Star Valley Wyoming Temple Dedicatory Prayer
Contributed By the Church News
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016.
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Following is the text of the prayer Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered in dedicating the Star Valley Wyoming Temple on October 30, 2016.
O God, our Eternal Father, we come unto Thee in solemn prayer in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ. We are assembled in this beautiful temple and in other locations throughout the temple district to dedicate this Thy house. Our hearts are filled with joy and thanksgiving for this holy occasion and historic day.
We love Thee as our Father and Almighty God. We thank Thee for Thy plan of happiness, established to bring to pass the eternal life of Thy sons and daughters. We are grateful Thou knowest and art mindful of each of us individually.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
We thank Thee for Thine Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and for His infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice. We acknowledge and love Him as our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Lord.
We thank Thee for the Restoration of the gospel in these latter days. We thank Thee that heavenly messengers returned to the earth and conferred upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates the priesthood authority and keys by which sacred ordinances can be binding both on earth and in heaven—and through which we can receive the power of godliness in our lives.
We thank Thee for the faith of the pioneers who helped to establish Thy Son’s Church in the areas included in this temple district. Their sacrifices continue to bless us today. We pray that we, like so many of them, may be true to Thee in both life and death.
We thank Thee for this beautiful building and for all who have labored to build it. We especially are grateful for the faithfulness of Thy Saints and for their tithes and offerings that have made this temple possible. Please bless them, Father, and open the windows of heaven and shower down upon them every needful gift.
And now, dear Father, in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, and acting in the authority of the holy priesthood and under the direction of President Thomas S. Monson who holds and is authorized to exercise all of the priesthood keys on the earth at this time, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and unto Thy Son this the Star Valley Wyoming Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We humbly pray Thou wilt accept and visit it as Thy holy house. We ask Thee to permit Thy Holy Spirit to be here in rich abundance at all times. Please strengthen and sanctify all who enter this sacred and set apart place.
We dedicate the ground on which the temple stands, every space and feature of the structure from the footings to the top of the steeple with its crowning figure of Moroni, and the surrounding landscape on the temple grounds. We dedicate the baptismal font, the initiatory, endowment, sealing, and celestial rooms for Thy eternal purposes and to bless individuals and families on both sides of the veil.
Father, we ask Thee to safeguard and protect this holy temple from destructive events and desecration by evil influences. We pray Thy eternal work may proceed in this temple without interruption or disturbance.
We pray that all who enter this holy temple will do so worthily. May a mantle of holiness rest upon and endure over this sacred edifice. And may understanding, perspective, and peace distill upon all who come into the temple seeking inspired guidance to press forward in the challenges of life. We pray that Thy Holy Spirit will shine forth from this temple and bless all individuals, families, and communities in the entire temple district.
We ask Thee to bless all who serve in this temple as patrons, ordinance workers, presidents, matrons, or in any other capacity. May Thy sacred ordinances and covenants be written in their minds and planted deep in their hearts. Please bless these valiant servants with spiritual strength beyond their own. May the fire of the covenant burn in the soul of every faithful member of this Church who shall worship and honorably hold a name and standing in this Thy house, to all generations and for eternity.
We pray in particular that the children and youth of the rising generation will be drawn to this temple and the holy work performed here. As these young people learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah, we pray Thou wilt protect them throughout their lives against the intensifying influence of the adversary.
Father, our words cannot express the smallest part of the love we have for Thee and Thy Beloved Son. Our strong desires are for righteousness and purity. We yearn to return to Thee with our families, sealed together for time and for all of eternity. This day our devotion is deepened, and our commitment to Thy eternal purposes is strengthened.
We love Thee. We thank Thee for Thy love, for Thy Beloved Son, and for Thy tender mercies. On this day of dedication we pledge our hands, our hearts, and our whole souls to Thee and to Thy work. Please hear our prayer and accept our offering, we sincerely ask in the sacred name of Thy Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple in Afton, Wyoming, on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
The Star Valley Wyoming Temple is seen on the morning of its dedication in Afton, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Photo by Ravell Call, Deseret News.
