Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Dedicated 9–13 August 1985
by Gordon B. Hinckley

Almighty God of our fathers, our own beloved Father in heaven, Thou great Elohim, we come unto Thee in prayer in the name of Thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ.

We are met in Thy holy house, erected on the soil of Illinois, to dedicate unto Thee Thy temple. One hundred and thirty-nine years ago our forebears fled this area, leaving behind the temple which they had just constructed. As they moved west across the Iowa prairie their last lingering look was at the tower of that holy edifice which had come with tremendous cost and out of unwavering faith and devotion.

On this day, in this new and beautiful Chicago temple, we of this generation remember Nauvoo. We think of the sacred edifice which stood high on its hill. We remember with appreciation and gratitude those who built it. We recall their sacrifice when they were driven from it. Knowing they soon would be banished, and with many of their number already gone, they yet chose to complete it and dedicate it unto Thee.

O God, we thank Thee for the inheritance of faith that has come down from that generation. We thank Thee for a new and better day when our people have returned to this area, and large numbers have been added to Thy Church in this part of the nation.

We are reminded also that Thy first house built in this dispensation was constructed at Kirtland, Ohio. When that sacred edifice was dedicated Thy prophet, Joseph Smith, received through revelation from Thee the dedicatory prayer which included this plea:

"Remember all Thy church, O Lord, with all their families...that the kingdom, which Thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth;

"That Thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;

"And be adorned as a bride for that day when Thou shalt unveil the heavens...that Thy glory may fill the earth."

Heavenly Father, we see the dawning of that glorious day. The morning breaks, and the sunlight of truth is spreading over the earth. Thy people, once few in number, have become a great multitude, living in many lands and speaking many tongues. Their numbers are constantly increasing. The virtue of their lives is widely acclaimed. We are profoundly grateful for Thy blessings upon Thy work and upon Thy faithful saints across the earth.

We thank Thee now for this glorious day and for all who have labored to make it possible. We thank Thee for the generation of the faithful who have preceded us. We thank Thee for Thy devoted saints wherever they may be who have contributed of their tithes and offerings, which, together with the generous contributions of those in this temple district, have brought to fruition this glorious undertaking.

We praise Thy holy name, our Father and our God. We praise the name of Thy Beloved Son, our Savior and our Redeemer. In the authority of the holy priesthood which Thou hast restored to the earth, and which thou hast conferred upon us, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Him this, the Chicago Illinois Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as Thy holy house with a prayer that Thou wilt accept it as the offering of Thy thankful children. We dedicate it for the transcendent purposes which Thou hast revealed in this dispensation for the blessing of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.

We dedicate the ground on which it stands, with the flowers, the trees, and the shrubs which adorn it. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the top of the tallest steeple. We dedicate all of the rooms, the sacred altars, the fixtures, the furniture, the fittings, and all which have been assembled together to make of this a beautiful structure, holy and sacred to us as the house of the Lord.

Almighty God, wilt Thou hallow it and sanctify it. May Thy presence be felt here, and may Thy Holy Spirit abide constantly within its walls. May all who enter feel of that Spirit and know that they are in holy precincts. May it be a place of refuge from the cares of the world, a house of peace and love. May its rooms and halls be hallowed to those who shall walk here. May faith increase in the hearts of all who come, and may knowledge of Thine eternal plan grow in the minds of those who here serve, be they workers, or patrons. May gratitude well up in the hearts of Thy faithful saints throughout the earth, and may the dead beyond the veil rejoice over what will here be accomplished to their eternal blessing.

We unite in prayer in behalf of Thy prophet Spencer W. Kimball who suffers from the infirmities of age. Extend his life in comfort and dignity. Bless those associated with him in the First Presidency of Thy Church. Bless the Council of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, and the Bishopric. We pray for all throughout the world who have responsibility for the advancement of Thy work. We pray for Thy people everywhere. May Thy peace dwell in their hearts and homes. May they be blessed in their basket and in their store as they walk honestly with Thee. May their children grow in righteousness and faith that their lives may be enriched and that Thy kingdom may become ever stronger.

Beloved Father, may Thy watchcare be over this holy house. Protect it by Thy power from the destructive forces of nature and the vile impulses of men. May it stand without molestation and may those who mock its sacred ordinances feel the weight of Thy censuring hand upon them.

