Lisbon Portugal Temple
This will be the first temple to be built in Portugal, joining 13 others across Europe. The Saints in Portugal currently attend the Madrid Spain Temple, a nearly 400-mile drive from Lisbon.
History of the Church in Portugal
The first Church meetings held in Portugal took place in the early 1970's among United States Armed Forces stationed there. In 1974, Spencer W. Kimball, the twelfth President of the Church, visited Portugal and received confirmation that the Church would be recognized, and that missionary work was to begin in the country. In November 1974, Elder William Grant Bangerter of the Seventy arrived in Lisbon to preside over the newly created Portugal Lisbon Mission. Four missionaries were transferred from a mission in Brazil to start the work. The first Church meetings held in Portugal were held among United States Armed Forces stationed there, in the home of a Canadian embassy member.
By July 1975, there were 100 Portuguese Latter-day Saints, and by July 1978, membership had reached 1,000. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently reports that there are 42,861 members in six stakes and four districts, 74 congregations, and one mission, the Portugal Lisbon Mission. These congregations, called wards and branches, serve as the center for all local Church activities, including Sunday worship services, as well as classes for children, youth, young adults, men, and women. Weekday activities provide opportunities for additional instruction, social events, and cultural events such as dancing, musical and theatrical performances, and sports.
Groundbreaking for Lisbon Portugal Temple
On 22 October 2015, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the Lisbon Portugal Temple groundbreaking will take place on 5 December 2015, at 12:00 noon. The temple site is located at Avenida Dom João II, 1990-364 Moscavide, Lisboa. Attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only, with the general public being invited to view the proceedings live from local meetinghouses.
