Elder Neil L. Andersen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dedicated the Lisbon Portugal Temple in three sessions on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Each session was broadcast to members of the Church throughout the country.
Elder Andersen said he was delighted to have the opportunity to come to Portugal and dedicate the Lisbon Portugal Temple, by special assignment of the First Presidency. He added “it is almost inconceivable to think how important this temple is for the future of the work here in Portugal. The members really know now that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be established in Portugal until the Saviour returns. No one would build a House of the Lord if there were not going to be righteous people here to receive the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes."
Assisting Elder Andersen with the traditional cornerstone ceremony were Elder José A. Teixeira, of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department; Elder Gary B. Sabin, president of the Europe Area of the Church; and Elder Joaquim Moreira, Area Seventy.
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- Members of the Church in the gardens of the Lisbon Portugal temple, between the dedicatory sessions that took place on September 15 2019.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve, accompanied by sister Kathy Andersen and Elder José A. Teixeira, at the cornerstone ceremony that was part of the first dedicatory session of the Lisbon Portugal temple, held on September 15, 2019
- A choir participates in the cornerstone ceremony, included in the first dedication session of the Lisbon Portugal temple, on September 15, 2019.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with his wife Kathy Andersen and Elder José A. Teixeira, of the Presidency of the Seventy, with his wife Filomena Teixeira greet Church members upon arrival at the Lisbon Portugal temple on September 15, 2019.
- Children prepare to participate in the cornerstone ceremony included in the first dedication session of the Lisbon Portugal temple, on the morning of September 15, 2019.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Kathy Andersen, attend the youth devotion held on the day prior to the dedication of the Lisbon Portugal temple.
- Elder José A. Teixeira, of the Presidency of the Seventy, and a native of Portugal, addresses the more than 600 young people gathered in the meetinghouse adjacent to the new temple of Lisbon, in Portugal. The meeting took place on September 14, 2019, preceding the formal dedication of the temple on the following day.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greets some of the early members of the church in Portugal, who were converted more than 40 years ago. The meeting with the pioneers of the Church in the country preceded the dedication of the Lisbon Portugal temple.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks to the first members of the Church in Portugal, in a meeting held the day before the Lisbon Portugal temple was dedicated. The meeting took place in meetinghouse that is adjacent to the temple.
- From left to right, Sister Kathy Andersen, Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder José A. Teixeira, of the Presidency of the Seventy , Sister Filomena Teixeira and Elder Joaquim Moreira, Area Authority Seventy, attend the youth devotional meeting held on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
- A youth choir at the devotional meeting that preceded the dedication of the Lisbon Portugal temple. The meeting took place in the meetinghouse that is part of the temple complex.
- Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets members at the end of the meeting with the first converts of the Church in Portugal, on September 14, 2019.
- Tools used in the sealing of the time capsule of the Lisbon Portugal temple, which was part of the first dedicatory session, held on Sunday, September 15th, 2019.
- View of the gardens and meetinghouse of the Lisbon Portugal temple, in the 'Parque das Nações' neighborhood, in Lisbon. The temple was dedicated on September 15, 2019, by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Elder Teixeira explained why the temple is so important for the members of the Church. “The temple of Lisbon is a temple that elevates our soul. It is an elegant temple that reminds us of the Lord. This temple is literally a symbol of the faith of Church members for the past 40 years. I feel a great joy in my heart to see this temple here in Lisbon and I am sure that this joy is shared by all members of the Church in Portugal.”
The temple was first announced by then President Thomas S. Monson in October 2010. The groundbreaking was held on December 2015. The complex of the temple is located on Avenida Dom João II, in the neighborhood of Parque das Nações, in Lisbon, Portugal.
On Saturday, September 14, a youth devotional was held in the Church meetinghouse adjacent to the temple. The devotional was broadcast throughout the temple district.
In August 2019, the temple was open to the public to see inside the sacred building and learn more about why the Church builds temples. More than 18,000 people toured the temple in that period, one of them being the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints differ from meetinghouses or chapels, where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered houses of the Lord where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man.
To read this story and watch the video in Portuguese, click here (Portugal Newsroom).