SANTIAGO, CHILE - Mormon Temple
In 1850, Mormon missionaries from America arrived in Chile to begin preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Chilean people; however, their stay was not to last, due to the apparent language barrier. Ninety-five years would pass before two missionaries from Argentina would arrive to begin the preaching again.
It was at this time that Brother and Sister Ricardo Garcia were the first to be baptized. Brother Garcia clearly remembers his baptism in 1956, "I knew that this was the true Church – mine was not just faith, but a conviction…because of the teachings on the Word of Wisdom and tithing, I thought it would be impossible for the [Mormon] Church to succeed here. …now there are hundreds and…thousands of people".1 Twenty-seven years [1983] after Brother Garcia’s baptism, and at the dedication of the Santiago Chile Mormon Temple, there were 140,000 members of the Mormon Church in the country of Chile.
Three years prior to the dedication, the announcement to build the Santiago Chile Mormon Temple was made, by then President of the Mormon Church, President Spencer W. Kimball. This would be the first Mormon Temple built in a Spanish-speaking country and the second in South America.
Construction of this marvelous edifice took three years to build. And in 1983 the completed Santiago Mormon Temple was open to the public for viewing. Among those touring the Temple was Brother Garcia. As Brother Garcia walked through the doors to tour the sacred Temple, his eyes filled with tears of joy at seeing the Temple Presidency dressed in their white temple clothes. "…Now we have a Temple!"2 Many faithful members came from distant cities to participate and rejoice over the building and dedication of this marvelous blessing in their midst.
With the rapid growth of the Mormon Church in the country of Chile, the Temple was closed for extensive renovation and rededicated in 2006. President Gordon B. Hinckley presided over this dedication and remarked on those faithful members who have served faithfully in the Temple. "…We thank thee for the faith and loyalty of they Saints…bless them…shield them from the darts of the adversary and fortify them…"1 The Chilean Temple serves more than 535,000 Mormon members (2006).
The unique features of this Temple include, ‘hand-carved wainscoting in the waiting area, motifs of the copihue (Chile’s national flower), door handles and art-glass windows, a floor motif of inlaid Chilean marble and lapislazuli (native stone) in the baptistry and entryway.’ 3
For more information on the Mormon Church or Mormon Temples, please see the following websites: