Ground was broken for the Santos Brazil Temple on Aug. 1, 2026, in the Jabaquara neighborhood of Santos, marking the third temple groundbreaking in Brazil this year. The ceremony, presided over by Elder Ronald M. Barcellos, advances a project originally announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson during the April 2022 general conference.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Details
The groundbreaking ceremony, which was livestreamed, was the first of six scheduled groundbreakings for Church properties in Brazil during August. Elder Ronald M. Barcellos, a General Authority Seventy and counselor in the Brazil Area presidency, presided over the event and described the construction of the temple as an expression of God's love for the region.
Elder Barcellos stated that the temple would bring "glorious blessings" to thousands and noted that the construction blesses both Church members and the surrounding community. During the ceremony, Elder Barcellos offered a dedicatory prayer asking for protection and guidance throughout the construction process.
Architectural and Spiritual Significance
The Santos Brazil Temple is planned as a two-story building totaling approximately 23,000 square feet. According to Church site plans, the structure will be built at Avenida Doutor Waldemar Leão, 305, on the site where a ward meetinghouse currently stands.
Elder Claudio R.M. Costa, an emeritus General Authority Seventy who was born in Santos, also spoke at the ceremony. Costa referenced a 1996 general conference talk by President Russell M. Nelson titled "The Atonement," noting how sacred temple work converges with the purposes of the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.
Expansion of Church Presence
The Santos temple will be the 16th Latter-day Saint temple in Brazil and the fourth announced for the state of São Paulo. It is currently one of six temples in Brazil in the construction phase, alongside temples in Ribeirão Preto, Londrina, Natal, João Pessoa, and Teresina.
As Fox13 News first reported, the project follows a significant period of expansion for the Church in the region. This growth is driven by a large membership base; Brazil is home to approximately 1.5 million Latter-day Saints across more than 2,100 congregations, making it the third-largest population of members by country, trailing only the United States and Mexico.
Historical Context
The first temple in Brazil, and in South America, was dedicated in São Paulo in 1978 when the country had approximately 54,000 members. Currently, the closest operating temple to Santos is the São Paulo Brazil Temple, located roughly 35 miles away.
President Russell M. Nelson has announced 100 temples since becoming President of the Church in 2018. The Santos announcement was part of a group of 17 temples identified during the April 2022 general conference, which included another Brazilian temple in Maceió.
Future Developments
While construction begins in Santos, other Brazilian temples are moving through different stages of development. The Belo Horizonte temple is scheduled for dedication on Aug. 16.
Several other temples remain in the planning and design stages, including those for São Paulo East, Vitória, Maceió, Goiânia, Florianópolis, and Campo Grande.
Regional Importance
The Santos temple is located in a region known for the Port of Santos, which is the largest in Brazil and the busiest in Latin America. The city is situated on São Vicente Island, approximately 30 miles southeast of São Paulo, and is noted for having the largest beachfront garden in the world.
