Where It's Located
The Fortaleza Brazil Temple is located at Avenida Santos Dumont 7771 in the Bairro de Lourdes (Dunas) neighborhood of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The temple sits on a 10-acre site overlooking the city and includes an arrival center, missionary housing, a meetinghouse, and a distribution center.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Pinto Martins–Fortaleza International Airport (FOR), located about 8 miles (13 km) from the temple. Travelers from the United States typically connect through major international gateways such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, or Panama City before continuing to Fortaleza. From the airport, the temple is approximately a 20- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic.
A Bit of History
The Fortaleza Brazil Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson during the October 2009 General Conference on October 3, 2009. It became the seventh temple built in Brazil and the first in the state of Ceará, significantly reducing travel for members throughout northeastern Brazil who had previously journeyed hundreds of miles to the Recife Brazil Temple.
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on November 15, 2011, with Elder David A. Bednar presiding. Following the groundbreaking, the project experienced several years of delays while revised construction plans received government approval. Construction officially began in 2016 after the redesigned plans were approved.
A public open house was held from April 27 through May 18, 2019. Elder Ulisses Soares dedicated the temple on June 2, 2019, making it the 164th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the first Brazilian Apostle to dedicate a temple in his home country, Elder Soares described the occasion as especially meaningful.
Design and Architecture
The Fortaleza Brazil Temple contains approximately 36,000 square feet of floor space. Its exterior is finished with Branco Ceará granite, a stone native to the region, and features a single attached end tower topped with an angel Moroni statue. The temple stands at an elevation of approximately 202 feet above sea level.
Inside, the temple includes two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptistry. The original design called for a larger double-towered temple, but the final approved plans featured a more compact design with a single domed tower while maintaining an elegant architectural style that complements Fortaleza's coastal setting.
Final Thoughts
The Fortaleza Brazil Temple represents an important milestone in the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in northeastern Brazil. As the first temple in Ceará, it has brought temple blessings much closer to thousands of members throughout the region. Its beautiful granite exterior, scenic hilltop location, and inspiring history of perseverance through years of planning make it a memorable destination for anyone visiting Latter-day Saint temples in Brazil.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
https://broughmade.com
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