Just posting here to reiterate exciting news that the Church announced earlier today (Friday). Church officials announced that an open house would be held for the recently completed Phoenix Arizona Temple from Friday October 10-Saturday November 1. The temple will be formally dedicated in three sessions on Sunday November 16. Sessions will be at 10 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. This will be the Church's 144th temple and the fifth temple in Arizona.
Now the question becomes, who will officiate at the dedication? President Thomas S. Monson presided at the last temple dedication in Arizona on March 2. President Henry B. Eyring accompanied him and, at his invitation, read the prayer at the first and third sessions of the dedication. As President of the Church, President Monson has dedicated thirteen (and rededicated three) temples. As a counselor in the First Presidency, he dedicated seven additional temples at President Gordon B. Hinckley's invitation. President Eyring has dedicated one temple and rededicated at least two that I know of. President Dieter F. Uchtorf has dedicated four temples. President Boyd K. Packer has dedicated 2 temples (Regina Saskatchewan and Brigham City Utah). If I had to take a guess, I would predict that either President Monson or President Eyring or both will be in Arizona for the temple dedication. We may find out at October's General Conference during President Monson's opening address, when he will give a progress report on temples.
I am grateful to live in a day when the gospel is restored in its fulness and where we have the blessing of a house of the Lord just up the road from us. Even when I have been too sick to take advantage of the blessings that temple attendance affords, I have still been able to feel the spirit of that sacred building every time I pass it.
I testify that what the prophets said are true, that the power of Satan decreases with each temple that is dedicated. I bear witness of the power of temple covenants that bind families together not just for this life but for the eternities. And I will be forever grateful that I had the privilege of spending six years of my life serving in the temple. The greatest blessing that came from my service is my sweet wife, Amy. I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing without her. I know my life would be much emptier. Oh, what joy it gives me to know that death can never separate us! How I treasure the knowledge that if I remain faithful, I can be with her and all other members of my family, past, present and future, forever! Truly we are blessed to be a temple-attending people!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Phoenix Arizona Temple Open House and Dedication
I have had a lifelong love for Church history, which has extended to ongoing reports of the ministry of our apostles and prophets, General Conference, and all temple developments. This blog enables me to share that love with all who read my thoughts on these developments, which are sometimes reported multiple times per day as needed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
In addition to my life-long love for the subjects which I cover in the posts of this blog, I have long held the belief that we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. Differences of opinion are natural, while being disagreeable in expressing those differences is not. And in that sense, I have no desire to close the door on anyone who earnestly desires to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on subjects covered in the posts on this blog.
At the same time, however, I recognize that we live in a time when incivility, discourtesy, unkindness, and even cyber-bullying has regrettably become part of online interactions. With that in mind, while anyone who wishes can comment on anything if they choose to do so, I hereby reserve the right to immediately delete any comments which are critical, unkind, lack civility, or promote prodcuts, services, and values contrary to either the Church, or to the rules of online etiquette.
I'd also like to remind all who comment here that I try to respond personally to each individual comment as I feel is appropriate. Such replies are not meant to end the conversation, but to acknowledge earnest feedback as it is submitted.
And in order to better preserve the spirit and pure intentions for which this blog was established, I also hereby request that anyone not commenting with a regular user name (particularly those whose comments appear under the "Unknown" or "Anonymous" monikers, give the rest of us a name to work with in addressing any replies. If such individuals do not wish to disclose their actual given names, a pseudonym or nickname would suffice.
Any comments made by individuals who opt to not give a name by which they can ber identified may, depending on the substance and tone of such comments, be subject to deletion as well. I would respectfully ask that all of us do all we can to keep the dialogue positive, polite, and without malice or ill-will. May the Lord bless us all in our discussion of these important matters.