Where It's Located
The Curitiba Brazil Temple is located at Rua Deputado Heitor Alencar Furtado, 3641 in the Mossunguê neighborhood of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. The temple sits on an 8.15-acre site surrounded by mature trees and landscaped gardens near Barigui Shopping Center. A distribution center is located on the temple grounds.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB), located in the Curitiba metropolitan area. Travelers from the United States typically connect through major Brazilian gateways such as São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro before continuing to Curitiba. From the airport, the temple is approximately a 30- to 40-minute drive, depending on traffic.
A Bit of History
The Curitiba Brazil Temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley on August 23, 2002. It became the fifth temple built in Brazil, serving members throughout the states of Paraná and part of Santa Catarina.
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on March 10, 2005, with Elder Russell M. Nelson presiding. Before construction began, President Gordon B. Hinckley personally selected the temple site during a visit to Curitiba in 2004.
Following a public open house from May 10–24, 2008, which welcomed more than 42,000 visitors, President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the temple on June 1, 2008, making it the 126th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The dedication marked President Monson's first trip outside North America after becoming President of the Church.
The temple also fulfilled a prophecy made by President Spencer W. Kimball in 1953, when he declared during the dedication of a meetinghouse in the area that one day there would be a temple in the region. More than 50 years later, that promise became a reality.
Design and Architecture
The Curitiba Brazil Temple contains approximately 27,850 square feet of floor space. Its exterior is finished with sienna white granite from the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo over reinforced concrete. The temple features a single attached end spire topped with an angel Moroni statue and rises approximately 125 feet above the surrounding landscape.
Inside, the temple includes two progressive instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. The floor plan later served as the basis for both the Vancouver British Columbia Temple and the Manaus Brazil Temple. Interior craftsmanship features locally sourced ipê wood, original murals by Brazilian artist Alexandre Reider, and decorative stone imported from Spain.
Final Thoughts
The Curitiba Brazil Temple represents an important milestone in the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in southern Brazil. From the fulfillment of a decades-old prophecy to its influence on later temple designs, it holds a unique place in Church history. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and towering trees, it continues to serve thousands of Latter-day Saints throughout southern Brazil while standing as one of the country's most beautiful temples.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
https://broughmade.com
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