Fortaleza Brazil and Paris France Temples

Ground was broken Tuesday 15 November 2011 on the Fortaleza Brazil Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The groundbreaking was presided over by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Rendering of the Fortaleza Brazil Temple

Elder Bednar said that "this city will always be better and different because of the temple to be built here" ("Ground broken for 7th temple in Brazil", Deseret News, Wednesday 16 November 2011, B3).  

Also worthy of note, it has been officially announced that the Paris France Temple is underway.  According to Le Parisien, "It's now a done deal.  The city council has just given its green light by validating the building permit filed by La Fonciere des Regions on behalf of the Mormon Church" (Ibid.).

LDS Church Statement on Temple in France

From newsroom.lds.org, published on Friday, 15 July 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah:

"President Thomas S. Monson said today that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hopes to build its first temple in France on property on the outskirts of Paris.

"Customarily, new temples are announced by the president of the Church at one of the Church's general conferences, after local government building approvals and property acquisition have been secured.  Although the local government approval process for the French temple is still under way, French newspapers were already reporting Church plans to build at Le Chesnay, near Versailles, and this prompted today's announcement.

"Church spokesman Scott Trotter said that the Church has been working for many months with local officials.  More details will be given later.

"There have been several previous attempts to find a suitable site for a French temple, but none were finalized.  French members of the Church wishing to visit a temple usually travel to those in neighboring European countries [such as Spain, Germany, or the Netherlands]."