“He has such a warm and engaging personality about him,” said Debbie Haggerty, who attended the cornerstone ceremony. “It was a very special day.”
Eight-year old Gracie Awerkamp, of Sandy, Utah, was invited by President Monson to assist in placing mortar around the cornerstone.
“It was my first time to see the prophet and to watch a dedication,” said the eighth-generation Draper resident. The placing of the cornerstone symbolically depicts the completion of construction. Four children in all were invited to participate in the ceremony.
“He just pointed at me and my sister, and we got to help the prophet,” said Christoffer Hotvedt, 13, of Draper.
“It’s a great opportunity to know there’s a living prophet and that I was in his presence today,” said Tom Beauchamp, of Salt Lake City.
A choir of 200 young men and women from multiple stakes in the area welcomed President Monson and his entourage by performing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.”
President Henry B. Eyring, of the First Presidency, and President Boyd K. Packer, president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and their wives also participated in the cornerstone ceremony.
President Monson began the first of 12 dedicatory sessions for the Draper Utah Temple following the cornerstone ceremony. Nearly 2,000 attendees are expected to attend each session over the next three days.
The two-month public open house for the new temple ended on Saturday, 14 March. Over 650,000 visitors toured the building during the open house.
The follwing is the dedicatory prayer offered by President Thomas S. Monson.
Text of prayer offered by President Thomas S. Monson to dedicate the Draper Utah Temple on March 20, 2009.
O God, our Eternal Father, Creator of the heavens, the earth and all things thereon, we come before Thee this sacred and blessed day with bowed heads, full hearts and grateful spirits.
We pray to Thee, our Father, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even our Redeemer and our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. We know that through obedience to Thy divine commandments, we may return to Thee and be blessed with life eternal in Thy exalted presence.
We are grateful for the completion of this, Thy Holy House. We pray that Thou wilt bless those faithful members here and throughout the world who have contributed their tithes which have made possible this magnificent edifice for Thy name's honor and glory and for the blessing of all who enter herein. Let peace prevail as we lift our voices in songs of praise and words of prayer unto Thee, our God.
We are thankful that Thou sent to this earth Thine Only Begotten Son, who gave His life as our Savior and our Redeemer. The Atonement wrought by Thy Son gives purpose to our being and turns our thoughts heavenward.
We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the Restoration, and that Thou did appear to him in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes.
We thank Thee that Thou did reveal unto Thy priesthood even the sacred sealing power, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, so that in this temple and all Thy other holy houses Thy faithful Saints may be endowed with power from on high and may enter into those everlasting covenants which open the door to the receipt of all of the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the holy prophets.
The Plan of Salvation taught in the temple with simplicity, yet with power, will be as a never-failing beacon of divine light to guide our footsteps and keep them constantly on the pathway of eternal life.
As we do the work in this temple for those who have gone beyond, we are reminded of the inspired counsel of President Joseph F. Smith who declared: "Through our efforts in their behalf, their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them; and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice."
We seek to be like Thee; we seek to pattern our lives after the life of Thy Son; we desire righteousness for ourselves and our children and our children's children. We plead with Thee to make us worthy to inherit the fulness of those blessings found only in Thy holy temples — even those blessings which grow out of a continuation of the family unit forever.
Bless Thy messengers of glory — even the missionaries of Thy Church — that they may proclaim with persuasion and power Thy truths. Protect them, watch over them, and lead them to those whom Thou hast prepared to hear, to believe, and to embrace the Gospel of Thy Beloved Son.
Father in Heaven bless, we pray Thee, those called to lead Thy Church here upon the earth, that they may have Thy guiding influence and inspiration.
Bless the temple president and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who will assist in the operation of this temple.
Bless Thy children throughout the world who know hunger, who have no shelter and who face daily suffering. May we reach out in a spirit of love and true charity to those who yearn for our help.
In a time of departure from safe moorings, may youth of the noble birthright carry on in the traditions of their parents and grandparents. They are subjected to the sophistries of Satan. Help such youth to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding, of service in Thy kingdom. Bless them with a lengthened view of their eternal possibilities.
Today when the family unit is under attack and things long held sacred are often ridiculed by the world, we seek Thy help to make us equal to our tasks, that our homes may be havens of peace and happiness. In our families, may we pause to pray and think to thank.
We express our gratitude for all who have participated in the preparations for this day of dedication, as well as for those who made possible the highly successful open house event. We ask Thy blessings to attend that vast throng who walked within these sacred walls and felt stirring thoughts course through their minds and hearts. May the spirit of the temple continue with them.
And now, our Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Thy Son this, the Draper Utah 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 and a house of righteousness, both for the living and for the dead.
We humbly pray that Thou wilt accept this edifice and let Thy blessings be upon it. Let Thy spirit attend and guide all who officiate herein, that holiness will prevail in every room. May all who enter have clean hands and pure hearts. May they be built up in their faith and depart with a feeling of peace, praising Thy holy name.
We dedicate the ground on which the temple stands. We dedicate the beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point. We dedicate the baptistry, all of the facilities for administering the sacred ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and the lovely celestial room, together with all ancillary facilities and the beautiful grounds with their lawns, flowers, trees and shrubs. Protect all from any devastating influence, destruction or defacement.
May this House provide a spirit of peace to all who observe its majesty, and especially to those who enter for their own sacred ordinances and to perform the work for those beyond the veil. Let them feel of Thy divine love and mercy. May they be privileged to say, as did the Psalmist of old, "We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work.
O, Holy Father, bless us with the peace promised by Thy Son — even the peace which passeth understanding. Shield us, we pray, from selfishness or sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is sordid or below the dignity of Thy children.
And now we dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee and Thy Son. Let Thy glorious light ever shine upon it. Wilt Thou place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and shall do in this, Thy Holy House, which we now present to Thee.
May we, Thy children, merit Thy bounteous blessings and Thy watchful care, we pray, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, Amen.
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