Antofagasta Chile Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

ANNOUNCED
7 April 2019

ANNOUNCED BY
President Russell M. Nelson

GROUNDBREAKING
TBA

GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
TBA

DEDICATED
TBA

DEDICATED BY
TBA


DEDICATION ORDER
TBA

LOCATION
TBA

PHONE
TBA

Additional Facts

#1

This was the third Latter-day Saint temple in Chile.

#2

This is the first temple in Chile announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson. He announced it approximately five months after he dedicated the Concepción Chile Temple.

#3

Once dedicated, it will be the northernmost temple in the country.

Details

The Antofagasta Chile Temple is a Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced for Antofagasta Chile.

History

The Saints of Antofagasta currently travel 830 miles (1335 km) to participate in temple ordinances at the Santiago Chile Temple. The new temple will serve the two stakes in Antofagasta as well as other stakes in northern Chile, making the temple much more accessible.[1]”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019.

Announcement

The Antofagasta Chile Temple was announced on April 7, 2019, by President Russell M. Nelson in his concluding remarks at the Sunday Afternoon Session of General Conference. Chile’s second temple, the Concepción Chile Temple, was dedicated just six months prior in October 2018. [2]”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019.

The temple was announced in conjunction with temples for Pago Pago American Samoa, Okinawa Japan, Neiafu Tonga, Tooele Vally Utah, Moses Lake Washington, San Pedro Sula Honduras, and Budapest Hungary.[3][“Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference”, Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2019

Temple Rendering

On October 2, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Antofagasta Chile Temple was released to the public, featuring a Spanish Colonial-style temple of two stories and 23,000 square feet. A housing facility will also be constructed on site.[4]“Groundbreakings Announced for Two South American Temples.” Newsroom.Churchofjesuschrist.Org, 2 Oct. 2020, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-temples-in-south-america.

Temple Site

The Antofagasta Chile Temple will be constructed on a 2.2-acre parcel on Avendia de Las Palmeras in Antofagasta. This was announced on 22 October 2020.[5]“Groundbreakings Announced for Two South American Temples.” Newsroom.Churchofjesuschrist.Org, 2 Oct. 2020, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-temples-in-south-america.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

On Friday, 27 November 2020, a groundbreaking ceremony was held, signaling the beginning of construction of the Antofagasta Chile Temple. Elder Juan Pablo Villar, a General Authority Seventy and a member of the South America South Area Presidency, presided at the event. He was joined by his wife, Sister Carola Villar.

He said, “We should be grateful to our Father for having chosen Antofagasta as a place to be a light to the nations, for shining His divine light to the hearts of those who have their eye on rewards beyond what the world has to offer.” He further commented, “From this day on and for several years, the construction of the temple will be carried out. This will require coordination and work to excavate, remove rocks and materials that are not needed, to prepare it so that it is ready for the foundation that will make it a firm and stable House of the Lord.”

In his site dedicatory prayer, he said, ““I invite us all to do the same within ourselves and take out the things that are not needed from our lives, ‘remove’ the rocks that weaken our foundation and ‘prepare’ our spirits with firm foundations to support life’s trials and to stand tall in the face of the adversity.”[6]Church Breaks Ground for Antofagasta Chile Temple .” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 27 Nov. 2020.

Sister Villar commented, “The temple is not going to only bless the beauty of this location with its structure, or with its pretty gardens, it’s going to bless the lives of those that live here, and it will bless our country. The opportunity to have an eternal family is a wonderful thing for us.”

Attendance at the groundbreaking was limited because of local COVID-19 restrictions. Still, several local government leaders participated in Friday’s event — including Antofagasta Governor Nanto Espinoza and Yamile Guzmán, the city’s interim mayor.[7]Church Breaks Ground for Antofagasta Chile Temple .” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 27 Nov. 2020.

Construction

Dedication

Details for the open house and temple dedication will be announced at a future date.

Dedication Order

The Antofagasta Chile Temple will be the third temple built in Chile, following the Santiago Chile Temple, dedicated in 1983, and the Concepción Chile Temple dedicated in 2018.

Sources and Links

Additional Articles

Sources

References

References
1 ”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019.
2 ”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019.
3 [“Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference”, Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2019
4, 5 “Groundbreakings Announced for Two South American Temples.” Newsroom.Churchofjesuschrist.Org, 2 Oct. 2020, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-temples-in-south-america.
6, 7 Church Breaks Ground for Antofagasta Chile Temple .” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 27 Nov. 2020.