Dedicatory Prayer Expresses Gratitude for Christ, Gospel

  • 25 March 2013

The Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple is built on a prominent rise that can be seen from many points across the capital city.  Photo by Jason Swensen.

“May love for Thee and Thy Son grow in our hearts, and may it be expressed in our kindness and love to one another as Thy covenant sons and daughters.” —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency.” 

Following is the text of the prayer offered by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, in dedicating the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple on March 17, 2013.           

Our Eternal Father in Heaven, our humble hearts are filled with gratitude and love for Thee on this day of dedication. We invite Thy Holy Spirit to attend us during the dedication of the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple.

We thank Thee for the knowledge with which Thou hast blessed us of Thee and of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith, through whom Thou hast revealed eternal gospel principles and practices, including the ordinances of Thy holy house.       

We thank Thee for a living prophet in our days, even President Thomas S. Monson; we love him and we pray for him.

We thank Thee for those who have gone before—for their sacrifices, courage, and faith while building Thy work and kingdom.

We thank Thee for the progress of Thy work in these great nations of Honduras and Nicaragua. We give thanks for those who helped build this beautiful temple and are helping to build Thy kingdom, for their work, their faith, and their sacrifices. Wilt Thou continue to bless the leaders and the people of these nations for their friendliness to Thy Church.

We ask Thee to touch the lives and hearts of many who will seek out and hearken to the message of truth and come into the fold of Christ. Please continue to bring about the miracle of conversion among the great and good people of these lands.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for Thy blessing of the sons and daughters of Lehi. Thou hast heard their cries and seen their tears. Thou hast accepted their righteous sacrifices.

We thank Thee for the sacred record of Lehi, Nephi and Jacob, Alma and Mosiah, Benjamin and Mormon, and of Moroni. We thank Thee for this voice that has come from the dust to bear witness of the divinity of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thou hast sent Thy prophet Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. This holy temple opens the gates to eternity that these purposes may be fulfilled.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf outside the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple. Photo by Jason Swensen.

Dearest Father, forgive us our many shortcomings. Strengthen our faith and fortify us against weakness. Give us power to resist the deceits of the adversary. May love for Thee and Thy Son grow in our hearts, and may it be expressed in our kindness and love to one another as Thy covenant sons and daughters.

And now, acting in the authority of the everlasting priesthood, and as Thy humble servants, we dedicate to Thee and Thy Beloved Son the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We dedicate the grounds on which it stands with all its vegetation. We dedicate the building from the footings to the top of the steeple with its crowning figure of Moroni. We dedicate the walls and windows that they may stand firm against the storms of nature and be looked upon with reverence and respect. We dedicate the interior structure, the baptistry, the endowment rooms, the celestial room, and the sealing rooms with their sacred altars. We dedicate all of the halls and spaces, the offices and other facilities in this temple.

Wilt Thou accept this Thy holy house as the gift of our hearts and hands. Wilt Thou honor it with Thy presence. May Thy Holy Spirit dwell here at all times and be felt by all who come within its portals. May a mantle of holiness come upon this sacred edifice. May it stand as a beacon of everlasting truth and light. Wilt Thou protect it from any who may be disposed to harm or defile it in any way.

May all who enter do so worthily. Wilt Thou seal upon them an endowment of righteousness that will become a guardian throughout their lives.

Bless the youth who will serve in the baptistry, that they will receive an understanding of the eternity and divinity of Thy work. May they remain true and faithful throughout their lives, returning often to Thy holy house.

Bless all who attend this temple as patrons, that Thy Spirit may rest upon them, that the sacred covenants of the house of the Lord may be impressed upon their minds and hearts.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf greets a little girl prior to the March 17, 2013, dedication of the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple. Sister Harriet Uchtdorf is at right. Photo by Jason Swensen.

We pray for those who will serve in this temple as workers or in any other capacity. May they do so with a spirit of dedication and love. May they know that the service they give is service unto Thee, and may they find joy therein.

We pray for the temple president and his counselors and for the matron and her assistants as they serve Thee and Thy purposes in Thy holy house.

We thank Thee for faithful tithe payers throughout the world whose consecrated offerings have made possible this and other temples. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them. May they feel of Thy love and may Thine encircling arms of mercy be round about them.

Our Father in Heaven, we love Thee. We know that Thou lovest us. We love Thy Beloved Son, who stands at Thy side. We thank Thee for His atoning sacrifice. All of the blessings of this temple rest upon that great divine act of the love of Thy Son, the Savior of all mankind.

Accept our thanks, dear Father; accept our love. Accept our prayer as we dedicate this temple and its surroundings unto Thee and as we rededicate ourselves to Thee and Thy service in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

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