Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represent heaven on earth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the celestial room. According to the Church’s official website, a celestial room “is a place of quiet peace, prayer, and reflection meant to symbolize heaven, where we may live forever with our family in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”
There are hundreds of temples around the world. Today, scroll through and see photographs of celestial rooms in temples throughout South America. Where possible, we’ve included the official description of the design elements used for the temple as released by the Church Newsroom.
Arequipa Peru Temple Celestial Room
A stylized version of the Flor de Texao Arequipa is used in many places throughout the Arequipa Peru Temple — in the carved hardwood, art glass windows, metal fixtures, stonework, and flooring decorative painting. See more pictures of this temple here!
Barranquilla Colombia Celestial Room
The interior of the Barranquilla Colombia Temple features original art glass, custom rugs with Colombian motifs in blue and gold, wrought iron and bronze railings, and a grand staircase. Also featured are carved wood and glass of the Cayena hibiscus, the official flower of Barranquilla City. See more pictures of this temple here!
Fortaleza Brazil Temple Celestial Room
Native Brazilian orchid and trailing vines are the motifs throughout the Fortaleza Brazil Temple, including the art glass, carpets and flooring, decorative painting, and carved woodwork. See more pictures of this temple here!
Concepción Chile Temple Celestial Room
The 23,000-square-foot temple was designed to reflect the neoclassic building style typical of other historic Chilean church buildings. The interior features original art glass, hand-tufted carpets, and stone from Portugal and Spain. Also featured is beautiful lapis lazuli, native to Chile. See more pictures of this temple here!
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple Celestial Room
The Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple was designed to complement the surrounding architecture in Barra da Tijuca, with an art deco influence. The proximity of Rio de Janeiro to the ocean-influenced the colors selected for the art glass, with shades of blue, aqua, and purple offset with soft gold. The patterns consist of geometric art deco fountain motifs. See more pictures of this temple here!
Asunción Paraguay Temple
A stylized version of the Lapacho tree flower, which is the Paraguay National Tree and flower, was used as inspiration throughout the Asunción Paraguay Temple, from the lighting to decorative paint and color scheme. The Lapacho flower is most commonly found in a lavender color, which was used in the temple’s fabrics, art glass, and even stone. The Spanish Colonial furniture style was inspired by the early architecture and furniture of Paraguay, prior to their destruction during the Paraguayan War. See more pictures of this temple here!
Trujillo Peru Temple Celestial Room
The interior of the Trujillo Peru Temple has a vine motif and was inspired by colonial Spanish architecture.
Cochabamba Bolivia Temple Celestial Room
Buenos Aires Argentina Temple Celestial Room
The Buenos Aires Temple was the first temple built in Argentina and the fourth in South America.
Córdoba Argentina Temple Celestial Room
This is the second temple built in Argentina and the 145th temple dedicated worldwide.
Manaus Brazil Temple
The Manaus Brazil Temple was dedicated in 2012 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and is the sixth temple in Brazil.
Curitiba Brazil Temple Celestial Room
The Curitiba Brazil Temple is the fifth temple built in Brazil and the 126th temple in operation worldwide.
São Paulo Brazil Temple Celestial Room
The São Paulo Brazil Temple was not only the first temple in Brazil but the first temple built in South America. It was dedicated in 1978 and rededicated after renovations in 2004.
Campinas Brazil Temple Celestial Room
The Campina Brazil Temple is the second temple built in the state of São Paulo.
What temples around the world should we look at next?
