Cochabamba Bolivia Temple
The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple is the 82nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bolivia opened its doors to the Church of Jesus Christ in 1963. Less than forty years later there are over 110,000 members across the country. In 2022, Church membership in Bolivia is over 217,000.[1]
In 1995 the Church announced that they would be building a temple in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The next year, President Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the groundbreaking. He addressed the 4,000 gathered Saints during one of the heaviest rainstorms the area had seen in ten years. "My beloved and wet brothers and sisters" [1] he began. Then he went on to share a story about a young woman who as a girl went with her father every Saturday to visit the Guatemala City Temple while it was being built. She shared that during those visits she made the decision to be married in the temple. Years later she did.
Then the prophet said, "I want to challenge each of you here today to get a temple recommend now, to be worthy of a temple recommend. You will not be able to attend the new temple for two years, but let that recommend be a reminder of what is waiting for you at the temple." [1]
During the groundbreaking prayer President Hinckley said, "We thank thee for this beautiful site, where this sacred edifice will be erected for the people of this great land and where it will remain as a remembrance of the testimonies that we have in our hearts that life is eternal and everlasting." [1]
Before the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple was dedicated it was open for one week to allow friends, residents, and members to tour the temple. Originally the temple open house had been scheduled for two weeks, but because of civil unrest in the city of Cochabamba the first week's tours were canceled. Leaders of the Church feared that the unrest would drastically reduce the number of visitors. They were pleased when nearly 65,000 people toured the temple, coming close to their goal of 75,000. Because of the open house, 2,232 people requested to be visited by the Latter-day Saint missionaries.
Dedication
President Hinckley dedicated the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple in four sessions on 30 April 2000. In his dedicatory prayer President Hinckley recognized the founder of Bolivia, Simón Bolívar, who died the year the Church was organized. Given the political unrest in the city, he prayed, "May the incomparable principle of democracy be preserved forever in this republic." [2]
President Hinckley continued, "We remember before Thee the sons and daughters of Father Lehi. Wilt Thou keep Thine ancient promises in their behalf. Lift from their shoulders the burdens of poverty and cause the shackles of darkness to fall from their eyes. May they rise to the glories of the past. May they recognize their Redeemer and be faithful and true Saints of the Most High." [2]
The Cochabama Bolivia Temple is of classic modern design reflecting the Bolivian culture. The exterior is finished with a blend of hand-hewn granite and plaster. A statue of the angel Moroni tops the single tower. It has a total of 33,302 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms.
Videos
Notes
- “News of the Church,” Ensign, Feb. 1997, 73.
- "Dedicatory prayer: 'Rise to the glories of the past,'" Church News, 13 May 2000, 25 Jun. 2005.
