Lisbon Portugal Temple

Lisbon Portugal Temple

Number| 166
Dedication| 15 September 2019, by Neil L. Andersen
Site| 4.6 acres (1.9 ha)
Floor area| 23,730 sq ft (2,205 m2)
Height| 143 ft (44 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple |
Lisbon Portugal Temple | →
Arequipa Peru Temple

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Additional information
Announced| 2 October 2010, by Thomas S. Monson[1]
Groundbreaking| 5 December 2015, by Patrick Kearon[2]
Open house| 17-31 August 2019
Current president| Edison Ideo Tsuchiya
Designed by| Simão Silva, ACS Architects
Location| Lisbon, Portugal
Geographic coordinates| 38°46′47″N 9°05′56″W﻿ / ﻿38.7798°N 9.0990°W﻿ / 38.7798; -9.0990
Baptistries| 1
Ordinance rooms| 2
Sealing rooms| 1
Visitors' center| Yes
(edit)

The Lisbon Portugal Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Parque das Nações district of Lisbon, Portugal, in the Portuguese municipality of Lisboa.[3] It is the first in Portugal,[4] and the 166th operating temple worldwide. It was announced on October, 2 2010, by church president Thomas S. Monson during general conference. The temple was designed by Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects, using late Art Deco and modernist influences, has an exterior of Portuguese Moleanos limestone, along with a 134‑foot gold‑leafed spire with a statue of the angel Moroni on its top. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 5, 2015, presided over by Patrick Kearon, and the temple was dedicated in three sessions on September 15, 2019, by Neil L. Andersen, of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The interior has a color palette of gold, blue, ochre, and lavender, some rooms with crystal chandeliers, and an oval baptismal font supported by bronze‑colored oxen, azulejo‑style stained glass, and cove‑lit ceilings. The temple’s 4.6‑acre site includes landscaped grounds with palm trees and flower beds. During a public open house held from 17 to 31 August 2019, over 18,000 visitors attended, including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.[citation needed]

## History

[edit]

In 1975, through Thomas S. Monson, who was then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the church announced it was sending missionaries into the country.[5] The Lisbon Portugal Temple was later announced by Monson, then serving as church president, on October 2, 2010, during general conference. It is the first in Portugal.[5] On December 5, 2015, a groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on the temple site—located on a 4.6-acre plot at Avenida Dom João II in Parque das Nações, Lisbon. This ceremony, broadcast to local meetinghouses and attended by civic leaders and local members,[6] was presided over by Patrick Kearon, then president of the church's Europe Area.[5][7]

Preliminary architectural plans were for a 23,730 square foot building, with a limestone exterior and interior artwork inspired by Portuguese landscapes.[7][8] The gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was placed on top of the 134-foot spire on November 19, 2018.[4]

Following completion, the church announced the public open house that was held from August 17 through 31, 2019 (excluding Sundays),[9] during which more than 18,000 visitors toured the temple, including the president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.[10][11]

The temple, the church's 166th worldwide temple and 14th in Europe,[4] on September 15, 2019, was dedicated by Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[5][12][13] Prior to dedication, Andersen and other church leaders conducted youth and missionary devotionals on September 14. Andersen presided over three meetings that day, addressing missionaries, early members who pioneered growth in the country, and youth about the church’s past, present, and future in Portugal. José A. Teixeira, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife also shared personal stories of conversion and temple sealing, highlighting the growth of the church in their native country.[12] During one of these meetings, Anderson spoke of pioneer members, including a convert from Lisbon who was then serving as an area seventy, Joaquim J. Moreria.[12]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Lisbon Portugal Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

## Design and architecture

[edit]

The Lisbon Portugal Temple is designed using late Art Deco and modernist architectural styles.[4] Its exterior uses Portuguese Moleanos limestone,[15] with the design led by Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects.[16]

