奉献の祈り

メキシコ・モンテレー神殿, 2002年4月28日

Almighty God, to whom we look as the Ruler of the universe and as our Father in heaven, we come unto Thee in prayer on this historic Sabbath, this day of dedication.

We look with appreciation upon all who have gone before us in the establishment of Thy work and in the building of Thy kingdom. Our hearts go back to the great conflict in heaven when Satan and his plan were rejected, and Thy plan prevailed and was brought to pass through the Atonement of Thy Beloved Son, our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for Him, and for all that He has done for us, Thy children.

We express our gratitude for the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom Thou didst reveal Thyself and Thine Only Begotten Son. We thank Thee for all of the gifts that have come through the restoration of the gospel including the keys of the Holy Priesthood which will be exercised in this house.

We express appreciation for the many missionaries who have labored in this great nation in teaching the eternal truths of Thy gospel. They have served with such devotion that today hundreds of thousands of Thy sons and daughters have entered the waters of baptism and have thereafter walked in faith before Thee.

We are grateful for the many temples which grace this land. Here Thy sons and daughters may come to carry forward Thy work in behalf of those of all generations, be they living or dead. Marvelous is the work which is going forward in these holy houses. And now to the many others that have been erected, we today add this beautiful edifice.

Acting in the divine authority of Thy Holy Priesthood which Thou hast bestowed upon us, and in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and unto Thy Beloved Son this, the Monterrey Mexico Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wilt Thou look with favor upon it. Wilt Thou sanctify it and hallow it and bless it as Thy holy house. May Thy Spirit dwell here at all times and its presence be felt by all who labor here.

Accept of this our offering unto Thee, we humbly ask. Let Thy blessings rest upon it at all times. May it ever be precious in Thy sight. Safeguard it from the elements and from the destructive hand of any who might design to damage it in any way.

We dedicate these beautiful grounds with their grass, their flowers, their shrubs, their trees. We dedicate the footings on which Thy house rests, the foundation, the walls, the steeple with its figure of Moroni.

We dedicate the baptistry, the areas where the initiatory ordinances are given, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms, and every other facility in this Thy house. We pray that all these may serve Thy purposes in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. May all who enter this house recognize that they walk in a hallowed and sacred place. May nothing ever occur here which would be out of harmony with the purposes for which this house has been built.

We pray that all who look upon it may do so with a spirit of reverence and respect. It is a house where sacred covenants will be entered into which will bless the lives of all who undertake them. It is a place where promises will be made to serve Thee and Thine Only Begotten Son. It is a place where the fulness of the priesthood will be exercised with authority to reach beyond the veil of death.

We pray for the temple presidency and for the matron and her assistants. Grant unto them strength to do well the work which will rest upon them. Bless all who assist them in any way in administering the ordinances of Thy house. We pray for the patrons who will come here that they may be worthy in every respect. Bless the children who are baptized for those who have gone beyond. Bring into their hearts and minds a realization of the great work of salvation of which they are a part.

And as we dedicate this sacred temple, we also dedicate and consecrate the nearby stake center as a house of worship wherein Thy Saints may assemble to sing Thy praises, to lift their voices unto Thee in prayer, and to be instructed in Thy doctrine and Thy ways.

May the chapel ever be a place of holiness where Thy word is taught as it has come to us through revelation from on high, and where Thy Saints may gather to renew their covenants with Thee through partaking the emblems of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

May the classrooms be utilized in the teaching of Thy restored gospel. May the recreation hall and its appurtenances promote sociality and joyful entertainment. May every room and facility serve well the needs of the people.

May Thy watch care be over it to preserve it from harm or evil, from storm or tempest, from mobs, or vandals, or desecration of any kind; and may nothing of an unsavory character ever occur within its walls. May it be a place of refuge in seasons of distress from whatever the source.

Now, dear Father, we pray for this nation of Mexico. Bless its leaders that they may govern in righteousness. Bless its people that they may cultivate a spirit of peace, and that they may be prospered. We pray particularly for those of Thy kingdom who pay their tithes and offerings that Thou wilt open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon them. Lift from their shoulders the shackles of the past. Open their eyes to a vision of what they may become.

Now, as Thy sons and daughters, we look to Thee as our Father and our God. We love Thee and we love Thy Beloved Son. We pray that we may ever walk in those paths which Thou hast outlined before us.

We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to Thy service and pray that Thou wilt accept of our labors, all of which we humbly ask in the name of Thine Only Begotten, our Redeemer and Savior, even Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.