Announced: Nov. 2, 1998.
Location: Calle San Carlos de Bolivar, entre Horacio Qiroga; Bolonia 1722, entre Horacio Quiroga y Bologna, Montevideo, Uruguay; phone: (598) 2-604-2212; no clothing rental.
Site: 1.59 acres.
Exterior finish: Granite.
Temple design: Classic modern.
Architect: Edvardo Signorelli.
Project manager: Javier Mendieta.
Contractor: Luis Maranges S.A.
Rooms: Two ordinance, two sealing, celestial room, baptistry.
Total floor area: 10,700 square feet.
Dimensions of building: 149 feet by 77 feet.
District: 15 Stakes and 6 districts in Uruguay.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: April 27, 1999, by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Dedication: March 18, 2001, by President Gordon B. Hinckley; 4 sessions.
Dedicatory Prayer
Done by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Our beloved Father in Heaven, Thou great Elohim than whom there is none greater, we come unto Thee in the name of Thy Beloved Son, on this day of dedication. We come with reverence and love and supplication.
Thou art our Father and our God. We have built this holy house to accomplish the purposes Thou hast outlined for the eternal blessing of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.
Here we will carry forward a great work that will open the gates of eternal life and the richest blessings of exaltation. Here we will serve as proxies for those who have gone before us and who have not had the opportunity of accomplishing in their own behalf the ordinances which will permit them to move forward under Thy great and glorious plan. It is indeed a wondrous and marvelous thing, unequaled in its consequences for the blessing of Thy children.
All of this comes from the revelations and authority given to the Prophet Joseph Smith for whose life and work we are profoundly grateful. The Prophet Elijah appeared to him and conferred upon him the keys of the priesthood by which this work is accomplished. The hearts of the children are turning to their fathers with respect and love for them, and a great overpowering desire to do in their behalf that which they cannot do for themselves.
And so, on this historic day, acting in the authority of the divine priesthood and in the name of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and unto Him this the Montevideo Uruguay Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as Thy house to accomplish Thy divine purposes. We dedicate it as a place of holiness, the house of God, a place to which Thou might come and a place where Thy Holy Spirit may dwell at all times and under all circumstances. A place to which Thy children may gather with reverence to Thee and come to know of Thine eternal love as they serve in behalf of their forebears.
Dear Father, wilt Thou accept this temple as the gift of Thy sons and daughters. It has come through the faithful payment of tithing by Thy Saints across the world. May it grace this land. May the nation of Uruguay be blessed because of its presence on this soil. May it stand as a testimony to the world of the knowledge of Thy people concerning the eternal things of God.
We pray that Thou wilt protect it by Thy power, that Thy watch care may be over it and all of its facilities, from the footings to the figure of Moroni atop its steeple. Save it from the storms of nature and from any evil hand which might be inclined to deface or injure it in any way. We dedicate the interior facilities, the Baptistry, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and all of the other rooms, halls, and spaces which are a part of this sacred structure.
We pray that all who enter its portals may do so worthily and that Thou wilt bless them while they serve here, that Thou wilt bless them in their homes, in their work, in all aspects of their lives, that their faith may be abundantly rewarded.
Bless those called as missionaries that they may come to Thy temple to be endowed with power from on high before going into the nations as Thy consecrated messengers. Prosper their families as they sacrifice of their means to keep their sons and daughters in this sacred and divine work.
We pray for those who will preside here that they may have strength and energy to do that which is expected of them. We pray for all who serve that they may do so with a spirit of dedication and love. We pray for those who come as patrons, that they may be motivated by a living testimony of this Thy divine work.
Pour out Thy blessings upon Thy Church and kingdom wherever it may be established. May it grow and prosper across the world. Bless those called to serve in positions of general responsibility that their years of life may be multiplied and their faith become as living water, that water of which the Savior spoke when He walked the earth.
Now, dear Father, we love Thee. We worship Thee in spirit and in truth. We seek to do Thy will. We love Thy Beloved Son, our Redeemer and Lord. We look to Him as our King and Leader.
And now, on this day of dedication, we rededicate ourselves to Thy work, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name, and do it all in the name of our Master, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
Dream of many decades now a reality
Pioneer struggles become fond memories, legacy
By Nestor Curbelo
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — The dream of many people for many decades became a reality March 18 as President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Montevideo Uruguay Temple, the 11th in South America.
"It is a day of significance, a day of glory, a day of miracles, a day of peace," were often repeated expressions by those attending the dedication.
In attendance were President Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie; Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Kristen; Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Seventy, president of the South America South Area, and his wife, Lona; Elder Keith Crockett of the Seventy, counselor in the area presidency, and his wife, Kathleen; and Elder Claudio Zivic, Area Authority Seventy, counselor in the area presidency, and his wife, Dina Noemi.
Deep appreciation for the temple was felt by members, said mission presidents, missionaries and pioneer members. Some 7,655 members attended the four dedicatory sessions.
Following the services, Elder Jensen observed: "If abundant tears of joy, radiant smiles, and loving hugs for us as their leaders can be interpreted as their depth of feeling and convictions for the Lord, the restored gospel and the blessings of the temple, the temple has made a great impact on the Uruguayan saints who attended the four dedicatory sessions.
"We, the area presidency who followed Presidency Hinckley into each session and when leaving the temple, noted that they were so anxious for a glimpse of the president that it was hard for them to leave.
