Elder Craig C. Christensen, president of the Utah Area, presided at today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. In his remarks, he spoke of an experience he had walking the temple site a month earlier: "I realized…how this particular temple will bless many individuals and families, including your children, your marriages, your families, and, especially, many of your ancestors." He added: "This is the place where your children and families will be protected from the evils that are ever present in the world today, and to make sacred covenants with the Lord." His words reached an audience of tens of thousands of members and guests gathered both at the temple site and at local meetinghouses. Following the formal proceedings, attendees were invited to take pictures and turn a shovelful of dirt to commemorate the historic occasion.

A small army of young people passed chairs from arms to arms this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's groundbreaking ceremony for the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. The rows of chairs joined a stage, a set of choir risers, and some potted trees set up for the historic services. Construction has begun on the street that will lead to the temple site.

With its exterior lighting system fully operational, the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple is particularly spectacular in the evenings. The temple stands near the ocean next to an expansive nature reserve on Avenida das Américas. It is the eighth temple to be constructed in Brazil. The Belém Brazil Temple, which is also under construction, will be the ninth. And the Brasília Brazil Temple and Salvador Brazil Temple will be the tenth and eleventh Brazilian temples.

The presidency of the South America Northwest Area is inviting the public to participate in the open house for the Arequipa Peru Temple beginning in one month on Friday, November 15, and continuing through Saturday, November 30, 2019, except for Sundays, November 17 and 24. Free tours will be offered from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Watch the new video presentation posted last evening.