Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple on Sunday, May 8—the eighth temple in the South American nation of nearly 1.5 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He said the temple helps individuals fulfill their divine potential as children of God. By participating in work in the temple and being worthy to be there, individuals fulfill God’s vision for them.
► You may also like: See the first official photos inside the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple
“Brazil now has eight temples and eight more on the way—either under construction or in the planning phase,” Elder Stevenson said.
“Why? It’s the people here,” he said. “Members congregate together, and the Lord blesses those members with a temple.”
The dedication of the temple in Rio comes 100 years after construction began on the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that is only a few miles away. The temple, Elder Stevenson said, is the Church’s witness that Jesus Christ is indeed the Redeemer of the world.
You can read the full temple dedication announcement on Church Newsroom.