"As we parted, hundreds gathered around the temple entrance to bid farewell. Many of them will be in attendance at the first ordinance sessions Monday morning."
Now, just one nation in South America — Paraguay — does not have a temple. However, a temple is under construction in that country.
Early members often told stories of traveling long distances to a temple, and of the sacrifices required. They said that as more and more Uruguayan members receive the blessings and ordinances of the temple, they will be blessed temporally and spiritually and the Church will become stronger.
"Now, the members in Uruguay do not have to travel long distances to Buenos Aires (Argentina), reducing the cost and possibility of accidents," said Elder Zivic.
He said that in 1999, the Uruguayan saints were moved by the tragic accident of a group traveling from Uruguay to the Buenos Aires temple; seven members were killed. This experience was vividly recalled by the members whose tears of sorrow were transformed to tears of joy, peace and faith.
President Huber Chineppe of the Rivera Uruguay Stake, who lost his 15-year-old son, Matias, said that upon "entering the celestial room, our feelings were very close to our loved ones who are not with us now in life; we will not forget them this day."
The Duarte family had been members of the Church for one year and were traveling to the temple for the first time. In the accident, their daughter Ana Gabriela, 14, died and her brother, Julio Cesar was gravely injured. Sister Mirta Da Rosa de Duarte said, "It was a very hard trial for us, but later we felt the spirit of the Comforter many times and we were strengthened by it. Today, we are in the temple at last, and this has been a sweet experience, and we have had an opportunity to be close to President Hinckley and feel that he is a representative of the Savior on this earth."
Her husband, Hugo I. Duarte, added, "We feel gratitude for the blessings we have; we feel that we will be an eternal family and that our daughter is waiting on the other side of the veil, where she is doing the work of the Lord."
Located within the Carrasco Ward, the Montevideo Uruguay Temple stands in a beautiful residential district east of the nation's capitol. The site has been owned by the Church since 1960, and today also houses two mission homes, a distribution center and a regional Church service center.
Uruguay is one of the smallest countries of South America with a population of 3.2 million people. The Uruguayan mission was the third created in South America, after Argentina and Brazil, and was organized in 1947 by President Frederick S. Williams. Today, there are 73,000 members in 15 stakes, six districts and two missions in this nation.
Members in 1978 began to attend the Sao Paulo Brazil Temple, which is more than 72 hours away by automobile. In 1986, the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple shortened the distance. Now, most members will be able to attend the temple and return home the same day. A new vigor has come to the Church in Uruguay with a future described in inspired words in various sessions of the dedication. The past pioneer struggles are now but a sweet memory of the legacy that has been passed down.
"This morning, in my mind, I thought of all of our loved ones that I have known since my baptism in 1949 — the missionaries who taught me, those who ordained me to the priesthood, including Elder A. Theodore Tuttle and others who have died," said Cesar Guerra, one of the first members in Uruguay. "I am grateful for all of them, and their efforts that made possible the events of today. I have a special feeling also for those who we do not know, whose tithing made this temple possible."
Also in attendance was Sister Marne Tuttle, widow of Elder Tuttle who died in 1986. He was the first General Authority called to live in Montevideo, and directed missionary work in South America in 1961. Sister Tuttle reflected on their move to South America with seven children, and living here for four years.
"We did not know if we would ever see a temple here," she said. "But here I am with this glorious view of the temple with the flag waving over it. This has touched my heart deeply. My husband left part of his heart in South America; he had a great love for all members in all places."
Elder Keith Crockett also shared memories. "Some 46 years ago as a missionary in Uruguay, I directed a choir for the dedication of the first chapel, Deseret, and I remember what a thrill that was for me as a missionary and for the members. Now, as a member of the area presidency, I have this opportunity to participate in the dedication of this beautiful temple, and it is truly a great blessing in my life."
Elder Antonio Cappi, Area Authority Seventy and temple committee coordinator, said, "On this glorious day we hear the voice of the Spirit indicating that through the temple we can come closer to the Lord and be better people, better fathers and better husbands. We will be more humble, forgiving and more willing to give others that which is good that we have in our lives."
Uruguay's president tours new Montevideo temple
Church's moral values are a guide for families, he says
By Nestor Curbelo
Church News correspondent
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — The president of Uruguay was among the many who participated in the Montevideo Uruguay Temple open house.
President Jorge Batlle toured the temple March 6 and walked away impressed by the spirit of the holy edifice. He was guided through the temple by Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Seventy and president of the South America South Area.
Elder Jensen and other Church leaders walked with President Batlle and his entourage from room to room, talking about gospel principles such as baptism for the dead, the plan of salvation and eternal families. Reverence filled the temple when the group enjoyed a few moments of silence in the celestial room.
Outside the temple, President Batlle said the temple was a place where moral values were evident.
"These values should constitute a guide for our families and each one of us," President Batlle said.
"All around the world, people are searching for these principles; these principles should be embraced by these people, by their societies and by their leaders," he added.
The Uruguayan leader said his country enjoys a long tradition of religious freedom.
Elder Jensen complimented the Uruguayan members for the manner the temple open house was conducted.
"We know the temple will be a blessing — not only for the members, but for all of Uruguay," he said.
Luis Alberto Lacalle, a former president of Uruguay; and the country's minister of education and culture, Antonio Mercader, also toured the temple.
President Gordon B. Hinckley will dedicate the Montevideo Uruguay Temple on Sunday, March 18.
