Santiago Chile Temple

The Santiago Chile Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in the Providencia district of Santiago, Chile. Announced on April 2, 1980, by church president Spencer W. Kimball, it was the first temple built in a Spanish-speaking country and the second in South America. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 30, 1981, and the temple was dedicated on September 15-17, 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor in the First Presidency. The temple originally had two ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry. It has a modern design style with a central spire that has a statue of the angel Moroni on its top. The temple was designed by Emil B. Fetzer, with later expansion designed by Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects. The design includes copihue motifs in art glass and door hardware, and the use of Chilean marble and lapislázuli in the baptistry and entryway. From 2005 to 2006, the temple underwent major renovations that increased its total floor area from 14,572 to 20,831 square feet and refreshed interior finishes. It was rededicated Hinckley, who was then the church's president, on March 12, 2006. During the 2006 rededication events, 45,000 members gathered at Estadio Monumental, while 4,000 youth participated in a cultural celebration of Chilean music and dance. Tens of thousands toured the temple during its public open houses.

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