Almighty Father—Thou who dwellest in the heavens, and who sittest upon
the throne of thy glory and power, we beseech thee to behold us, in
great mercy, from thy celestial courts, and listen to our prayers
which we this day offer to thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, thy Son.
Although thou art exalted in temples not made with hands, in the midst
of the redeemed and sanctified ones, yet deign thou to meet with us in
our humble sphere, and, as we have laid, help thou us to dedicate unto
thee, this Corner Stone of Zion's earthly Temple, that in her courts
thy sons and daughters may rejoice to meet their Lord.
Everlasting thanks are due to thee, O God of our salvation, for thy
manifold blessings and mercies extended unto us—that since we have
been compelled to flee to the valleys and caves of the mountains, and
hide ourselves in thy secret chambers, from the face of the serpent or
dragon of persecution, red with
the blood of the Saints and martyrs of
Jesus, thou hast caused the land to be fruitful—the wilderness and
desert to rejoice and blossom as the rose. Known unto thee is the
history of our career. Our merits and demerits have been open to thy
view, and our wisdom and folly have not been hid from thine eyes. Thou
hast comprehended our strength and our weakness, our joys and
our sorrows, and also our sufferings and persecutions for thy name's
sake; and the martyrdom of thy servants!
Remember us, Oh Lord, and let the radiance of thy favor, like the
rainbow of peace, encompass thy people while we sojourn here, and
remain tenants at will in these frail bodies, the abodes of our
spirits. And remember, likewise, our enemies who, through cruel
jealousy, and malicious intent, have compelled us to find homes in
these distant regions, and in the more lonely grave, or wander as
strangers and pilgrims on the earth without an abiding city or resting
place. Reward them according to their works, and let them eat the
fruits of their own doings, inasmuch as they repent not.
The Twelve Apostles of the LATTER-DAYS, to whom has been committed the
pleasing task to lay the Northeast Corner Stone of this Temple, even
the last Corner Stone of the building, are here convened to discharge
their duty before thee, in the midst of the authorities of thy Church,
and of the assembled thousands who are come to witness the solemn
ceremonies of the occasion.
We, therefore, implore thy blessings upon our heads, on this lovely
day, while the sun of heaven, on his annual visit to his northern
dominions is changing the very heart of nature and lighting up her
face with the smiles of welcome. The snows of the everlasting
mountains are made to yield at his approach, and to flow down in
crystal streams of living waters, spreading life and verdure over all
the plain.
From the very hour that the ground was broken to prepare for this
foundation, Satan has been more diligently engaged in stirring up the
hearts of his children to hate the servants and people of our God.
But, O Lord, the work is thine, and thine arm is able to execute and
defend it.
We now, in the name of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest and
Lawgiver, dedicate and consecrate this Corner Stone unto thee, asking
that the walls to be reared upon this foundation may steadily rise, by
the persevering industry of thy people, under thy providential care
and blessings, and the protecting and fostering arm of the Angel of
thy presence.
Whosoever, O Lord, shall bless and aid the building of this Temple,
with their faith, goodwill, and means—with their silver and their
gold, with their labor and toil, with their horses, their cattle,
their sheep, and their grain, or with any or all of their products,
necessaries, or availables—may they rise in wealth and influence, and
in the confidence and favor of God and His servants; and may the
blessings of this Temple be extended unto them, whether they be Jews
or Gentiles, bond or free, male or female. And whosoever shall attempt
to hinder, oppose, or obstruct the progress of this building, or that
shall hate or blaspheme the same, or that shall, in any way or manner,
knowingly, willfully, or intentionally destroy, injure, mar, or deface
any part or portion of the work, let such not only be powerless, and
clothed with shame, disgrace, and condemnation, but receive the very
same kind of treatment in their own persons, in the course of thy
providences, as they may manifest or desire to manifest towards this
edifice.
Hasten thou the period, O Lord, when this thine House, in the midst of
the mountains, shall receive the Topstone with the shouts of
gladness, and be completed, and nations flow unto it—when many people
shall say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to
the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and
we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law,"
making manifest every false and delusive spirit, every true
principle, and also the errors that have involved nations in broils
and contentions, in strife, in darkness, and in sin; and that will
remove the veil of the covering that has been cast over all people;
and the Gentiles shall come to the light of Zion, and kings to the
brightness of her rising. Roll on the hour, Eternal Parent, when the
intelligence and knowledge obtained by thy servants, on this
consecrated spot, shall prove a beacon light to the nations who are
floating on the sea of time in a dark, cloudy day.
O God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, overrule, we pray
thee, every act and movement of the power of the world, to further the
interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, and to prepare the way for his
triumphant reign on earth. Bless every honest-hearted ruler in the
governments and kingdoms of men, and, though they may be ignorant of
thy purposes and designs, yet make them the agents to bring about and
accomplish the very intentions formed in thy bosom, and decreed in
thine heart.
Holy Father, bless, we pray thee, the Presidency of this thy Church,
and prolong their days, that we may long enjoy their counsels, and
avail ourselves of their wisdom. Remember the Twelve Apostles also,
with the Presidents of the Seventies, who now call upon thy name with
our voices. May none of us ever fall by transgression, or bring
dishonor upon thy cause, or a stain upon our reputation. But preserve
us in thy fear, in the light of truth, in the favor of our God, in the
confidence of one another, in the estimation of our superiors, and in
the favor of the just.
As we have laid and dedicated this Corner Stone, with our best wishes,
most lively hopes, and unshaken faith that the building may be
speedily erected and finished, we ask thee that we may become pillars
in thy spiritual Temple, and go no more out, but sustain and uphold in
connection with all the faithful, the grand superstructure and edifice
reared by infinite wisdom, power, and goodness, in which to gather,
in thine own due time, every son and daughter of Adam's fallen race.
And to God and the Lamb be ascribed everlasting honors, praise,
dominion, and glory, both now and forever. Amen.