Deseret News | New LDS temple planned for Peru

Reader comments
New LDS temple planned for Peru

109 comments | Read story

Re: Anonymous | 8:28 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

I completely agree. A very moving story. I hope going to the temple is worth the pain of getting those fillings removed. May the church prosper from the gold of the unfortunate.

AZ | 8:29 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Merry Christmas to all at to all a good night.

JB | 8:29 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Some of the Lord's disciples were very upset when extremely expensive spikenard was used for him. Christ said that we have the poor with us always but not him. (St. Mark 14:3-6)

I wonder how many of us would have reviled Jesus and demanded he sell the spikenard and give the money to the poor? Preparation for death and resurrection was part of Christ's mission, as well as helping the poor.

Comments continue below

Sick of ignorance | 8:36 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

As I have said antis and ex's and axed should not be able to post. Let us be, you are an ignorant bunch of people who are just full of hate. You are a very sick and unworthy people. Look towards and follow our example and maybe something may change in your life.

Re: Sick of ignorance | 8:52 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Welcome to America where everyone has the inalienable right to freedom of speech.

What ADULTS? | 8:54 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

What a lot of nitwits on here. How old are you people anyway? Judging from ALL the lame comments from both sides, I would have to guess around 5 to 6 years old. What a bunch grown babies!

Yours Truly, | 9:07 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

The Prophet has called upon us to defend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this blog and many others. We stand up for the right and will not let the ignorance of the Gentile smear our faith. Your ignorance and comments show how you lack values and how uncooth you are. I am soory for all of you. Perhaps if you had not turned those two Missionaries away your life would be much better and you would not be so bitter. You are sad sad little people. I am sad for all of you but you have agency and I cannot believe you have denied and choose to lead the sad little life you do.

Bullett | 9:09 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

There's nothing wrong with building another temple. The Mayans built temples, held testimony meetings, did religious rites.

Of course their empire collapsed. In part, due to the wasted resources building these temples. But, hey, we get to visit the ruins!! And besides, despite shrinking membership we still have another 50 years left before we collapse.

One LDS member | 9:19 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

If I remember correctly, it seems the church is the first entity to arrive with humanitarian aid when a disaster occurs, beating out the government and others.

The temple is not a place for conversion of non-Mormons but allows LDS faithful to perform rites (such as eternal marriage and baptism for the dead) which are part of the church's doctrine. The church's doctrine also reaches much further than the here and now and immediate needs. Rather, it teaches people how to lift themselves up to their potential, including assisting those in need.

Merry Christmas to all

Cats | 9:22 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

To Bullett: I have one very important question for you. HUH????

observer | 9:32 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Man does not live by bread alone....forgive them Father for they know not what they say!

Peter | 9:42 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

To all concerned about the poor. It is just not about Temple building. We are building a billion-dollar mall in SLC also. Projection of power is a wonderful thing.

Anonymous | 9:42 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

If you build it they will come.........

Mark | 10:38 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

This is is a great blessing for the people of Peru. I am glad it is going forth.

The Church in Peru | 10:49 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Currently in Peru there are 87 stakes and 24 districts. The temple in Trujillo will definately be well used, likely to accommodate members in 25 stakes and 8 districts in northern Peru. A future temple in Arequipa, Peru is also likely which could serve 14 stakes and 8 districts in southern Peru.

Keep in mind that there are temples with only two or three stakes in the entire temple district. The growth of the Church has also picked up in recent years in Peru, with the creation of 33 new wards last year (many of which were from branches) and five new stakes last year (all from districts)

The temple in Lima is one of the smallest in the Church (less than 10,000 square feet) and has endowment sessions going every hour on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Saturdays. Although inactivity remains a serious problem in Peru (607 member per congregation), temple attendance and Church growth will likely improve with the new temple.

Lastly, new temples are usually built not because of overcrowded existing temples, but rather to make temples more accessible to members.

Zion | 11:48 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

A great blessing for the people of Peru. The Church is comming home to Zion. This growth is wonderful indeed is South America. The flock has come home.

OC Surfer | 11:49 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

Congrats to Peru for getting another temple. The Trujillo Peru Temple will definitely be a spiritual and temporal blessing in the long run for the members of the Church and the nation as a whole.

To Anti Temple People | 11:56 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

For those who have said that the church should give money to the poor instead of building dont understand the blessings that the temple brings. I served my mission in Ecuador and in the past ten years the temple has been there the country has progressed greatly. Both members and non-members have been blessed just by having a temple there. Oh, and the church gives all kinds of money to the poor. Really the eternal blessings that the temple bring are much more valuable than any monetary donation the church could give.

We are a temple building people | 1:30 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

It appears that many find the notion of temple building through sacrifice difficult to grasp.
The church will continue to build temples because of the sacrifice, obedience and faith of members who contribute to humanitarian relief, education and temple buildings.
The need for local temples is great for thousands of church members so they will continue to built where land and permission are obtained. For those who don't comprehend the significance and see only a physical building; you perhaps need to comprehend the faith and sacrifice of others in their faith in Christ.

