Where It's Located
The Concepción Chile Temple is located at 1525 Pedro de Valdivia in Concepción, Biobío, Chile. The temple sits on a 4.06-acre site in the forested Quinta Junge neighborhood near the Biobío River. The temple complex includes an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP), located about 20 minutes from the temple. Travelers from the United States typically connect through Santiago, Chile (SCL) before taking a domestic flight to Concepción. The airport offers frequent connections from Santiago, making it the primary gateway for visitors traveling to southern Chile.
A Bit of History
The Concepción Chile Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson during the October 2009 General Conference. It became the second temple in Chile, following the Santiago Chile Temple, reflecting the continued growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the country.
The temple's groundbreaking and site dedication took place on October 17, 2015, with Elder Walter F. González presiding. Following a public open house from September 15 through October 13, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson dedicated the temple on October 28, 2018, making it the 160th operating temple of the Church. More than 83,500 visitors toured the temple during the open house.
The temple also has a unique connection to Chile's history of earthquakes. Following the devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck near Concepción in 2010, engineers incorporated an advanced seismic protection system into the temple's design to help withstand future earthquakes.
Design and Architecture
The Concepción Chile Temple contains approximately 23,095 square feet of floor space. Its exterior is finished with precast concrete designed to resemble traditional limestone stucco and features a single attached central tower topped with an angel Moroni statue. The temple rises approximately 124 feet above the surrounding landscape.
One of the temple's most remarkable engineering features is its base isolation system, which includes 22 pendulum-style base isolators and eight seismic dampers. This system allows the building to move independently during major earthquakes, greatly reducing the forces felt inside the temple.
Inside, the temple includes two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. Design elements throughout the temple celebrate Chilean culture, including artwork inspired by the copihue, Chile's national flower, the use of lapis lazuli, Chile's national stone, and landscaping that preserves native Chilean palm trees and araucaria trees already growing on the property.
Final Thoughts
The Concepción Chile Temple is one of the Church's most distinctive modern temples. Its beautiful setting near the Biobío River, thoughtful incorporation of Chilean cultural elements, and state-of-the-art earthquake-resistant engineering make it a remarkable house of the Lord. For Latter-day Saints visiting southern Chile, the Concepción Chile Temple offers both spiritual significance and an inspiring example of modern temple design.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
https://broughmade.com
0 comments