Inwijdingsgebed

Helsinkitempel (Finland), 22 oktober 2006

O God, our Eternal Father, Thou great Elohim, the Governor of the universe, hear our prayer, offered in the name of Thine Only Begotten Son.

We come unto Thee with unbounded gratitude for Thy generous blessings upon us.

Father, we thank Thee for this remarkable season when we are alive. We thank Thee that Thou hast parted the curtains and revealed Thyself and Thy Son to open this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. We thank Thee for the incomparable vision given the boy Joseph Smith.

We are grateful for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon as another testament, speaking from the dust in witness of the divinity of Thy Son. We thank Thee for the restoration of the holy priesthood, with all of the authority and powers and keys appurtenant thereto.

And now, in the exercise of that priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate and consecrate this, the Helsinki Finland Temple, to Thee and Thy Beloved Son as Thy holy house, Thy sacred abode. Wilt Thou accept it as our offering unto Thee. Let Thy watchful care be over it.

We dedicate the ground on which it stands with all of the trees, shrubbery, and flowers found thereon. We dedicate the footings and foundation of the building, the walls and windows and roof, reaching up to the figure of Moroni.

We dedicate the beautiful baptistry wherein ordinances for the blessing of the deceased may occur. May the young people, particularly, take advantage of the great opportunity to here be baptized in behalf of those beyond the veil of death.

We consecrate and dedicate the ordinance rooms, the sealing rooms, and the crowning jewel, the celestial room. We dedicate the offices, the halls, the dressing rooms, and all other spaces and facilities in this sacred and holy house. We likewise dedicate and consecrate the other structures associated with this temple — the patron housing, the missionary quarters, the president's residence, and other facilities.

O God, we are so deeply grateful to those who have come to this land as Thy servants to preach the everlasting gospel. We thank Thee that they were able to learn the language and speak it with fluency. We are grateful for their dedication and their desire to represent Thee in a proper and efficacious manner. We are grateful for the presence of some of them this day, knowing that all who have served here would wish to be present with us.

We invoke Thy blessings upon the presidency of the temple and the matron and her assistants. Give them strength and vitality to carry forward the rigorous work that will occur here.

We pray for Thy faithful people throughout the world who have made this temple possible through the payment of their tithes and offerings. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them.

We thank Thee for our presence here this day, that Thou hast afforded us the strength and vitality to make the long journey to this land. Bless us, strengthen us and fortify us against the darts of the adversary.

Bless Thy work in all the earth, wherever it is established. We pray for peace among the nations and that the way may be opened whereby Thy cause may be established in distant lands where today we have no presence.

We pray for this great nation of Finland. May it ever be respected and honored among the nations of the earth. Bless its neighbor nations of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, from which Saints will come to serve in this temple. May they have no difficulty in crossing the borders into this land when they come to work in this, Thy holy house.

Now, dear Father, accept of our thanks for every blessing and continue Thy blessings upon us, we pray humbly and gratefully, in the hallowed and sacred name of Thy Beloved Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.