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

Dedicated 21–23 August 1999
by Gordon B. Hinckley

Our beloved Father in heaven, in reverent prayer we bow before Thee. Thou art our Father and our God, the great Elohim, than whom there is none greater. We are met today in this beautiful new temple to dedicate it to Thee as Thy Holy House.

In the authority of the everlasting priesthood, Thy divine power delegated to us Thy servants, we dedicate and consecrate this the Spokane Washington Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it unto Thee and unto Thy Beloved Son as Thy Holy House and pray that Thy Spirit may dwell here. We ask that Thou will accept it as the offering of Thy favored children.

We dedicate the ground on which it stands with the beautiful vegetation growing thereon. We dedicate the structure from the footings and foundation to the figure of Moroni which crowns its steeple.

We dedicate the baptistry, the facilities for the initiatory ordinances, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and all other areas and features of this hallowed edifice.

We bow in reverent wonder before Thee at the great and eternal plan Thou hast provided for Thy sons and daughters of all generations, that Thy children may go forward throughout eternity on the way that leads to immortality and eternal life.

We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith through whom this knowledge and its necessary authority have come. We thank Thee for faithful tithe payers throughout the Church whose consecrated contributions have made this possible. Bless them for their faith and faithfulness. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them.

Touch the hearts of the people in this temple district that the spirit of Elijah may rest upon them, that their hearts may turn to their fathers, and that they may be motivated to search out their forebears and do a great vicarious work in their behalf. May they experience the joy of totally unselfish service as they so labor, emulating the great vicarious sacrifice of our Redeemer.

May those who go forth as missionaries to the nations here be empowered from on high to bear witness that Thou hast moved for the last time to bless all who come unto Thee and keep Thy commandments, thereby becoming worthy to receive those ordinances which will save and bless them in both time and all eternity.

Preserve this Thy Holy House from defilement of any kind, and may all who enter here be worthy in every way. May their thoughts be lifted to things of everlasting worth, and may this be a place of holiness to all who cross the threshold of its portals.

Preserve this sacred structure from the destructive forces of nature, from storms and earthquakes and all such destructive elements.

Now, dear Father, bless all who shall serve in this Thy sanctuary that Thy watchcare shall be over them and that their hearts may be filled with gladness. We pray for the temple presidency and for those who labor with them. We pray for all who have been called to serve in Thy kingdom, and in a particular way for those who labor, under Thy direction, at the head of this work in all the world. Strengthen them and stay the hand of the destroyer against them.

For these blessings we plead as we dedicate this Thy temple and invoke Thy blessing upon it and upon all who serve herein. We do so in the name of Him whom we love and worship as our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.