Where It's Located
The Trujillo Peru Temple is located at:
Av. Mansiche Km 3.5
Carretera hacia Huanchaco
Huanchaco, Trujillo, La Libertad
Peru
The temple sits on a large parcel of land along the highway toward Huanchaco, just east of the famous archaeological site of Chan Chan.
Its location gives the temple a particularly interesting setting: a modern Latter-day Saint temple surrounded by the history and culture of ancient Peru.
The Second Temple in Peru
The Trujillo Peru Temple was the second temple constructed in Peru, following the Lima Peru Temple, which was dedicated in 1986.
For decades, Lima was the only operating temple in the country.
That meant members living in northern Peru faced a significant journey whenever they wanted to attend the temple.
The Temple Announcement
The First Presidency announced the Trujillo Peru Temple on December 13, 2008.
At the time, the announcement explained that the temple would bless more than 88,000 Latter-day Saints in Trujillo and the surrounding region.
The announcement was especially meaningful because members in northern Peru had been traveling long distances to reach Lima.
A Long Journey to Lima
Before the Trujillo Temple was built, members in the region generally traveled 9 to 10 hours by bus to attend the Lima Peru Temple.
And the Lima Temple was exceptionally busy.
Buses arrived from throughout Peru carrying patrons who sometimes had to wait outside for hours before entering the temple.
For members in Trujillo, having a temple nearby would dramatically change that experience.
The Original Temple Site
Interestingly, the temple wasn't always planned for its current location.
The original proposal called for the temple to be constructed where the Trujillo Peru Primavera Stake Center stood.
The meetinghouse would have been demolished and replaced with the temple.
The Church eventually acquired the Campo Eterno property instead, allowing the temple to be built on its current site.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on September 14, 2011.
Elder Rafael E. Pino, then president of the South America Northwest Area, presided over the ceremony.
During the groundbreaking, Elder Pino connected the physical construction of the temple with the spiritual construction of individual lives.
He encouraged members to use the beginning of the construction project as an opportunity to build their own lives around the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Temple Site
The temple sits on approximately 8.9 acres.
The property is adjacent to the beautiful Campo Eterno cemetery.
There is also an accommodation center on the temple grounds, providing traveling patrons and temple workers with a place to freshen up before entering the temple and, when needed, stay overnight.
Land was also reserved for a future meetinghouse.
Architecture
The Trujillo Peru Temple contains approximately 28,200 square feet of floor space.
The building rises approximately 126 feet.
Its exterior is finished with Branco Ceara granite from Brazil, giving the temple a bright, polished appearance.
The temple features a single attached central tower topped with an Angel Moroni statue.
Temple Ordinance Rooms
The temple contains:
- Two instruction rooms
- Two sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The instruction rooms use a two-stage progressive format.
This design allows patrons to progress through the endowment experience in stages while moving through different rooms of the temple.
A Temple Near Chan Chan
One of the coolest things about the Trujillo Temple is its proximity to Chan Chan.
The ancient city sits just west of the temple and is considered the largest Pre-Columbian city in South America.
Chan Chan covers approximately 20 square miles and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
That gives the temple an incredible historical backdrop.
Ancient Peru Meets Modern Peru
Standing near the Trujillo Temple means being surrounded by layers of Peruvian history.
The temple represents modern Latter-day Saint worship in Peru, while nearby Chan Chan represents the sophisticated civilization that flourished in the region centuries before European arrival.
For visitors interested in history, archaeology, architecture, or religion, the combination makes the area particularly fascinating.
The Public Open House
The Trujillo Peru Temple held its public open house from May 8 through May 30, 2015.
The 22-day open house allowed members and the general public to tour the interior before the temple was dedicated.
Visitors were able to learn about the purpose of temples and see the finished building firsthand.
Cultural Celebration
The day before the dedication, a special cultural celebration was held on June 20, 2015, at the Coliseo Gran Chima sports arena.
Hundreds of Latter-day Saint youth participated.
The event celebrated Peru's Incan history and culture through traditional folk dances and music.
It was an especially fitting celebration given the temple's location near some of Peru's most important archaeological sites.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf attended and brought greetings and love from President Thomas S. Monson.
Temple Dedication
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then serving as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Trujillo Peru Temple on June 21, 2015.
The dedication made the temple the 147th dedicated temple in operation.
In his dedicatory prayer, President Uchtdorf prayed for the people of Peru and asked that the restored gospel would touch their hearts and lives.
A Temple That Changed Travel
Perhaps the biggest impact of the Trujillo Temple isn't its size or architecture.
It's the distance it saves local members.
A 9–10 hour bus journey to Lima could turn temple attendance into an enormous undertaking.
