Public tours for the first Latter-day Saint temple in Cape Verde are starting this week.
As the doors open, interior and exterior images of the Praia Cape Verde Temple were released Wednesday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The new temple is in the city of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, a small island nation located 350 miles off the coast of West Africa. It is also known as the Republic of Cabo Verde.
A map showing Cape Verde, a small island nation located 350 miles off the coast of West Africa.
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Praia Cape Verde Temple features
This single-story temple stands at about 80 feet in height, including the spire, and features moleanos limestone from Portugal in the exterior finish.
The nearly 8,800-square-foot temple was built on 4.46 acres of land on the southern portion of Santiago Island in the city of Praia.
A meetinghouse was also built on the temple site.
The temple is surrounded by tranquil gardens featuring a wide variety of plants, including shade trees, palms and hundreds of flowering shrubs, selected not only for their beauty but also for their environmental fit.
Open house, youth devotional, dedication
The open house for the Praia Cape Verde Temple will be held Saturday, May 21, through Saturday, June 11, except for Sundays (May 22, 29 and June 5).
A youth devotional is scheduled for Saturday, June 18.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at three temple dedicatory sessions on Sunday, June 19, at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
Elder Gary B. Sabin, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the church’s Temple Department, will be presiding at the open house’s tours with invited guests. He will be accompanied by Elder Rubén V. Alliaud, a General Authority Seventy who is a counselor in the church’s Europe Central Area Presidency.
Praia Cape Verde Temple timeline
- The Praia Cape Verde Temple was one of 12 temple locations announced by President Russell M. Nelson during the October 2018 general conference.
- A groundbreaking ceremony for the Praia Cape Verde Temple was held on May 4, 2019, with Elder Paul V. Johnson, a General Authority Seventy who then was president of the church’s Europe Area, presiding.
- Latter-day Saint missionary work officially began in Cape Verde in 1988.
- Previously, members in Cape Verde saved their money to travel to Madrid, Spain, or Recife, Brazil, to attend the temple.
- There are more than 16,000 Latter-day Saints attending over 40 congregations in Cape Verde, according to the church’s newsroom.