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

Site Dedicated 7 November 2020
by Jeffrey R. Holland

Our beloved and holy Father in Heaven, on this windy but beautiful fall morning, in the full view of the red hills of November, we, a select few, represent the many who would like to be here for one of the sacred events of the Kingdom of God on earth: the groundbreaking for a new temple in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Sadly, the limitations and danger, dangers of the pandemic, are still with us. We pray that this plague will soon be lifted and that the many who are restricted from witnessing this groundbreaking will soon be able to witness the dedication of a beautifully completed House of the Lord.

Father, as we gather here in the abundance of the 21st century, we're particularly mindful of those who went before us in the 19th, settling as they did this breathtakingly beautiful but rugged and challenging corner of thy vineyard. We salute those pioneers who, with sacrifice and sweat, built just a mile or so away the beautiful St. George temple that has provided a symbolic anchor of our faith in this part of the state for a century-and-a-half. Now, it will be joined by a sister temple to serve the growth in this region and particularly those living to the east of this site, up the course of the Virgin River and on out to the communities in the red and blue and pink and purple geologic formations of this magnificent temple district.

Father, although this temple will not require quite the same sacrifice and struggle that our earlier edifice did, we still face challenges of a more modern kind, for which temple attendance and worship experiences there are the sweet and soothing answer to our problems. We who are gathered here can attest to the burdens that so many in our day carry. These, our brothers and sisters, need the strength that only a temple of the Most High can provide. We are grateful they will have another temple in which to worship, in which to save their kindred dead and from which they can go back to their homes armed with power and with great glory round about them.

Father, would thou please bless the faithful tithe payers from all over this church who have made this groundbreaking possible? May they and we continue to be mindful of where these temples come from, and ultimately who pays for the great expense of constructing them. Would thou open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings on those who have given of their tithes and offerings to see these miracles come to pass in our day of hastening and saving and exalting?

In that spirit, we bless and thank those who've worked on the plans and preparations of this site, and those who will now work on its actual construction. May those workers not only be safe from the dangers inherent in such a large project, but may they sense the presence of heavenly beings who will watch over this project according to the sacred assignment given them in heaven. May the language used here, the habits exhibited here, the spirit felt while engaged on the construction work here all be evidence of the sanctity of this temple and of the divine presence that will come to reside here upon its completion. May all who work here or have any hand in the construction of this holy sanctuary be protected and feel the same presence of angels that will be felt when the temple is completed and opened for faithful participation.

Now, Father in Heaven, under the direction of President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and bearing the holy apostleship in the sacred and restored holy Melchizedek priesthood, I dedicate this site, break this ground and turn this soil to initiate the construction of the Red Cliffs Utah Temple, to bless the living and the dead under the keys restored by the prophet Elijah, the modern prophets, and apostles. In doing so, I pronounce a blessing on this property that once divided the bounties of thy hand into growth of hay and grain and other products of the soil. So, too, will it now provide the bounties of thy hand into growth of baptized, ordained, endowed and eternally sealed families on both sides of the veil, a blessing made possible by the atoning sacrifice of thy beloved son Jesus Christ.

To that end, Father, we dedicate unto thee and thy holy purpose this acreage, the construction effort on it and all the preparatory labor. May the breaking of this soil and the development of this site not only be evidence of the dedication of the parcel of land, but may it also mark a re-dedication of our personal lives, a dedication in which we take true delight in watching the temple rise in doing our family history for the names that will be taken here and to cultivate true worthiness to enter it ere long.

For this we pray, in the sacred and holy name of him whose soil this is, whose temple it will be and whose disciples we are forever, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Dedicated 24 March 2024
by Henry B. Eyring

O God, our Eternal Father, we bow before Thee in solemn prayer. In the sacred name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, and in the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood, we dedicate unto Thee this sacred structure, the Red Cliffs Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We dedicate and consecrate this beautiful edifice unto Thee for Thy sacred purpose, as a house of holy ordinances where Thine eternal work may be carried forward. We dedicate it, that it may stand firm and remain strong against any forces of nature so as to be celebrated and enjoyed by all who may visit.

We ask that Thou wilt accept it as a gift of love for Thee and for Thy Son. May Thy sacred presence dwell here and be felt by all those who enter. We ask Thee to protect this holy house against any that would harm or defile it in any way.

Father, our hearts are filled with gratitude. We rejoice and praise Thy holy name. We thank Thee for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for the holy priesthood with all of its offices, authority and keys. We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for all who have succeeded him. We thank Thee for the Book of Mormon as an added witness of the divinity of Thy Son. We are grateful, above all, for the gift of Thy Beloved Son, whose Atonement gives light and purpose to our lives.

We express gratitude for the resources necessary to construct this house of the Lord. We thank Thee for faithful Saints who have made sacred offerings for this holy edifice. We thank Thee for workers, skilled craftspeople and many faithful volunteers who have labored to create and to beautify this sacred space.

May this house truly be the house of the Lord. May it be a place of worship, a place of peace, order and love. May it be ever sacred to those who enter it and to all who look upon it. Bless them to feel Thy presence and a sense of hope and a desire to draw closer to Thee and to Thy Son.

We pray for the sanctifying influence of this sacred temple to be extended to the communities of all who serve and worship here. May Thy Saints have a passion to share the gospel, that Thy work may flourish. Wilt Thou provide them with needed blessings and with a desire to do Thy will. May they find safety and protection as they keep the covenants they make, both in this life and into eternity. Please bless them with peace through whatever challenges may come into their lives and into the lives of their children.

Father, we ask Thee to endow with power those who come to this temple in preparation for missionary service. We pray that Thy inspiration may rest upon them and that the Holy Ghost may be their companion. We pray that Thou wouldst protect them from all forces of harm and evil. May they be filled with faith, courage and determination as they go forth throughout the world to gather Israel in preparation for the coming of the Lord.

We pray for those who are sealed in this temple for eternity. We ask Thee to bless them with charity, the pure love of Christ. Please grant them the power to be faithful to the covenants they make with Thee and with each other. Please protect them from the evil of selfishness and pride. Bless them that their hearts will be turned to each other, to their children and to their ancestors. We ask Thee to bless them with patience and with a hope of eternal life.

We pray for the children and youth in a world that is increasingly unworthy. May they be drawn to this house of the Lord to learn a pattern of living that will allow them to stay close to Thee. As they turn their hearts to Thee, may they also turn their hearts to their family members, past and present, that Thy promise might be fulfilled.

We plead with Thee to bless the temple presidency, the matron and her assistants, ordinance workers, patrons, missionaries and all who will offer consecrated service within this holy house. Bless them all with love and kindness.

Father, as we dedicate this temple, we dedicate ourselves to Thee and to Thy service. We honor Thy holy name and that of Thy Son. Please accept our thanks as we consecrate this hallowed structure, we humbly ask in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.