We are mindful that Thy prophet Joseph, and his brother Hyrum, were martyred in Carthage and were buried in Nauvoo, Illinois, at a time of terrible conflict and persecution. May there now be peace and goodwill in the land. Bless the officers of this state and nation that they shall stand firmly for those principles of freedom and equity which were written into the Constitution of the United States under Thine inspiration.

May this holy house, built in peace and dedicated in faith, stand as a testimony that the oppression of the past has faded and that Thy people today enjoy the precious blessings of worshipping Thee according to Thy revelations without fear or molestation. May Thy work move forward to the encompassing glory Thou hast set for it, we humbly pray, as in faith we rededicate ourselves to Thy service, with songs of thanksgiving and praise, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, the Prince of Life, our gracious and generous Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rededicated 8 October 1989
by Gordon B. Hinckley (addition only)

Our beloved Father in Heaven, we come unto Thee in prayer again in Thy holy house in a dedicatory service.

We are grateful for the opportunity to assemble in these sacred precincts. We were here four years ago to dedicate this beautiful structure unto Thee and unto Thy Beloved Son. That was a great and solemn occasion. The extensive use of this Thy house has made necessary its enlargement. And now acting in the authority of the holy priesthood in us vested we dedicate unto Thee and to Thy Son the additions which have been made to the original structure. We dedicate the new baptismal font, the new sealing room, the added endowment room and other rooms and facilities which have been completed to facilitate and make possible and convenient the greater use of this structure by Thy faithful people.o

We pray that Thou wilt accept of these added features. May they become an integral part of the entire building. May they add to its beauty and usefulness. May they be of assistance to the presidency and the many workers who serve here with great faith, as well as to the patrons who will come to engage in the sacred work that is performed here.

We repeat a few of the words that were spoken in prayer at the original dedication of the Chicago Illinois Temple:

Almighty God, wilt Thou hallow it and sanctify it. May Thy presence be felt here, and may Thy holy spirit abide constantly within its walls. May all who enter feel of that spirit and know that they are in holy precincts. May it be a place of worship, a house of prayer, a refuge from the cares of the world, a house of peace and love. May its rooms and halls be hallowed to those who shall walk here. May faith increase in the hearts of all who come, and may knowledge of Thine eternal plan grow in the minds of those who here serve, be they workers or patrons. May gratitude well up in the hearts of Thy faithful saints throughout the earth, and may the dead beyond the veil rejoice over what will here be accomplished to their eternal blessing …

We pray for Thy people everywhere. May Thy peace dwell in their hearts and homes. May they be blessed in their basket and in their store as they walk honestly with Thee. May their children grow in righteousness and faith that their lives may be enriched and that Thy kingdom may become ever stronger.

Father, wilt Thou bless particularly the people of this temple district. May they grow in faith and faithfulness, and may their hearts turn toward their forebears and toward this Thy holy house as a place where they may bring incomparable blessings to those on the other side through whose generations has come an inheritance of body and mind and lineage to the great blessing of this generation and the generations which follow.

Bless all who will labor here that they may be imbued with Thy holy spirit. May there be peace and order, love and respect, and total unselfishness on the part of all as they serve in this house.

We remember before Thee Thy servant President Ezra Taft Benson. We are grateful for his life and leadership. Wilt Thou bless him according to his need. Bless those associated with him, and bless Thy faithful saints throughout the world.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for Thy great gifts unto us, Thy people. We are particularly grateful for the gift of Thy Son, who gave His life that we might have eternal life. We are grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith through whom Thou has restored Thy work in this the dispensation of the fullness of times. We are mindful of the fact that his life was taken in this State and that in the shedding of his blood there was sealed a testimony of the truth of this great latter-day work. We thank Thee for the peace of this day. We thank Thee that a spirit of friendship and appreciation has grown in the hearts of millions over the earth toward Thy people, and that Thy kingdom is growing and becoming ever stronger according to Thy divine plan.

Now, Father, we thank Thee for those who are assembled here this day. Wilt Thou bless them that this may be an event long remembered. May the spirit of this hour of dedication rest upon us and abide with us and constantly prompt us to live up to the pattern Thou hast set for the blessing and joy of Thy saints. May the rooms and halls of this new addition as well as the main structure be hallowed to all who enter. May testimony of Thy reality and divinity and of that of Thy Son grow in the hearts and minds of Thy people and may Thy work spread over the earth for the blessing of Thy sons and daughters wherever they may be found.

To this end we humbly pray as we dedicate anew ourselves to Thy service with praise to Thy holy name in the name of Thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.