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

Dedicated 10 August 2008
by Thomas S. Monson

O God, our Eternal Father, to whom we bow with reverence and love, we come before Thee this sacred and blessed day with full hearts and humble spirits.

We pray to Thee, our Father, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, our Redeemer and our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord. We know that through obedience to Thy divine commandments, we may return to Thee and be blessed with life eternal in Thy exalted presence.

We are grateful for the completion of this, Thy Holy House. We ask that Thou wilt bless those faithful members here and throughout the world who have contributed their tithes, making possible this magnificent edifice for the blessing of all who enter herein.

We are thankful that Thou sent to this earth Thine Only Begotten Son, who gave His life as our Savior and our Redeemer. The atonement wrought by Thy Son gives purpose to our being and turns our thoughts heavenward.

We thank Thee for the Restoration of the gospel through the instrumentality of Thy Prophet, Joseph Smith, bringing back to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes.

We thank Thee for the sacred sealing power, so that in this temple and all Thy other holy houses Thy faithful Saints may be endowed with power from on high and may enter into those everlasting covenants which open the door to the receipt of all of the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the holy prophets.

The Plan of Salvation, taught in the temple with simplicity yet power, will be as a never-failing beacon of divine light to guide our footsteps and keep them constantly on the pathway to eternal life.

As we do work in this temple for those who have gone beyond, we are reminded of the inspired counsel of President Joseph F. Smith, who declared: "Through our efforts in their behalf, their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them; and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice."

We seek to be like Thee; we seek to pattern our lives after the life of Thy Son; we desire righteousness for ourselves and our children and our children''s children. We plead with Thee to make us worthy to inherit the fulness of those blessings found only in Thy Holy Temples—even those blessings which grow out of a continuation of the family unit forever.

We seek Thy help, Father, to make our homes havens of peace and happiness. In our families, may we pause to pray and think to thank.

Father in Heaven we pray that Thou wilt bless, with Thy guiding influence and inspiration, the President of the Church and his counselors who comprise the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorums of the Seventy and the Presiding Bishopric.

Bless the president of this temple and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who will assist in the operation of this temple.

We express our gratitude for all who have participated in the preparations for this glorious day of dedication, as well as for those who made possible the successful open house event. We ask Thy blessings to attend that vast throng who walked within these sacred walls and felt stirring thoughts course through their minds and hearts. May the spirit of the temple continue with them.

Now, our Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Thy Son this, the Panama City Panama Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as a house of baptism, a house of endowment, a house of sealing, a house of righteousness for the living and for the dead.

We pray that Thou wilt accept this edifice and let Thy blessings be upon it. May Thy spirit attend and guide all who officiate herein, that holiness will prevail in every room. May all who enter have clean hands and pure hearts. May they be built up in their faith and depart with a feeling of peace, praising Thy holy name.

We dedicate the ground on which this temple stands. We dedicate this beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point. We dedicate the baptistry, all of the facilities for administering the sacred ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and the lovely celestial room, together with all ancillary facilities and the beautiful grounds with their lawns, flowers, trees and shrubs. Protect all from any devastating influence, destruction or defacement.

May this House provide a spirit of peace to all who observe its majesty, and especially to those who enter for their own sacred ordinances and to perform the work for their loved ones beyond the veil. Let them feel of Thy divine love and mercy.

As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work.

Shield us, we pray, from selfishness or sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is below the dignity of Thy children.

We now dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee and Thy Son. Let Thy glorious light ever shine upon it. Wilt Thou place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and will do in this, Thy Holy House, which we now present to Thee.

May we, Thy children, merit Thy bounteous blessings and Thy watchful care, we pray, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord, Amen.