Montevideo Uruguay Temple facts for kids

Montevideo Uruguay Temple
Number	103	edit data
Dedicated	Quick facts for kids 18 March 2001 (18 March 2001) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	1.59 acres (0.6 hectares)
Floor area	10,700 sq ft (990 m2)
Height	71 ft (22 m)
Preceded by	Porto Alegre Brazil Temple
Followed by	Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple
Official website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/montevideo-uruguay-temple • News & images
Additional information Announced 2 November 1998 Groundbreaking 27 April 1999 by Richard G. Scott Open House 28 February – 10 March 2001 Designed by Edvardo Signorelli Location Bolonia 1722 Carrasco Montevideo Uruguay Exterior finish Asa branca granite Temple design Classic modern, single-spire design Ordinance rooms 2 (Movie, two-stage progressive sessions) Sealing rooms 2 Clothing rental No Cafeteria No Visitors' center No

34°53′18.39839″S 56°4′26.71680″W / 34.8884439972°S 56.0740880000°W / -34.8884439972; -56.0740880000

The Montevideo Uruguay Temple is a special building for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the 103rd temple built by the Church. Temples are places where members of the Church go to make promises to God and learn more about their faith.

History of the Temple

Building the Temple

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Montevideo Uruguay Temple happened on 10 April 1999. This event marked the official start of construction. Richard G. Scott, a leader in the Church, led the ceremony. He was one of the first missionaries from the Church to serve in Uruguay.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started in Uruguay in 1944. That year, the first small group, called a "branch," was formed. Since then, the Church has grown a lot in the country. By 2001, there were about 73,000 members in Uruguay, and they had their own temple.

Open House and Dedication

Before the temple was officially opened, there was an "open house." This is a time when anyone, no matter their religion, can visit and see inside the temple. Nearly 25,000 people came to visit the Montevideo Uruguay Temple during its open house.

One of the special visitors was Jorge Batlle Ibáñez, who was the President of Uruguay at the time. This showed how important the temple was to the community.

The temple was officially dedicated on 18 March 2001. The president of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, led the dedication ceremony. More than 6,500 people attended this important event.

Temple Design and Features

The Montevideo Uruguay Temple has a beautiful design. It features a single tall spire, which is a pointed top. On top of the spire is a statue of the angel Moroni. This angel is an important figure in the Church's beliefs.

The outside of the temple is made from a type of stone called asa branca granite. Inside, the temple has about 10,700 square feet (994 square meters) of space. It includes special rooms for ceremonies, such as two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.

A Temple for a New Century

The Montevideo Uruguay Temple holds a special place in history. It was the very first temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be dedicated in the 21st century.

In 2020, like many other public places around the world, the Montevideo Uruguay Temple had to close temporarily. This was done to help keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

More Information

In Spanish: Templo de Montevideo (Uruguay) para niños