Anonymous | 1:46 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

"We can't expect other people and even many LDS members to understand why temples are so important"

But we do understand. It's the same reason any organization builds big, impressive buildings.

Johnsen | 2:11 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

I served in Peru and feel that the temple will be a great blessing to those faithful members. Some people I served had to travel 16 hours to get to the Lima temple. With the new temple being built it will make things so much easier for them. I am so happy for them!

Hey Go Utes! How about you not make all us Ute fans look so ignorant! Not all Ute fans like Go Utes!

arc | 4:32 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

will orrn hatch visit peru

DennyG | 6:57 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

RE:sick of ignorance....
It's time for you to look in the mirror.
It's not everyones business in life to be a "Mormon".
When the Church doesn't act in a way that makes sense, it's everyones right to call them on it.
If you spend your life with your head in the sand, when you pass from this existence, you'll have missed more than you know.

Beverly | 8:03 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

I believe a lot of these negative comments come from LDS members, and not only from outsiders. It's true many people do not understand the building of so many huge temples.

I am a member and I even wonder why? The things done in the temples could be done in smaller and simpler buildings. Why spend so much money to build them?

joy | 11:35 a.m. Dec. 14, 2008

How exciting for the LDS members of the church in Peru. Prophecy is being fulfilled and it's a wonderful thing to see. I realize that many non members do not understand our excitement nor do they take the time to find out truly what we believe or why we build temples to the Lord they go by hearsay or rumor and not taking time to do their homework. It's easy to be critical of what you don't understand but please be respectful of our religion and rights to worship how we believe. I'm sure you can find more constructive things to do with your time maybe even helping the poor and the needy.

Em | 12:42 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Can anybody say train reck?? I hope you who post here treat everybody better on sunday meetings than you do the other six days a week. Good grief.

ABurga | 1:23 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Observer, how much have you contributed to that young family that's now living in a Shelter? How much have you contributed to the victims of the earthquake in Peru? How about Katrina?

I am happy for the Temple to be built in Trujillo, Peru. I was born there and I am really excited. I plan to invite all my friends from Trujillo to visit the inside of the temple before it gets dedicated.

Rash | 2:41 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Judging by everyones comments posted on here, I'd say that most never made it through the first grade. You people need to stop throwing mud at one another.

Go build a snow man or something. Happy holidays!

Joe | 3:10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

This blog kind of reminds me of the Irakcian journalist who through his shoes at president Bush today. Pretty darn weird.

The temple is nice. My 3 year old son said he thought he would like a LEGO temple for Christmas.

Paul Klecko | 5:20 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Wow and a mall to boot. We could help out humanity a little better than building one more under utilized Temple. Let's get a grip and not be so self centered.

Caley ann | 5:36 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008

Hey Joe,
i think you meant that the journalist threw his boots at president Bush. I saw that news clip on CNN-- cool filming. President Bush ditched those boots pretty good like a real marshal artist at work.. Perhaps that is one country that should never have a temple built there nor the presents of a president Bush.

Anonymous | 9:31 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Everything we have is God's. We give ten percent back and get to keep ninety percent so that we can give forty percent more to the government. The savior I know makes sure that the poor and needy are attended too and that we still have beautiful, functional buildings (not ornate). I don't think we should put limits on God. Look at the world he created for us. He didn't cut corners.

by the way | 9:35 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Heaven bless them. I wouldn't want to travel ten hours in a bus on those mountainous Peruvian roads!!!

MIke | 11:20 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

All of you are so silly. Temples don't help the people or the land. All though they are pretty, they don't mean anything. Nor do the silly rituals people perform in them either. Please Des News, report on something worth while for me to read.

@Re: Sick of ignorance | 11:20 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Welcome to the Des News Message boards where you have absolutely NO right of free speech.

Re-read your constitution. Your not guaranteed free speech on private property.

@MIke | 11:40 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

If you don't like what you read in the Des news then there's a simple solution to that. Don't read it! Surprise! There are a lot of people in Utah where this sort of story is appreciated and enjoyed.

Imagine that. Utahns like to read stories about the states predominant religion...

John Pack Lambert | 11:54 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

To the 9:09 commentator,
It is amazing how you know more about the collapse of the Mayan empire than any Mayanist archeologist.
Contrary to what you say the church is growing not collapsing. However, I guess you get some strength out of thinking lots of people left the church with you.

John Pack Lambert | 11:56 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

To Peter,
The LDS Church is the only organization that gets attacked when it announces projects that will provide more jobs.

John Pack Lambert | 11:59 a.m. Dec. 15, 2008

To the 1:46 commentator,
big is relative. The Detroit Temple is smaller and shorter than the stake center it is adacent to.
Temples are not about size, but about unique connectedness to God. They are points where we recieve spiritual nourishment.

John Pack Lambert | 12:04 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

To Beverly,
What makes you call temples huge. Or maybe more to the point, where have you been for the last decade?
The Aba Nigeria Temple has a total area of 11,500 square feet. The Accra Ghana Temple is 17,500 square feet. The Adelaide Australia Temple is 10,700 square feet. These are not gargantuan buildings.
It is true that they are built to high standards, but how would you feel if you went to the temple and it was a decrepid buildings, dirty and falling apart?
The church recently purchased a sight to build a chapel in Washington DC for $4 million, which I believe is more than the total cost of construction for some of these temples.

