Construction of the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has begun. Ground was broken for the temple under the direction of Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the Seventy and president of the South America Northwest Area.

Elder Falabella told Latter-day Saints this groundbreaking is something they will never forget. It is the feeling in their hearts. “There is something special in the temples. As we spend more time in the Lord's house, our lives will have greater meaning.”

Joining Elder Falabella are his counselors in the area presidency, Elder Hugo Montoya, first counselor, and Elder Mathias Held, second counselor.

“Temples have always been a beacon of light,” said Elder Held. It has been "a source of strength for His people, and today is no different. This will be a beautiful building, where the spirit of the Lord will be strongly felt.”

Lima, Peru is the first city outside the United States to have two temples. Church membership in Peru is more than 605,000. The temple district covers central Peru.

The Church has two other temples in this South American country — the Lima Peru Temple was dedicated January 10, 1986, and the Trujillo Peru Temple was dedicated June 21, 2015. Open house and dedication dates were announced recently for this November and December for the Arequipa Peru Temple.

Latter-day Saints were able to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony proceedings live in local meetinghouses.

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints differ from meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered houses of the Lord where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man.