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

Dedicated 18 March 2001
by Gordon B. Hinckley

Our beloved Father in Heaven, Thou great Elohim than whom there is none greater, we come unto Thee in the name of Thy Beloved Son, on this day of dedication. We come with reverence and love and supplication.

Thou art our Father and our God. We have built this holy house to accomplish the purposes Thou hast outlined for the eternal blessing of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.

Here we will carry forward a great work that will open the gates of eternal life and the richest blessings of exaltation. Here we will serve as proxies for those who have gone before us and who have not had the opportunity of accomplishing in their own behalf the ordinances which will permit them to move forward under Thy great and glorious plan. It is indeed a wondrous and marvelous thing, unequaled in its consequences for the blessing of Thy children.

All of this comes from the revelations and authority given to the Prophet Joseph Smith for whose life and work we are profoundly grateful. The Prophet Elijah appeared to him and conferred upon him the keys of the priesthood by which this work is accomplished. The hearts of the children are turning to their fathers with respect and love for them, and a great overpowering desire to do in their behalf that which they cannot do for themselves.

And so, on this historic day, acting in the authority of the divine priesthood and in the name of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and unto Him this the Montevideo Uruguay Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as Thy house to accomplish Thy divine purposes. We dedicate it as a place of holiness, the house of God, a place to which Thou might come and a place where Thy Holy Spirit may dwell at all times and under all circumstances. A place to which Thy children may gather with reverence to Thee and come to know of Thine eternal love as they serve in behalf of their forebears.

Dear Father, wilt Thou accept this temple as the gift of Thy sons and daughters. It has come through the faithful payment of tithing by Thy Saints across the world. May it grace this land. May the nation of Uruguay be blessed because of its presence on this soil. May it stand as a testimony to the world of the knowledge of Thy people concerning the eternal things of God.

We pray that Thou wilt protect it by Thy power, that Thy watch care may be over it and all of its facilities, from the footings to the figure of Moroni atop its steeple. Save it from the storms of nature and from any evil hand which might be inclined to deface or injure it in any way. We dedicate the interior facilities, the Baptistry, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and all of the other rooms, halls, and spaces which are a part of this sacred structure.

We pray that all who enter its portals may do so worthily and that Thou wilt bless them while they serve here, that Thou wilt bless them in their homes, in their work, in all aspects of their lives, that their faith may be abundantly rewarded.

Bless those called as missionaries that they may come to Thy temple to be endowed with power from on high before going into the nations as Thy consecrated messengers. Prosper their families as they sacrifice of their means to keep their sons and daughters in this sacred and divine work.

We pray for those who will preside here that they may have strength and energy to do that which is expected of them. We pray for all who serve that they may do so with a spirit of dedication and love. We pray for those who come as patrons, that they may be motivated by a living testimony of this Thy divine work.

Pour out Thy blessings upon Thy Church and kingdom wherever it may be established. May it grow and prosper across the world. Bless those called to serve in positions of general responsibility that their years of life may be multiplied and their faith become as living water, that water of which the Savior spoke when He walked the earth.

Now, dear Father, we love Thee. We worship Thee in spirit and in truth. We seek to do Thy will. We love Thy Beloved Son, our Redeemer and Lord. We look to Him as our King and Leader.

And now, on this day of dedication, we rededicate ourselves to Thy work, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name, and do it all in the name of our Master, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.