Ahlstrom | 12:13 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

Cool,a while back I made a temple prediction chart where I think the next temples are going to be built. Northern Peru and and Cordoba, Argentina were both pretty high up on the list. I'm glad to see they are living worthy for the edification of another temple.

Ahlstrom | 12:20 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

In response to some of the criticisms, and by the way, responding to criticism is not hateful nor arrogant thing when done correctly.

Temples bless the whole person and help them to live up to live a higher standard. This blesses the people, not just physically, but spiritually and temporally. When people are doing the things necessary to enter the temple they teach themselves self-reliance.
For example, one of the requirements to enter the temple is to live a chaste life. Think of how many of the problems of this poor nation would be solved if more people heeded that council.
Another example, not consuming alcohol is another requirement to enter the temple. If any of you have been to South America, you know what a drastic change this could bring to the people.
As we can see, temples do bless peopleï¿½s welfare, even physically.

John Pack Lambert | 12:42 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

To Ahlstrom,
Well, I eagerly anticipated an announcement of a temple in Trujillo back in 1998, so obviolsly my views on where temples should be built and the views of the Lord are out of line. Of course since the Lord knows a lot more than me (well, that is the understatement of the year by far, but still) this is not surprising.
So this explains why I have little patience with those who ask "Why a temple in Trujillo?"
If you do not get why people in a city with seven stakes (and there are stakes further north {that is further from the temple in Lima} in places like Cajamarca (1) and Chiclayo (5)) that is about 10 hours one way of travel to the nearest temple could utilize a new temple in their midst you are missing the whole point.
Even the saints in Iquitos, Peru in the upper reaches of the Amazon and about as far from Trujillo as Trujillo is from Lima will be blessed. There are three stakes in Iquitos.
In comparison there are only nine stakes in the Detroit Temple district.

For: Go Utes at 1:04PM | 2:11 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

"Go Utes!!! | 1:04 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008
It boggles my mind that this church feels the need to build a temple everywhere they go and convert everybody on this planet."

It wouldn't if you actually understood what the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was and who was REALLY behind it.....

To The Shortsighted | 2:33 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

So, just why are temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints important?

God, as your loving Father in Heaven, wants for you to be able to share with Him all that He has; His knowledge, His capabilities and power, and especially, His happiness and joy. God knows that the absolute fulfillment of joy can only come by being part of a family; a father, a mother and their children. But not just during your earthly existence, but for all eternity!

Think of it: you and your spouse and your children, having learned the lessons of mutual love and respect, joined together as an eternal family team.

But how?

Through God's power, His Priesthood, that's how. What man tries to enforce through his own hollow authority is of no consquence to the Creator.

But what God joins together cannot be undone or go unrecognized by Him. How can it?, for HE has done it.

And where does such an eternal joining together of families take place?

Only in the holy temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Now can you begin to see why temples are important, not just to LDS members but to everyone?

Re: To The Shortsighted | 2:58 p.m. Dec. 15, 2008

All -

My apologies for using such a harsh sounding title. I should have titled it "To The Unknowing", instead. I work with many, many good non-LDS people and it's not so much that they are shortsighted, they just don't know what's out there.

Cheers!

For Bullett, the Optimist | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 16, 2008

"Bullett | 9:09 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008
There's nothing wrong with building another temple. The Mayans built temples, held testimony meetings, did religious rites.

Of course their empire collapsed. In part, due to the wasted resources building these temples. But, hey, we get to visit the ruins!! And besides, despite shrinking membership we still have another 50 years left before we collapse."

Bullett, I wouldn't count on it.....

Dan Maloy
Enid, OK

All-the-Above | 9:13 a.m. Dec. 16, 2008

A quandry to ponder...
Peru is 75% Catholic. Mormonism is considered an aberration of Christianity by the Catholic Church. As you know, Parish records are no longer accessible to Mormons. How are you going to perform baptisms for the dead when the dominant religion of Peru will not allow you access to Parish records?
*What is with such anger and mean spiritedness on this comment board. I would never even think of becoming LDS if this is the way you folks treat each other, especially those not of your Faith.

Re: Shameful | 11:15 a.m. Dec. 16, 2008

If you had ever been to a temple, you would realize that they are monuments to the Lord, not to us. Everything about them signifies a great love and respect to something higher, and vastly more important, than us mere mortals are.

Re: Beverly | 11:29 a.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Beverly, the reason the temples are made from expensive materials is because they're houses for the Lord. They're dedicated to our Eternal Father. They should only be built with the finest materials, and should be done so happily and with the utmost love and respect. No expense is spared because we should not spare any expense to show our love for Father. Each temple is paid for in full, without the church going into debt - and this is in addition to all the money spent for humanitarian aid all around the world. We can afford the finest things for these houses, and so we should only use the best.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.