Cebu City Philippines Temple: 'We are in a nation … whose people love truth'

19 June 2010, 12:00 AM MDT

By Church News Archives

Following is the text of the dedicatory prayer offered by President Thomas S. Monson to dedicate the Cebu City Philippines Temple on Sunday, June 13, 2010. President Monson is the author of the prayer.

Our Eternal Father in heaven, Thou great Elohim, who liveth and reigneth from everlasting to everlasting, who created the heavens, the earth, and all things thereon, we bow before Thee this day in this beautiful edifice to dedicate it unto Thee.

We thank Thee for the gift of Thy Beloved Son, who came into the world according to Thy divine plan to show us by His example how we should live. We express our profound gratitude for the infinite love manifested in His atoning sacrifice as He gave Himself a ransom for all mankind, breaking the bands of death and opening the gates of salvation. We praise His holy name, our Redeemer and our Lord.

Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving unto Thee for the light of Thy everlasting gospel, restored to earth in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We are grateful that Thou didst restore, by heavenly messengers, the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods and subsequently all of the keys of the priesthood ever held by Thy prophets from the days of Adam through Abraham and Moses to Malachi.

We are grateful for the faith of those who, nearly half a century ago, first came to the Philippines as missionaries of Thy Church. We thank Thee, as well, for the great and faithful service of the thousands of missionaries who have followed in their footsteps, sharing Thy message with those willing and ready to listen and to receive the gospel.

We thank Thee for the promise found in the Book of Mormon that in the latter days Thou wouldst remember Thy children on the isles of the sea. We are in a nation of many islands, whose people love truth and whose hearts are responsive to the message of the eternal gospel. We thank Thee for their faith. We thank Thee for their spirit of sacrifice. Bless them that neither they nor the generations which follow them will go hungry or be without shelter from the storms that beat about them.

We are grateful for the completion of this Holy House. Wilt Thou 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.

We ask Thee to bless all who walk in righteousness and faith and obedience to the commandments Thou hast given. Wilt thou provide comfort to them when they face adversity. Wilt Thou sustain and strengthen them when the winds of opposition blow against them. Wilt Thou bring joy and peace into their hearts and the assurance of Thy everlasting love.

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. May they have the vitality, the wisdom and the spirituality necessary to accomplish Thy purposes.

Bless the temple president and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who assist in the operation of this temple.

Help the youth of Thy Church stand firm for truth and righteousness. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding and of service in Thy kingdom. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful and to look to Thee as their constant anchor.

Now, our Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood which comes from Thee, and in the name of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate this, the Cebu City Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Thy house and the house of Thy Son. We dedicate it for the administering of those ordinances and covenants which are eternal and everlasting. We dedicate it for the performing of sacred service for both the living and the dead. We dedicate the baptismal font, the facilities used for the initiatory ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms and the altars found therein. We dedicate this beautiful celestial room, and every other facility in this, Thy holy house.

May Thy watch care be over this beautiful temple, that it shall be holy to all who shall enter it. May those who enter to serve here leave the world behind and reflect on the things of eternity. May no one who is unworthy cross the threshold of this, Thy house. May its sanctity never be violated by those with unclean hands or evil designs. We pray that none shall interfere in any way with the sacred work for which this structure has been erected.

We dedicate the ancillary buildings and the ground on which the temple stands. We dedicate this beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point.

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.

As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work.

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.

Text copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.