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

Dedicated 23 May 2004
by Gordon B. Hinckley

O God, our Eternal Father, we bow before Thee in solemnity and with reverence as we dedicate this Thy sacred house. Forgive our sins that we may be found worthy to approach Thy throne in humble supplication.

We thank Thee for the knowledge that has come by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Thou art our living Father and God. We marvel at the wonders of the Atonement wrought by Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through that Atonement has come salvation for all and the opportunity for exaltation for those who walk in obedience to Thy divine commandments.

We thank Thee for this great and final dispensation which opened with Thine appearance, and that of Thy Son, to the boy Joseph Smith.

How grateful we are for the restoration of this glorious gospel, with all of the authority and keys which Thou hast bestowed upon Thy people. O Father, smile upon us with love and mercy. May we feel Thy guiding power in all that we do in building Thy kingdom and strengthening Thy work throughout the world.

We thank Thee for this land, where the restored gospel was first preached more than a century and a half ago. We thank Thee for Thy faithful servants who have come here as teachers of Thy divine truth. We express our gratitude for the many thousands who have responded to their message over the years. Most emigrated to their Zion in the early seasons of this work. Now Thy people are urged to remain and build Zion in this good land. That they might have every blessing, and that they might extend these blessings to those beyond the veil of death, this beautiful temple has been constructed in their midst. An historic building, dedicated in 1931, has been almost totally modified to become a sacred temple, the house of the Lord. It is beautiful, and our hearts are filled with gratitude for its presence among us.

And now, acting in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the authority of the holy priesthood in us vested, we dedicate and consecrate and hallow this sacred structure for Thy divine purposes. We dedicate the ground on which it stands with all that grows thereon. We dedicate the walls, the windows, the doors, and the roof. We dedicate the beautiful baptistry with its associated facilities, the endowment rooms, the magnificent celestial room, and the sealing rooms with their sacred altars. We dedicate the offices and all of the facilities, components, and features of this Thy house. We dedicate the adjoining steeple crowned with the figure of Moroni.

We consecrate all of these unto Thee and to Thy Beloved Son, our Redeemer. Wilt Thou accept of this the offering of our hearts and hands. Let the presence of Thy Holy Spirit be felt here at all times. Wilt Thou ever look upon it and keep it apart and sacred from the world, as a place wherein the holy priesthood may act in administering the ordinances associated with these houses of the Lord. Protect it by Thy power, we pray Thee. Preserve it from the storms of nature and from the evil hand of the vandal or any who might desire to desecrate it. Touch the hearts of all who serve herein with an understanding of Thy divine purposes and of Thy glorious work in bringing "to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

We pray for the temple president and his counselors, for the matron and her assistants. We pray for all who will serve within these sacred walls, whether they be officiators or patrons.

Bless those who are baptized in behalf of the dead, that this may be a sanctifying experience for each. Let Thy blessings rest upon those who gather to receive the other ordinances of Thy holy temple, that they may be clean before Thee, that they may be endowed with power from on high, that they may enter into sacred covenants with Thee, and that they may be sealed together as husbands and wives, as parents and children, in a bond that death cannot destroy and time cannot break.

May these halls and rooms be hallowed to all who walk herein. When they enter the portals of this structure, we ask that the evils of the world may be left behind and that the refreshing and beautiful manifestation of Thy Holy Spirit be felt.

Now our dear Father, Thou who art the great Governor of the Universe, bless the nations of Denmark, Sweden and Iceland, whose people this temple will serve. We know that there are many among them who long for righteousness, goodness, and truth. Cause that the way may be opened before them, that they may taste the sweet fruit of the gospel of our Lord.

We pray for those who will go from this house into the world as Thy servants proclaiming the gospel here or abroad, that they may be endowed and receive power and testimony to stand as teachers of eternal truth, bearing witness of the living reality of Thee and Thy Beloved Son.

Let Thy blessings rest upon the families of the Church, that love and peace and prosperity may be their lot. We pray for the children, and the youth, that their lives may be touched in such a way that they may grow up in righteousness.

We pray for the troubled world in which we live, that hatred and prejudice may evaporate and be replaced by brotherhood and peace.

Dear Father, accept of our offering, accept of these dedicatory services, accept this Thy house, and accept our love, we humbly ask in the sacred name of our Savior and Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.