Groundbreaking of the João Pessoa Brazil Temple
Ground was broken for the João Pessoa Brazil Temple on Jan. 24, 2026, with Elder Joni L. Koch — a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Brazil Area — presiding. He spoke in João Pessoa to groundbreaking attendees — Latter-day Saints, community members, religious leaders, civic authorities and guests — about the purpose of a temple.
The house of the Lord allows disciples of Christ to heed His invitation to “be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48), he said. “Without temples, it is not possible to attain this perfection,” said Elder Koch, adding that perfection comes through Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saints, he said, more fully take upon themselves the Savior’s name as they attend the temple, make and keep covenants, and remember His atoning sacrifice.
Timeline of the João Pessoa Brazil Temple
The João Pessoa Brazil Temple was announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson on Oct. 1, 2023. Ground was broken for the temple on Jan. 24, 2026, with Elder Joni L. Koch presiding.
Architecture and Design of the João Pessoa Brazil Temple
According to site plans released by the Church on Nov. 20, 2023, the João Pessoa Brazil Temple will have an area of approximately 18,850 square feet. The edifice will stand on a 3.9-acre site in the Cabo Branco neighborhood of João Pessoa, a port city in the state of Paraíba in northeastern Brazil, some 65 miles north of Recife.
Architectural renderings of the house of the Lord show arched windows surrounding an arched entryway. A central, rectangular spire stands above the building, with a tall, thin window on each side. Palm trees and flowerbeds adorn the grounds.