The temple is on a 4.6-acre site in the Parque das Nações district of Lisbon, a redeveloped area east of the city once used for the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition.[4] The landscaping includes palm trees and colorful flowers.[4]

The structure has a 134-foot spire, with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni on its top.[15] The statue is gilded in 22-karat gold, and was installed by workers in gloves to avoid smudging the surface.[17] It represents the restoration of the gospel.[17] Tall, narrow stained-glass windows, using gold and green colors, provide geometric patterns inspired by traditional azulejo tilework.[5][4]

The interior finishes have a color palette of golds, blues, ochres, and lavender.[5] Crystal chandeliers in the sealing and celestial rooms are by Swarovski, with fixture lighting done by Crenshaw Lighting.[15] These rooms also have high cove-lit ceilings, and stone finishes including materials from Spain, Italy, and Turkey.[4][15] The baptistry has an oval-shaped font supported by bronze-colored oxen, cast from molds used in the renovation of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple.[4]

## Temple presidents and admittance

[edit]

### Temple presidents

[edit]

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[18]

Serving from 2019 to 2022, the first president was Calisto M. Coelho, with his wife, Maria F. Coelho, serving as matron.[19][20] As of 2025, Celso B. Cabral is the president, with Jane L. Cabral serving as matron.[21]

### Admittance

[edit]

On March 4, 2019, the church announced the public open house that was held from August 17 to 31, 2019 (excluding Sundays).[10] The temple was dedicated by Neil L. Andersen on September 15, 2019, in three sessions.[22] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[23]

## See also

[edit]

Overhead view of Lisbon Portugal Temple in Moscavide

* LDS Church portal

* Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
* Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Portugal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved 11 November 2012.
2. ^ "Groundbreaking Held for the First Temple in Portugal". Newsroom, United Kingdom. LDS Church. 5 December 2015.
3. ^ "Five New Temples Announced". Newsroom. LDS Church. 2 October 2010.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Latest News on the Lisbon Portugal Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
5. ^ a b c d e f "Lisbon Portugal Temple | Church News Almanac". Church News. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
6. ^ "Groundbreaking Announced for Lisbon Portugal Temple". Newsroom. LDS Church. 22 October 2015.
7. ^ a b "Groundbreaking for Lisbon Portugal Temple". Church News. 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
8. ^ "Groundbreaking Held for the First Temple in Portugal". Meridian Magazine. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
9. ^ "Public Invited to Tour Lisbon Portugal Temple: Open House and Dedication Dates Announced", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2019-03-04
10. ^ a b "Here are the open house, dedication dates for the Lisbon Portugal Temple". Church News. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
11. ^ "Elder Neil L. Andersen Dedicates Lisbon Portugal Temple". news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
12. ^ a b c "Elder Andersen calls Lisbon temple the start of a 'new chapter' for the Church in Portugal". Church News. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
13. ^ "Elder Neil L. Andersen Dedicates Lisbon Portugal Temple: Temple is the 14th in Europe, 166th worldwide", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2019-09-15
14. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
15. ^ a b c d "See First Official Photos Inside Portugal's First Temple". LDS Living. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
16. ^ "Lisbon Portugal Temple". www.nwlarchitects.com. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
17. ^ a b "Angel Moroni Placed on Top of the Lisbon Portugal Temple". news-ie.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
18. ^ "2025 Temple Leadership Assignments". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
19. ^ "New temple president and matron called to serve in Portugal". Church News. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
20. ^ "Read about the new leaders of temples in South Africa, Canada, Italy and more". Church News. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
21. ^ "From Seattle to Sapporo — new presidents and matrons called for 8 temples around the world". Church News. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
22. ^ "Elder Neil L. Andersen Dedicates Lisbon Portugal Temple". news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
23. ^ "Angel Moroni Placed on Top of the Lisbon Portugal Temple". news-ie.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2025-07-25.

## External links

[edit]

* Lisbon Portugal Temple Official site
* Lisbon Portugal Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

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