Where It's Located
The Teresina Brazil Temple is being constructed at the intersection of:
Av. Raul Lopes and Rua Des. Pedro Conde
Noivos
Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
The temple property covers approximately 3.6 acres, or 1.5 hectares.
Teresina is the capital of the Brazilian state of Piauí and is located in northeastern Brazil.
Getting There
International travelers will generally reach Teresina through Teresina Airport (Senador Petrônio Portella Airport).
The temple is located within the city, making it possible to combine a future temple visit with sightseeing around Teresina and the surrounding Piauí region.
Because the temple is currently under construction, it is not yet open for temple ordinances. An open house and dedication date have not yet been announced.
A Temple for Northeastern Brazil
The Teresina Brazil Temple will serve members in a part of Brazil that is geographically distant from many of the country's existing temples.
The temple will particularly serve the states of Piauí and Maranhão.
The metropolitan area formed by Teresina and nearby Timon, Maranhão, has nearly one million residents.
Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Teresina Brazil Temple on April 2, 2023, during the April 2023 General Conference.
Teresina was one of 15 cities announced for new temples during that General Conference.
The announcement reflected the continued expansion of temple access throughout Brazil.
A Growing Temple Network
Brazil already had a substantial temple network when the Teresina Temple was announced.
At the time, dedicated temples were operating in:
- Belém
- Campinas
- Curitiba
- Fortaleza
- Manaus
- Porto Alegre
- Recife
- Rio de Janeiro
- São Paulo
Temples were also under construction in Brasília and Salvador.
Teresina was among nine additional Brazilian cities announced for future temples.
The other cities were:
- Belo Horizonte
- Londrina
- Maceió
- Natal
- Ribeirão Preto
- Santos
- São Paulo East
- Vitória
The Church in Brazil
Brazil has one of the largest Latter-day Saint populations outside the United States.
At the time of the Teresina Temple announcement, Brazil had nearly 1.5 million Latter-day Saints organized into approximately 2,175 congregations.
The Church's growth in Brazil has been significant for decades.
In 1988, Brazil became only the third country outside the United States to have 50 organized stakes.
"Brazil Is Part of the Heart of the Church"
Brazil has received particular attention from Church leaders because of its large and growing membership.
In April 2017, President Russell M. Nelson said:
"Brazil is part of the heart of the Church."
The continued construction of temples throughout the country illustrates the scale of that growth.
The Temple Site
The Teresina Temple site was officially announced on August 28, 2023.
The Church selected a 3.6-acre property at the convergence of Av. Raul Lopes and Rua Des. Pedro Conde in the Noivos neighborhood.
Plans call for approximately 25,420 square feet of temple space.
Temple Rendering
An official exterior rendering of the Teresina Brazil Temple was released on February 12, 2024.
The design features a relatively traditional temple appearance with a prominent central tower.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on April 18, 2026.
Elder Ciro Schmeil, First Counselor in the Brazil Area Presidency, presided over the ceremony.
Church members, local leaders, public officials, and invited guests gathered for the historic event.
A Message About God's Love
During the groundbreaking, Elder Schmeil taught that temples are a demonstration of God's love for His children and a place where people can draw closer to Jesus Christ.
His message was particularly appropriate for a temple that will eventually bring temple worship closer to members throughout northeastern Brazil.
Architecture
The planned Teresina Brazil Temple will contain approximately 25,420 square feet of floor space.
The temple will feature a single attached central spire.
The published elevation is approximately 213 feet, or 65 meters.
That makes it a substantial vertical landmark within the city.
A Prominent Central Spire
The central spire will be the dominant architectural feature of the temple.
Unlike temples with multiple detached towers, the Teresina Temple's tower will rise directly from the main structure, creating a traditional and easily recognizable temple silhouette.
A Temple in an Inland Brazilian City
Teresina is an unusual setting for a temple because it is an inland city.
Located far from Brazil's famous Atlantic coastal cities, Teresina serves as an important regional center for northern Brazil.
The temple will therefore provide a spiritual center in an area that has historically been farther removed from Brazil's major temple cities.
Exploring Teresina
A trip to the Teresina Brazil Temple could also provide an opportunity to experience one of Brazil's less-touristed state capitals.
Teresina is known for:
- Tropical vegetation
- Parks
- Brazilian cuisine
- Local markets
- Rivers
- Regional culture
- Nearby waterfalls and natural attractions
The Meeting of Two Rivers
One of Teresina's most famous geographic features is its location near the meeting of the Parnaíba and Poti Rivers.
