As all you Utahns (and those who care enough about the
news of the LDS Church) are aware, the Provo City Center Temple was dedicated
today, and I was very intrigued to see that, in addition to the temples in
progress in Latter-days, Rick Satterfield, begun adding to this list those
temples built in ancient times. It’s not yet a comprehensive list; he hasn’t
yet included the temples found in the Book of Mormon, but I have taken the
liberty of reminding him to do so, which he doesn’t seem to mind. Also, wanted
to let you know that it was Elder Dallin H. Oaks who, at the invitation of the
First Presidency, presided at the dedication, which was a total surprise to me.
I knew he'd likely have some role in the dedicatory services, but I didn't know
he'd be the presiding officer at the actual dedication. I shouldn't have been
surprised. Elder Oaks' ties to the area make him the natural choice, which I
should have remembered. Up until today, I hadn't really registered that he was
a senior member of the Twelve now, with the deaths of all his predecessors
except President Nelson. Dang, I need to get used to writing President Nelson
as well. I also wanted to let you all know that I am religiously (pun intended)
keeping an eye on the Church and local news for the latest reported updates. If
the Church News website and lds.org do what they've done in the past with Utah
dedications, they will release within a few short hours a complete list of who
did what in every dedicatory session. This will be especially important to me
because, due to personal illness, I was unable to be in attendance at any of
the dedicatory sessions at this historic event. I will keep an eye out for that
list of the participants, and you can bet that I will inform you whenever it
becomes available so it can be included on this site, if you like. It always honors
me to know that people of your caliber are keeping up-to-date on my blog posts.
As always, best wishes to you all, and thanks so much to you all for your
friendship and attention to this blog.
While we wait for further news about the particular
participants at this temple dedication, the Church News has featured two
articles on the cultural celebration and dedication. Also for the benefit of
all my readers, here’s a link to those articles:
Late breaking news before this post was made: The Church
News article is in error on one point, and that is that Elder Oaks presided at
all three sessions. The photo gallery within the article shows that President
Russell M. Nelson (written more easily this time) was in attendance at one of
the later sessions and that he was the presiding authority at that session.
That’s the latest on the temple news front. Stay tuned for more updates, and
thanks so much for your readership and support, especially to those who have
also religiously followed my newer posts while personal illness and family
circumstances have necessitated my extended absence from Facebook (where the
posts are usually immediately advertised once made), and especially to all
those who have been kind enough to leave a comment for me with your feedback on
what I have to say. Your comments are always insightful and appreciated,
especially those that have been positive and particularly kind in nature. I
feel it appropriate “On This Day of Joy and Gladness” to leave you for starters
with the words that end each broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word (psst, don’t
tell the MoTab or Lloyd Newell, who might sue me for copyright violation): “Again
[I] leave you, from within the shadows of the everlasting hills. May Peace be
[in and] with you this day, and always. God be with [you all] till [my next
post].” From the Book of Mormon: “And thus hath the Lord commanded me [to
write], and I must obey.” At the end of such a spiritually-charged post, it
feels very appropriate that my last words in this post are a paraphrase from a
powerful hymn that is sung at every temple dedication in this dispensation, and
which, I’m sure, enshrouded the dedicatory services with the special spirit
that it brings.
The Spirit of God,
like a fire, is burning!
The latter-day
glory begins to come forth.
The visions and
blessings of old are returning,
And angels are
coming to visit the earth.
The Lord is
extending the Saint’s understanding,
Restoring their
judges and all as at first.
The knowledge and
power of God are expanding,
And angels are
coming to visit the earth.
We’ll call in our
solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the
kingdom of heaven abroad.
That we, through
our faith, may begin to inherit,
The visions, and
blessings, and glories of God!
How blessed the day
when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down
together without any ire.
And Ephraim be crowned
with his blessing in Zion,
As Jesus descends
with his chariot of fire.
We’ll sing and we’ll
shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, Hosanna,
to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them
in the highest be given.
Henceforth and
forever, Amen and Amen!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
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