Updated
Updated · Church News · Aug 1
Church Breaks Ground on 23,000-Square-Foot Santos Brazil Temple, Its 3rd Brazil Temple Start in 2026
Updated
Updated · Church News · Aug 1

Church Breaks Ground on 23,000-Square-Foot Santos Brazil Temple, Its 3rd Brazil Temple Start in 2026

3 articles · Updated · Church News · Aug 1

Summary

  • Santos, Brazil, became the site of a new Latter-day Saint temple on Aug. 1, with Elder Ronald M. Barcellos presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony.
  • The planned two-story temple will span about 23,000 square feet and is now one of six Brazil temples in the construction phase.
  • Barcellos said the temple will bring “glorious blessings” to thousands in the region, while his site prayer asked for protection and guidance throughout construction.
  • Elder Claudio R.M. Costa, a Santos native, also spoke, emphasizing temple ordinances and eternal families in remarks tied to President Russell M. Nelson’s 1996 talk “The Atonement.”
  • The Santos project is Brazil’s third temple groundbreaking of 2026 and adds to a church footprint in the country that now includes more than 1.5 million members and 24 temples operating, planned or under construction.

Insights

What hidden historical ties make the newly broken ground for the Santos temple so deeply significant for local Brazilian believers?
With 24 temples now dotting Brazil, what secret cultural catalyst is driving this faith's explosive growth across South America?
How will a sprawling 23,000-square-foot religious complex ultimately transform the landscape of the historic Jabaquara neighborhood?