The rivers are an important part of the city's identity and provide scenic areas for visitors.
The Encontro dos Rios area is one of the city's notable attractions.
Parque Ambiental Encontro dos Rios
The Encontro dos Rios Environmental Park is located near the meeting point of the two rivers.
Visitors can enjoy walking areas, viewpoints, local crafts, and views of the waterways.
It is one of the easiest ways to experience Teresina's natural setting without leaving the city.
Teresina's Food
Teresina is known for the cuisine of northeastern Brazil.
Visitors can find dishes featuring:
- Beef
- Dried meat
- Beans
- Cassava
- Corn
- Rice
- Tropical fruits
Regional northeastern Brazilian foods provide a different culinary experience from the cuisine found in southern cities such as São Paulo or Curitiba.
Piauí's Natural Attractions
The state of Piauí has some remarkable natural scenery outside Teresina.
One of the most important destinations is Serra da Capivara National Park, famous for its prehistoric rock art and archaeological sites.
The park is much farther from Teresina, but it could be an incredible addition for travelers interested in history and archaeology.
Serra da Capivara
Serra da Capivara is particularly famous for its enormous collection of prehistoric rock paintings.
The region provides evidence of ancient human activity in South America and has become one of Brazil's most important archaeological destinations.
It would make an ambitious but memorable addition to a longer Piauí trip.
Why the Teresina Temple Matters
The Teresina Brazil Temple represents another major step in the expansion of temple access throughout Brazil.
Brazil's enormous size makes geographic accessibility particularly important.
A temple in Teresina will give members in Piauí and Maranhão a temple located much closer to their communities than many of Brazil's existing temples.
A Temple for Piauí and Maranhão
The temple is particularly important because of its regional role.
Teresina sits directly across the Parnaíba River from Timon, Maranhão, making the city a natural center for the surrounding region.
The combined Teresina-Timon metropolitan area has nearly one million residents.
The temple therefore has the potential to serve a significant population beyond the immediate city.
Part of an Extraordinary Expansion
The announcement of the Teresina Temple came during a remarkable period of temple expansion in Brazil.
Rather than simply adding one or two temples, the Church announced temples in 15 Brazilian cities in 2023.
That expansion demonstrates just how dramatically temple access is changing for Brazilian Latter-day Saints.
Current Construction
The Teresina Brazil Temple is currently under construction.
Groundbreaking took place on April 18, 2026, so construction is still in its early stages.
An open house and dedication date have not yet been announced.
Current Status
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: April 2, 2023
- Site announced: August 28, 2023
- Rendering released: February 12, 2024
- Groundbreaking: April 18, 2026
- Current status: Under construction
- Open house: Not yet announced
- Dedication: Not yet announced
Planning a Future Temple Visit
Since the temple is still under construction, travelers should wait for the Church to announce its open house and dedication dates before planning a temple visit around those events.
Once completed, the temple will be a significant destination for Latter-day Saints throughout Piauí, Maranhão, and surrounding areas.
Final Thoughts
The Teresina Brazil Temple is part of one of the most dramatic periods of temple growth in Brazil.
President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple on April 2, 2023, and the Church later selected a 3.6-acre site at Av. Raul Lopes and Rua Des. Pedro Conde in Teresina's Noivos neighborhood.
The planned 25,420-square-foot temple will feature a single attached central spire and rise approximately 213 feet.
Groundbreaking finally took place on April 18, 2026, with Elder Ciro Schmeil presiding. Church members, leaders, public officials, and invited guests gathered to mark the beginning of construction.
The temple will serve Latter-day Saints throughout Piauí and Maranhão, including the large Teresina-Timon metropolitan area.
Perhaps the biggest story behind the temple, however, is the broader growth of the Church in Brazil. When the temple was announced, Brazil had nearly 1.5 million Latter-day Saints in about 2,175 congregations, with temples already operating in nine Brazilian cities and additional temples under construction.
The Teresina Temple is another sign of how quickly temple access is expanding across a country that President Nelson once described as "part of the heart of the Church."
For Latter-day Saint travelers, a future trip to the Teresina Brazil Temple could combine temple worship with the rivers, culture, food, and natural beauty of northeastern Brazil, including the remarkable archaeological treasures of Piauí.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
0 comments