The temple in Trujillo brought those blessings substantially closer to home for thousands of members in northern Peru.
That was exactly the purpose expressed by the First Presidency when the temple was announced.
Exploring Trujillo
A trip to the Trujillo Temple also provides an opportunity to explore one of Peru's most historically significant cities.
Trujillo is known for its:
- Colonial architecture
- Archaeological sites
- Museums
- Traditional Peruvian food
- Nearby beaches
- Pre-Columbian ruins
- Historic plazas
It is often considered one of the most important cultural destinations on Peru's northern coast.
Chan Chan
No trip to the Trujillo area would be complete without visiting Chan Chan.
The enormous archaeological complex was the capital of the Chimú civilization.
Its massive adobe walls, ceremonial plazas, and intricate carvings demonstrate the sophistication of the civilization that once dominated Peru's northern coast.
Its proximity to the temple makes it an especially easy addition to a temple trip.
Huanchaco
The temple is also located near Huanchaco, a famous coastal town known for its traditional caballitos de totora—small reed boats that have been used along the Peruvian coast for centuries.
Huanchaco is also a popular surfing destination.
So if you're building a temple trip around the Trujillo area, you can go from temple worship to ancient ruins to the Pacific Ocean remarkably quickly.
Peruvian Food
Northern Peru is famous for its food, and Trujillo is no exception.
Visitors should look for dishes such as:
- Ceviche
- Cabrito
- Shambar
- Arroz con pato
- Causa
- Papa a la huancaína
- Anticuchos
Trujillo is particularly known for shambar, a hearty soup traditionally associated with the region.
Why the Trujillo Temple Matters
The Trujillo Peru Temple represents much more than another temple building in Peru.
It represents the Church's response to a very real challenge faced by members in northern Peru.
When the temple was announced, thousands of members were traveling for hours by bus to reach Lima.
The new temple placed temple worship much closer to the people it was intended to serve.
A Temple Built for Northern Peru
The temple district serves members throughout northern Peru.
Its location in Trujillo makes it an important regional temple for communities along the northern coast.
The accommodation center on the property is especially useful for members who still travel significant distances to attend.
Current Status
The Trujillo Peru Temple is currently operating and is the 147th dedicated temple in operation.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: December 13, 2008
- Groundbreaking: September 14, 2011
- Public open house: May 8–30, 2015
- Cultural celebration: June 20, 2015
- Dedication: June 21, 2015
- Site: 8.9 acres
- Floor area: 28,200 square feet
- Exterior: Branco Ceara granite from Brazil
- Current status: Operating
Planning a Temple Visit
The Trujillo Temple does not have a visitors' center open to the public, but it does have an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center.
The temple's location along the highway toward Huanchaco makes it convenient to combine a visit with the area's archaeological and coastal attractions.
If you're traveling from outside Peru, Trujillo's historic center, Chan Chan, and Huanchaco provide plenty to explore beyond the temple.
Final Thoughts
The Trujillo Peru Temple is one of those temples whose significance becomes much clearer when you look at the story behind it.
Before it existed, Latter-day Saints in northern Peru had only one temple available to them: the Lima Peru Temple. Members from Trujillo often traveled 9–10 hours by bus to get there.
When the Trujillo Temple was announced on December 13, 2008, the First Presidency specifically emphasized that it would bless more than 88,000 members in the region who had been traveling long distances to enjoy temple blessings.
The temple's eventual location was also significant. Instead of being built on the originally proposed stake center property, the Church acquired land next to Campo Eterno cemetery, along the road toward Huanchaco.
Groundbreaking took place in September 2011, and the completed temple opened to the public in May 2015.
The finished building contains 28,200 square feet and sits on an 8.9-acre site. Its exterior is covered in Branco Ceara granite from Brazil, and its central tower is topped with an Angel Moroni statue.
The temple also has an incredible location. Just nearby is Chan Chan, the massive ancient city that was once the center of the Chimú civilization. The site covers approximately 20 square miles and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The day before the dedication, hundreds of Peruvian Latter-day Saint youth gathered for a cultural celebration featuring traditional dances and music honoring Peru's history and culture. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf attended the celebration before dedicating the temple the following day.
President Uchtdorf dedicated the Trujillo Peru Temple on June 21, 2015, making it the 147th dedicated temple in operation.
Today, the temple continues to serve Latter-day Saints throughout northern Peru.
The Trujillo Peru Temple is a great example of what temples can mean to local members. It's not simply a beautiful building. For people who once spent an entire day traveling by bus to reach the nearest temple, having one in their own region can completely change how accessible temple worship becomes.
And with ancient Chan Chan, the Pacific coast, Huanchaco, and the historic city of Trujillo all nearby, it is also a pretty incredible place to visit.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
0 comments