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

Dedicated 23 May 2010
by Thomas S. Monson

Almighty God, Thou great Elohim, Creator of the heavens, the earth and all things thereon, we bow before Thee in reverent prayer on this sacred and blessed day.

We love Thee, Father, and we love and honor Thy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ — He who gave His life as a ransom for all, our Savior and our Redeemer, the anchor of our faith and the author of our salvation.

We are grateful for this sacred and hallowed structure. We are grateful for the purposes for which it has been built. We thank Thee for the faithful Saints who will use it.

We express our profound thanks for the Prophet Joseph Smith, to whom Thou didst reveal Thy will and Thine authority. Because of these revelations, there will be carried forward in this house a great work of redemption in behalf of those who have passed from this life, many of whom have waited long for these saving ordinances. May this be a day of rejoicing on both sides of the veil.

We pray for those whom thou hast called to lead Thy Church in these latter days. Bless them with the vitality, the wisdom and the spirituality necessary to accomplish Thy purposes.

We remember before Thee the missionaries of Thy Church. Bless them with Thy protecting care. May their testimonies ring as with Thy divine voice, that they may find and teach those who will accept the truth.

Our Father, we ask Thee to open the doors of those nations which are now closed to Thy servants, that we may fulfill the commandment given by Thy Son to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.

We ask Thee to bless all who seek to do Thy will, who walk in righteousness and faith and obedience to the commandments Thou hast given. Wilt Thou comfort them when they face adversity. Wilt Thou strengthen them when the winds of opposition blow against them. Wilt Thou bring joy and peace into their hearts and the assurance that Thou dost love them.

May we, with a spirit of true charity in our hearts, reach out to help Thy children throughout the world who know hunger, who have no shelter, and who face daily suffering.

Inasmuch as the family unit is under attack in the world today, and many things long held sacred are ridiculed, we ask Thee, our Father, to make us equal to the challenges we face, that we may stand strong for truth and righteousness. May our homes be havens of peace, of love and of spirituality.

We ask that Thou wilt bless the youth of Thy Church. They are surrounded with influences designed to distort their ideals and destroy their resolution. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful and to look to Thee as their constant anchor.

We pray, Father, for the temple workers, for the presidency of the temple, for the matron and her assistants and for all who will serve in any way. Bless them with joy in their hearts as they assist in Thy sacred work.

And now, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which Thou has vested in us, and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate unto Thee, our Father and our God, and to Thy Beloved Son this, The Gila Valley Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as a house of baptism, a house of endowment, a house of sealing, a house of righteousness — for the living and for the dead.

Wilt Thou accept this edifice as a gift of Thy people to Thee. It has come of their consecration and love. Wilt Thou hallow this house and sanctify it. May Thy presence be felt here, and may Thy Holy Spirit abide constantly within its walls. May all who enter feel of that Spirit. May it be a house of prayer, a refuge from the cares of the world and a place of peace and love. May faith increase in the hearts of all who come, and may a knowledge of Thy eternal plan grow in the minds of those who here serve, be they workers or patrons.

We dedicate this beautiful temple, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point. We dedicate the ground on which it stands. May this edifice never be marred by careless or evil hands. May it stand strong against the winds and storms that will beat upon it.

We dedicate all of the rooms, the sacred altars, the baptistry and all which has been assembled together to make of this a sacred and holy structure.

Our Father, as we dedicate this temple, we also rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work. Shield us, we pray, from selfishness and sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is sordid and below the dignity of Thy children.

We dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee, Father, and for Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. We ask that Thou wilt place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and will do here.

Father, accept of our love. Let Thy blessings distill upon us as the dews from heaven. May all who enter this holy house feel of Thy spirit and be bathed in its marvelous, sanctifying influence.

For all of this we humbly pray, in the name of Thy son, even Jesus Christ, amen.