Asuncion Paraguay Temple, Asuncion

The Asunción Paraguay Temple stands as a spiritual landmark for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay and the surrounding region. It is the 112th operating temple of the Church and holds the distinction of being the first temple constructed in Paraguay. Serving more than 68,000 members, it reflects the steady growth of the LDS community in the country since missionary efforts officially began in 1949.

The temple was announced on April 2, 2000, at a time when Paraguay had approximately 152,000 Latter-day Saints. The site chosen for the temple carried historical weight-it was previously home to Paraguay’s first LDS meetinghouse, built in 1964. That structure was demolished to make way for the temple and a new meetinghouse, incorporating an adjacent mansion the Church had acquired to expand the property.

The groundbreaking for the Asunción Paraguay Temple took place on February 3, 2001, led by Elder Jay E. Jensen. A public open house in May 2002 drew over 22,000 visitors, including Paraguay’s First Lady. The temple was dedicated on May 19, 2002, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, shortly after he dedicated the Campinas Brazil Temple.

The Asunción Paraguay Temple occupies 10,700 square feet (990 square meters) and includes two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. It symbolizes a major milestone for South America: with its dedication, every Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking country on the continent had an operating LDS temple.

After 15 years of service, the temple closed on October 29, 2017, for a full renovation and reopened in October 2019 with another open house. It was rededicated on November 3, 2019, by Elder D. Todd Christofferson.

Today, the Asunción Paraguay Temple remains a central place of worship, reflection, and community for Latter-day Saints, rooted in both history and continued faith.