Dedication of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple
Susanna Beatriz Costas Moran, 90, felt “marvelous” emotions as she attended the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple dedication on a windy Sunday morning. She appreciated the opportunity to hear an Apostle of the Lord offer the dedicatory prayer in Spanish, and tears flowed as she thought about her late husband, who was not a Latter-day Saint.
“It was a wonderful feeling that fills you with emotion, love and gratitude to Heavenly Father for this blessing of a temple in our city,” said Costas, who was baptized in 1959. “We were a small branch with very few members in a humble little chapel. Now today we have this temple. It is wonderful.”
The Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple was dedicated Nov. 23, 2025, by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was accompanied at the dedicatory services by his wife, Sister Rosana Soares; Elder Craig C. Christensen, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Debbie Christensen; and Elder Joaquin E. Costa, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s South America South Area, and his wife, Sister Renee Costa.
The dedication of the Bahía Blanca temple was a day of rejoicing, said Elder Soares. “I am certain that the dedication of a temple in this beautiful land represents the fulfillment of a long-awaited dream, especially for the faithful Saints of the Bahía Blanca area. How wondrous it is to witness the unfolding of the Lord’s work and the growth of His kingdom in this sacred part of the world.”
Elder Soares added that “the building of a temple, such as this one being dedicated in Bahía Blanca, reflects God’s divine and loving invitation to all who will come unto Him with a humble and willing heart.”
Elder Costa explained that “the dedication of the Bahía Blanca house of the Lord is great evidence of the love of our Heavenly Father for the many men and women who worked so diligently in His work.” He continued, “I can feel the joy of those first missionaries that were assigned to labor in Bahía Blanca.”
Maria Meriana described the dedication as a spiritual feast. “It was a beautiful experience to hear the speakers emphasize so many times that this temple is for our ancestors, for us and for those who will come after us,” said Meriana, who loves family history work and is preparing to serve a mission. “I was very moved because I thought of my entire family, from the oldest to the youngest, and how families can be eternal because of the temple and draw closer to the Lord. During the dedicatory prayer, I felt the power of heaven and all the opportunities that are open to us.”
For Julian Mansilla, being in charge of the music and playing the piano at the dedication held special significance because his great-grandfather Thomas Looney was the Church’s first convert in Bahía Blanca in 1940. “Thomas Looney was an influence on everyone in our family. It’s difficult to separate our family history from our legacy of faith,” said Mansilla, who served in the Argentina Rosario Mission. “Although I never met my great-grandfather, his stories have been passed down as a family legacy, allowing me to understand that at any moment we can be pioneers.”
During the temple’s open house, “We were flooded with people,” said Carlos Arrua, who served as a temple open house coordinator. “We knew that if people came, they would feel the Spirit and the Savior’s presence, even before the temple was dedicated. We knew people would come with open hearts — out of curiosity, a desire to come, to feel and learn more about Jesus Christ — including both endowed and unendowed members. ... The whole experience was exhausting but marvelous.”
President Juan Moura of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Stake shared that a young woman was deeply moved when she saw herself in the mirrors of the sealing room and expressed her desire to be married there. After the tour, she accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. “Most of the visitors we accompanied were inspired by the doctrine of uniting families for eternity. Many were also inspired by the artwork,” President Moura said. “All spoke of the peace and tranquility they found from the moment they entered the temple grounds.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “May this temple stand as a sacred witness of Thy remembrance and mercy — a refuge of peace and holiness, a place where Thy children may draw near unto Thee, a place of revelation, learning, comfort and peace — a refuge where Thy Spirit may dwell in abundance.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple here.
Timeline of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple
The Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple was announced on April 5, 2020, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking ceremony for this sacred edifice was held April 9, 2022, and presided over by Elder Joaquin E. Costa, second counselor in the South America South Area presidency.
After a public open house from Oct. 16 to Nov. 1, 2025, the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple was dedicated Nov. 23, 2025, by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple
A single-story building of about 23,400 square feet, the Bahía Blanca temple is made of concrete and structural steel, clad with Portuguese Moleanos limestone. The edifice draws inspiration from other religious and historical architectural designs in the region — like its carved stone exterior and gray mara granite base inspired by the city’s historic main plaza.
Art-glass windows showcase the jarilla flower, native to the region, and incorporate geometric patterns found in design motifs throughout the temple. Crema Marfil marble and Cenia Beige stone are used in the flooring, with colorful custom rugs adorning the entryway, bridal room and celestial room.
Surrounding the temple, various trees, shrubs and perennial plants native to Argentina adorn the gardens. A two-story auxiliary building also stands on the 8-acre property, serving as the temple’s arrival center and a residence for temple leaders.
Interior Photos of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple
