Lima Peru Temple

Dedication of the Lima Peru Temple

When Peruvian Latter-day Saints received news in 1981 that a house of the Lord would be built in their country, they gladly sacrificed whatever it took to contribute. Some gave personal possessions, and others sold their furniture or appliances. Some members gave their gold wedding bands, and others even had gold fillings pried from their teeth and replaced with a less-costly substance.

Yet despite these offerings, “at the dedication sessions, members never mentioned their sacrifices, only their gratitude,” a 1986 Church News article reported.

The Lima Peru Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, in 11 sessions from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12, 1986. President Hinckley said at the dedication that he was so pleased to see the temple that “I couldn't hold back the tears, and I haven't been able to hold them back since. There stands now a house of the Lord in the nation of Peru. God be thanked for this glorious and happy day."

The Prophet was joined at the ceremony by Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Robert L. Simpson, a General Authority Seventy and managing director of the Church’s Temple Department. Members of the South America North Area presidency were also in attendance: Elders F. Burton Howard, Loren C. Dunn and Helio Camargo.

A total of 10,777 members from all over the country visited a dedicatory session. Some Peruvian Saints traveled up to 26 hours by bus to attend the ceremony.

Mario Perotti, a temple committee chairman in Peru, said about the dedication, “The conquistadors searched in the jungle for gold, but they found none. We now have a greater place to search. Here is our gold, here in the temple.”

Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “We are particularly mindful this day of the sons and daughters of Lehi. ... Surely father Lehi has wept with sorrow over his posterity. Surely he weeps today with gladness, for in this holy house there will be exercised the fullness of the priesthood to the blessing, not only of those of this and future generations, but also to the blessing of those of previous generations.”

Read the dedicatory prayer of the Lima Peru Temple here.

The Lima Peru Temple was announced April 1, 1981, by Church President Spencer W. Kimball. A groundbreaking ceremony was then held Sept. 11, 1982, presided over by Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

After an open house from Dec. 12 to 28, 1985, the Lima Peru Temple was dedicated from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12, 1986, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Architecture and Design of the Lima Peru Temple

This first house of the Lord in Peru has a floor area of around 9,600 square feet and sits on a site of 4.5 acres. A row of many back-to-back arches surround the temple, such as in the windows, the doors and impressions in the walls.

Six tall, white spires stand around the six-sided temple, with three at the front and three toward the back. The white exterior is made of granite, with a red roof peaked on top. A statue of the angel Moroni rises to 112 feet atop the tallest spire, in front of the building.

Inside the temple are four instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, the baptistry and the celestial room. Adjacent to the temple is a building with patron housing and a distribution center.