Almighty and Everlasting God, our heavenly Father, thou who art the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of Moses, of David, of
Solomon; the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; the
God of Joseph and of Brigham, even the God of Israel; thou who art the
Father of our spirits; it is to thee we approach this morning to
worship and to offer up our dedicatory prayer in thanksgiving and
praise for this offering, even a Temple which thou hast enabled thy
people to rear unto thy most holy name.
We realize, our Father, that we are dependent upon thee, and that
although we are shut out from thy presence, inheriting many
weaknesses, and made subject to many temptations and sins, we are thy
children, and as such we come before thee in the depths of humility,
with broken hearts and contrite spirits, praying that thine
indulgence, thy tender mercy and compassion may be extended toward us,
and that thou wilt forgive everything that thine all-seeing and
searching eye hath beheld amiss in us.
We thank thee, O Lord, that thy people, whom thou hast led to this
distant land and whom thou hast preserved by thine own right arm, have
been permitted to establish themselves in the homes which thou hast
given them, and that, through thy continued blessings, they have been
enabled to gather together the materials of which this building is
composed, to put together and erect the same, even a Temple, which we
dedicate and now consecrate to thee, that it may be holy unto thee,
the Lord our God, for sacred and holy purposes, and that "the
blessing, even life forevermore," may be commanded here, from heaven,
even from thy presence, and may flow through the ordinance which
appertain unto thy holy place, unto us thy children. We pray that the
blessings pertaining to our eternal salvation and to the establishing
of thy kingdom upon this thine earth may be poured out upon thy holy
Priesthood and thy people, who shall worship and officiate in this thy
holy House.
We dedicate and consecrate the foundation of this building upon which
it stands. Cause, O Lord, that it may not give way nor yield in
consequence of any destructive elements that may be in the soil, or
may the nature of those elements be changed so as to become
strengthening instead of weakening, that the same may always
remain firm and sound.
We dedicate and consecrate the lower and upper walls of the building
and the buttresses which support the same, and all the material—the
stone, the lime and the sand, which compose the mortar, and all that
pertains thereunto, together with the flagging, the timbers, the
joists, the floors, and the foundations upon which they rest, that the
same may be protected and preserved, that none of the elements, either
through storms, fire or earthquakes, may have power to destroy,
disturb or injure this thy holy House. We also dedicate and consecrate
unto thee all the openings, entrances, doors and windows, and their
fastenings, of the basement story. We also present to thee the
Baptismal Font, in which is performed the ordinance of baptism for the
living and the dead; with the steps, the railing around, and the oxen
upon which it rests, the foundations, together with the connections
and apparatus for furnishing, conveying, holding and heating the
water, with all that pertains to it, dedicating and consecrating all
unto thee, the Lord, our Father and God, that they may be holy unto
thy name. We pray that thy blessing may attend those of thy servants
who administer and who may officiate in the ordinances that may be
performed therein, in behalf of thy people, and in behalf of those,
our progenitors, our relatives and friends, who have gone before us to
the spirit world, so far as we may be enabled and permitted to
officiate for them.
We dedicate to thee also the rooms of this building in the first,
second and third stories, with the pillars and supports thereof,
including the side rooms, with the partition walls, for the purposes
for which they may be used by the Priesthood, for prayer, for worship,
for councils or meetings, or for administering the holy ordinances of
thy House, that they may be holy unto thee, the Lord our God. We also
dedicate the roof and the tower, with its dome, its covering and
walls, and the walls and the battlements around and above the roof,
with the timbers and frames and supports upon which the roof and tower
rest, and are made permanent, and the fastenings and all that
appertains thereunto, and the materials of which they are composed. We
dedicate also the entrances, the steps and the circular stairs, with
the railings and banisters thereunto attached. Grant, O Lord, that
the roof which covers all may shield and protect this building from
the storms which may come upon it. We dedicate the pipes which convey
the water from the roof, with their fastenings and the materials of
which they are composed. We also dedicate the chimneys, flues,
conduits, and sewers, and openings for ventilation; also all the
doors, windows, and glass, the hinges and nails and screws, the door
locks and handles, the window weights and cords and fastenings of
every kind; and all the paint, putty, plaster, whitewash and all the
ornamental work within and without, everything used in the
construction and completion of the entire building, from the
foundation unto the top thereof, that all may be holy unto the Lord
our God.
