Exploring Lds Temples: Bolivia's Sacred Space

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has a strong presence in Bolivia, with over 200,000 members across 272 congregations, making it the country with the 6th most LDS members in South America and 10th worldwide. The first LDS missionaries arrived in Bolivia in November 1964, and the country now has several LDS missions, including in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz. There is indeed an LDS temple in Bolivia - the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple, dedicated in 2000 and located in the city of Cochabamba. This temple was the first of its kind in Bolivia and is recognised for its blend of hand-hewn Comanche granite and plaster, as well as its central tower design. Another temple in Santa Cruz is currently under construction, and a site for a third temple in La Paz has been announced.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple

The temple is not open to the public, and only Mormons with a temple recommend are permitted to enter. Temple rituals are conducted in Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple offers accommodations for patrons with special needs, including those with hearing impairments. Temple housing and distribution centers for purchasing garments and clothing are also available on-site.

The construction and dedication of the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple hold cultural and religious significance for the LDS Church in Bolivia. Before the temple's dedication, it was open to the public for a week, welcoming nearly 65,000 visitors. The dedication ceremony, led by Hinckley, recognised the founder of Bolivia, Simón Bolívar.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple's design

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is the 82nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The temple is located on 6.51 acres of land, with the Andes Mountains forming a backdrop and flower beds decorating the temple grounds. The temple's design reflects classic modern Bolivian culture.

The exterior of the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is finished with a blend of hand-hewn Comanche granite and plaster. The front facade features five tall, arched windows made of art glass, and a multilevel tower on a square base stands above the building. The tower is topped by a statue of the angel Moroni. The temple has a total floor area of 35,500 square feet, with two ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms, and one baptistry.

The groundbreaking and site dedication ceremony for the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple took place on November 10, 1996, led by Gordon B. Hinckley, the president of the LDS Church. Despite heavy rain, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people from across Bolivia attended the ceremony, with some travelling 20 hours by bus to be present.

During the ceremony, President Hinckley addressed the gathered crowd, urging them to strive for righteousness and to obtain a temple recommend. He emphasised the significance of the temple for the nation of Bolivia, stating that it would bless the lives of its people and eliminate the need to travel long distances to Peru for religious purposes.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple was dedicated on April 30, 2000, by President Hinckley, and it has served as a sacred place for members of the LDS Church in Bolivia and beyond.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple's contact details

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is the 82nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is located at Av. Melchor Urquidi 1500 Alto Queru Queru, Cochabamba, Bolivia. The temple's telephone number is (+591) 4-429-3161. To contact the temple via email, you need to log in to the temple's website.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple was the first temple built in Bolivia. Plans to construct the temple were announced on 13 January 1995, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on 10 November 1996, led by Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the LDS Church from 1995 to 2008. During the ceremony, President Hinckley urged members of the congregation to strive for righteousness and obtain a temple recommend. He emphasised the significance of having a temple in Bolivia, eliminating the need for members to travel to Lima, Peru.

The temple was dedicated on 30 April 2000 by President Hinckley. Before the dedication, the temple was open to the public for one week due to civil unrest in Cochabamba, with nearly 65,000 people touring the temple. The temple design reflects Bolivian culture, featuring a blend of hand-hewn Comanche granite and plaster on its exterior. It covers an area of 33,000 to 33,302 square feet and includes two ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms, and one baptistry.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple offers various accommodations and services for patrons. Temple housing and an arrival centre with a changing area are available. A distribution centre is on-site for purchasing temple garments and clothing. Appointments for proxy ordinances are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. Patrons with special circumstances or needs are advised to contact the temple for more information.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple's services

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is the 82nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is located at Av. Melchor Urquidi 1500 Alto Queru Queru, Cochabamba, Bolivia, and can be contacted at (+591) 4-429-3161 or by email. The temple's operating hours vary, and interested parties are advised to contact the temple directly for more information.

The temple provides various services and accommodations to cater to the needs of its patrons. It offers an arrival center with a space for patrons to change their clothes. Additionally, it has a distribution center on-site where patrons can purchase temple garments and clothing. The temple also provides accommodations for patrons with special needs, including headsets for those with hearing impairments.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple follows the standard sequence of ordinances for family names: baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for males), initiatory, endowment, and then sealing. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own temple clothing and make appointments for proxy ordinances. However, walk-ins are also welcome, but they may need to wait for their turn.

The temple's design reflects Bolivian culture and features a blend of hand-hewn Comanche granite and plaster in its exterior finish. It has a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers, topped with a statue of the angel Moroni. The temple covers 35,500 square feet and includes two instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and one baptistry.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple's schedule

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is the 82nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located at Av. Melchor Urquidi 1500 Alto Queru Queru, Cochabamba, Bolivia, and can be contacted on (+591) 4-429-3161. The temple does not have a visitors' centre, but it does have an arrival centre, patron housing, and a distribution centre on-site or nearby.

The temple was announced on 13 January 1995, with groundbreaking and site dedication taking place on 10 November 1996. The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, who addressed a gathering of 4,000 people during a heavy rainstorm. The temple was opened to the public for one week from 18 to 22 April 2000, with dedication following on 30 April 2000.

The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple was the first temple built in Bolivia and is of classic modern design, reflecting the Bolivian culture. The exterior is finished with a blend of hand-hewn Comanche granite and plaster. The temple features a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers, topped with a statue of the angel Moroni. It has a total floor area of 35,500 square feet, with two instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and one baptistry.

Unfortunately, I could not find specific schedule information for the temple. However, the temple's official website, listed in the sources, may contain more detailed information.

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