic shoe coverings, assisted by the young men and young women of the Church.
For one of the guides, Marco Aurelio Dutra, it was gratifying to notice the countenance of the visitors as they saw the interior of the temple. “Many said at the end, ‘Is it over already?’ “
People such as Maira Nadia Pastore and Marcio Rosa Ananias, both investigators, left amazed by the House of the Lord and with an interest to learn more about the Church.
“As soon as I set foot in the temple, I felt something different,” Marcio said. They hope to learn more of the sacred ordinances that only a place like this can offer, such as eternal marriage.
Each baptized person who arrives brings the force of his or her own testimony, which makes this building even more select and special than it already is.
This is the case of Maria Graciete da Silva, baptized nine years ago. She has witnessed everything from the placement of the Angel Moroni on the steeple of the Sao Paulo temple in August until this visit. She will take the memory with her as she returns to her native home in Catende, Pernambuco. “It is the house of the Lord. From the moment you enter there, you can’t help but leave changed,” she affirmed.
Anderson Monteiro, embraced by his son Mateus, proudly announced that on the following day he would celebrate eight years since he had been married there for all eternity with his wife, Jaqueline.
“The temple exceeds all expectations,” he said. “It is the expression of heaven here on earth. For anyone who wants to know, it is worth it.”
For more information in Portuguese, see: www.saladeimprensa-sud.org.br
