President Dallin H. Oaks will mark a series of milestones this weekend as he dedicates a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South America.
The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple will be the second house of the Lord that President Oaks dedicates since he was ordained prophet in October 2025. The temple dedication will also mark President Oaks’ first international dedication and ministry since he became church president.
In temples, “we are taught the most important things we can learn and do in mortality,” President Oaks said in January. “The work of temples is centered on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”
The first temple President Oaks dedicated as prophet was the Burley Idaho Temple in January.
President Oaks will dedicate the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple on Sunday, Aug. 16, in a dedicatory session that will be broadcast and rebroadcast to all church units in the temple district at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
Once dedicated, the Belo Horizonte temple will become the 12th operating Latter-day Saint temple in Brazil and will help serve the more than 1.5 million Latter-day Saints that call the South American nation home.
Other temples dedicated by President Oaks, prior to his becoming church president, include the Provo City Center, Barranquilla Colombia, Richmond Virginia and Urdaneta Philippines temples.
President Oaks will dedicate the Belo Horizonte Brazil temple four days after his birthday on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
More about the Belo Horizonte temple and others in Brazil
The Belo Horizonte Temple was first announced in April 2021 general conference by the late President Russell M. Nelson.
Construction of the temple began in June 2023 in the Engenho Nogueira neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
The single-story temple of approximately 2,665 square feet opened for public tours on June 13, welcoming guests of all faiths and ages until its public open house period ended on June 27.
Brazil has a total 24 announced temples. Of these, 11 are currently in operation, four are under construction, eight are in planning and design stages, and one — the Belo Horizonte temple — is scheduled for dedication.
Learn more about the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple and others worldwide on the Church News’ temple almanac.