Holy Father, we dedicate unto thee the furniture and utensils used in
the holy washings, anointings and ceremonies of this thy holy House;
also the curtains and frames for partitions; together with the
altars and their cushions, and the tables and the chairs, stools and
desks, that all may be sanctified for the use and purposes intended.
We dedicate also the tower on the outside, containing the fountain,
also the aqueduct and pipes conveying the water thereunto. We dedicate
the block of land upon which this Temple is situated, and the fence
which encloses it, with its openings and gates, the hinges, hangings
and fastenings, and the materials of which they are composed; also the
roads and walks leading thereto and through the same.
We dedicate and consecrate the pulpits, with the cushions thereon and
the ornamental fringe around, together with the steps, railing and
banisters, and the seats, with the cushions on them; and the floors
and the foundations upon which they stand. May nothing unholy or
impure ever enter here, but may the same be holy unto the Lord our
God. Especially do we pray that thy power may rest upon thy servants
who may occupy these pulpits when they shall minister by virtue of
their holy calling, either in preaching, in counseling, or in
transacting business pertaining to the welfare of thy Church and
kingdom here upon the earth.
We implore thy blessings upon the various congregations of thy people
who may assemble in this House from time to time, both in their
incomings and outgoings, and may thy blessing and thy spirit dwell
herein and rest upon them, for their comfort and edification, and
abide richly in their hearts, that they may learn further of thy ways
and walk in thy paths.
We desire also to commend these thy servants and people to thy kind
care and keeping, that they may be preserved unto thee from the powers
of the wicked and ungodly, and from the powers of all evil and
opposing influences, from whose grasp thou hast heretofore delivered
us in bringing us here to these valleys and the fastnesses of these
mountains. We acknowledge thee and the great deliverance thou hast
wrought out for us, and we pray thee, O God, in the name of Jesus, to
accept of these thy servants and people, and preserve and keep us in
thy most holy keeping. Let the ministering angels from thy presence
attend us, and let thy grace and power be upon us, that we may walk in
the paths of purity and holiness, and be enabled to bring forth thy
purposes and establish thy kingdom in all its fullness, administering
in all the ordinances pertaining to thy House, and also send forth
salvation to all the children of men, scattered abroad upon the face
of the whole earth, for their redemption from sin and bondage, even
from gross darkness.
We now ask, our Father, that we thy servants and people may be
acceptable unto thee, praying thee to grant that thy Holy Spirit may
pervade each heart before thee, that our worship may be such as thou
delightest to behold, and that the revelations of thy mind and will
may continue to be made manifest through thy servant Brigham and all
of thy servants upon whom thou hast conferred the authority of the
holy Priesthood.
We feel not to multiply words before thee, for language is inadequate
to express the fullness of the feelings and emotions of our souls in
being thus privileged to meet before thee in this sacred, this holy
place.
Accept, O God, of this tribute of our hearts, and let thy peace and
blessing dwell and abide here in this holy Temple, which we now with uplifted hearts and hands present and consecrate and
dedicate entirely as a sacred offering unto thee, for thy divine
acceptance. May it stand as a monument of purity and holiness as long
as the earth shall remain, commemorative of thy great goodness towards
us thy people, and thy name shall have the honor, the praise and
glory, for we ask all in Jesus' name. And unto thee and our blessed
Lord and Savior and to the Holy Spirit be all power, might and
dominion, worlds without end. Amen.
- Daniel H. Wells