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103rd temple dedicated
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dedication of the Montevideo Uruguay Temple
Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Montevideo Uruguay Temple on March 18, 2001.President Huber Chineppe of the Rivera Uruguay Stake was one of the 7,600 Latter-day Saints at the dedication. President Chineppe — who lost his 15-year-old son, Matias, in a tragic accident in 1999 when a group of Uruguayan Saints were traveling to the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple — said that upon “entering the celestial room [of the Montevideo temple], our feelings were very close to our loved ones who are not with us now in life; we will not forget them this day.”
Sister Mirta Da Rosa de Duarte, who lost a daughter in the same accident, also felt blessed by the new house of the Lord in Montevideo at the dedication. She said, “Today, we are in the temple at last, and this has been a sweet experience, and we have had an opportunity to be close to President Hinckley and feel that he is a representative of the Savior on this earth.”
The Montevideo temple reduced difficulties for Uruguayan Church members to attend the temple due to cost or distance, a blessing for which many attendees at the dedication expressed their gratitude.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Dear Father, wilt Thou accept this temple as the gift of Thy sons and daughters. It has come through the faithful payment of tithing by Thy Saints across the world. May it grace this land. May the nation of Uruguay be blessed because of its presence on this soil. May it stand as a testimony to the world of the knowledge of Thy people concerning the eternal things of God.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Montevideo Uruguay Temple here.
Timeline of the Montevideo Uruguay Temple
November
02
1998
Announced
A temple for Montevideo, Uruguay, was announced on Nov. 2, 1998, by the First Presidency of the Church to local leaders. At the time, the First Presidency consisted of Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust.
April
27
1999
Groundbreaking
Ground was broken for the temple on April 27, 1999, with about 900 attendees. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was a former missionary in Uruguay, presided over the ceremony.
February
28
2001
Open house
The public was invited to tour the completed house of the Lord from Feb. 28 through March 10, 2001. Nearly 25,000 people attended the open house.
March
18
2001
Dedication
The Montevideo Uruguay Temple was dedicated on March 18, 2001, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. More than 7,655 members attended the four dedicatory sessions.
The First Presidency of the Church announced a temple for Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 2, 1998. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the house of the Lord on April 27, 1999.
Nearly 25,000 people attended the temple’s open house from Feb. 28 through March 10, 2001. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Montevideo Uruguay Temple on March 18, 2001.
The exterior finish of the temple is made from granite, and the interior features two instruction rooms and two sealing rooms, as well as the baptistry and celestial room.
Nearly 25,000 people attended the temple’s open house from Feb. 28 through March 10, 2001. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Montevideo Uruguay Temple on March 18, 2001.
Architecture and Design of the Montevideo Uruguay Temple
The 10,700-square-foot Montevideo Uruguay Temple was built on 1.59 acres of land in metropolitan Montevideo. Palm trees and foliage native to the area adorn the temple grounds, which are located near the shoreline of the Río de la Plata river.The exterior finish of the temple is made from granite, and the interior features two instruction rooms and two sealing rooms, as well as the baptistry and celestial room.
Quick Facts
Announced
2 November 1998
Dedicated
18 March 2001
Dedicated by
Current President and Matron
Location
Bolonia 1722
Carrasco
11500 Montevideo
Departamento de Montevideo
Uruguay
Appointments
View schedule and book online
(598) 2604-7300
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This was the first Latter-day Saint temple in Uruguay.
Fact #2
After Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle toured the temple during its open house period, he spoke of his experience learning about the gospel on his tour, saying, “These values should constitute a guide for our families and each one of us.”
Fact #3
Samuel Piriz, a counselor in the bishopric of the Pueblo Nuevo Ward, Durazno Uruguay Stake, was unemployed during the year before the temple dedication, but he prayed that he would somehow be able to take his family to the ceremony. He found a job a month before the dedication and was able to pay for not only his family’s bus fare to the temple, but also that of two other families from his ward.
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This was the first Latter-day Saint temple in Uruguay.
Fact #2
After Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle toured the temple during its open house period, he spoke of his experience learning about the gospel on his tour, saying, “These values should constitute a guide for our families and each one of us.”
Fact #3
Samuel Piriz, a counselor in the bishopric of the Pueblo Nuevo Ward, Durazno Uruguay Stake, was unemployed during the year before the temple dedication, but he prayed that he would somehow be able to take his family to the ceremony. He found a job a month before the dedication and was able to pay for not only his family’s bus fare to the temple, but also that of two other families from his ward.