In a report published August 15, it was noted that local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, are preparing for the dedication of the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple. Many local members view the scheduled visit by Church President Dallin H. Oaks as a homecoming due to his previous visits to the city in decades past.
The temple dedication is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16. This event represents the first time a prophet has visited the state of Minas Gerais and serves as President Oaks' first international temple dedication during his administration. While the 10 a.m. dedicatory session is limited to approximately 200 local leaders and members via special ticketing, the service will be broadcast live to meetinghouses throughout the temple district.
Latter-day Saints aged 8 and older who have obtained a special pass from their bishops can participate in the broadcasts. The dedication is expected to reach members across Minas Gerais and the neighboring state of Espírito Santo, where a temple was announced in 2021.
Local residents recalled previous visits by Oaks when he served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Alessandra Myrrha, co-chair of the temple open house and dedication committee, noted that his personal decision to perform the dedication reflects his connection to the area.
Lafaiete Brazil Stake President Julio Prado, who recalled meeting Oaks in 1998, expressed the deep significance of the Prophet's return to the city. Similarly, local leaders described the visit as a crowning moment for the region and a way to connect members to the Lord through the Prophet's words.
The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple serves a region with a significant membership, as Brazil and Mexico represent the largest memberships outside of the United States. Local leaders emphasized that the use of technology for the broadcasts will allow the Prophet's message to reach the entire temple district.
