Good morning, brothers and sisters.
We welcome you to this dedication ceremony
for the Historic Nauvoo Temple District.
We are pleased to be with you this morning
and look forward to a wonderful hour together.
We gratefully acknowledge the presence of Elder Quentin L.
Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
who presides at this meeting.
We also have with us his wife, Mary G. Cook.
Also present are John Stephen and Marilyn Rizley,
the historic site leaders here in Nauvoo;
Eric Andersen, president of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple,
and Catherine Andersen, Temple Matron;
President Chris V. Church of the Nauvoo Illinois Stake
and his wife, Jane Church; and President Dale A.
Sturm of the Iowa Iowa City Mission
and his wife, Valerie Sturm.
We are honored to have with us various
local civic and religious leaders.
We also acknowledge the tremendous effort
made by all those involved in the planning, design,
and construction of this project.
Elder Cook has asked that I, Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.,
Church Historian and Recorder, conduct this meeting.
We appreciate the prelude music that
has been provided by the Young Performing Missionaries.
As an opening song they will now perform "Redeemer of Israel."
We will then have an opening prayer
by John Stephen Rizley, president
of the Nauvoo Historic Site.
Redeemer of Israel,
Our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day
And our pillar by night,
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!
We know he is coming
To gather his sheep
And lead them to Zion in love,
For why in the valley
Of death should they weep
Or in the lone wilderness rove?
As children of Zion,
Good tidings for us.
The tokens already appear.
Fear not, and be just,
For the kingdom is ours.
The hour of redemption is near.
Israel will shortly be free.
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!
Our Father in Heaven, we approach Thee this day
with deep gratitude.
We thank Thee for this beautiful day
and this beautiful place, Heavenly Father.
We are grateful to be able to contemplate
the lives, the sacrifices, the wonderful blessings of people
who lived here before.
We thank Thee for our friends and neighbors here in Nauvoo.
We thank Thee for our recovery from the pandemic,
and that we have opportunities now
to share the messages of this place in personal
as well as technology ways.
Heavenly Father, on this day we are
so grateful that Elder Quentin L. Cook, one of Thy AApostles,
is here with us to dedicate these sites.
We're grateful that there were such people as the Hunters,
and the Gheens, and the Weeks, and the Hydes.
We're thankful that their lives and their homes
face the temple.
We ask now for Thy Spirit, Heavenly Father,
to be upon these proceedings.
Bless us that we may feel Thy Spirit,
and especially to feel the spirit of those
beyond the veil, who we know watch us at this time
and are pleased with what has taken place here.
We're grateful for the artisans, grateful for the construction
people, grateful for the landscapers; all those
who have caused this to happen.
We thank Thee more than anything for Thy Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ, whose work this is.
The motivation of His life and His Atonement and His message
brought these people to Nauvoo all those years ago.
And we ask these things, Heavenly Father,
in His sacred name, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Cook has asked that my wife, Jane C. Curtis,
be the first speaker.
I will then speak.
I will be followed by Sister Mary G. Cook.
After Sister Cook we will be pleased to hear
from Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve,
who will speak and give the Dedicatory Prayer.
Following that prayer the Young Performing Missionaries
will perform "O My Father," and the closing prayer
will be offered by Sister Marilyn M.
Rizley, historic site leader.
It is an honor to be invited by Elder Cook
to share a few short thoughts today
at the dedication of the newly restored Temple District.
Thank you, Elder Cook.
I am not a trained historian, but I
am married to our Church's Historian
and we both enjoy a great interest
in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
We study and love the stories, the people,
the places that are our legacy.
I am standing here today where some of my ancestors
walked, worshipped, and died.
James Henry Rollins lived on Water Street here in Nauvoo,
and left it all behind to trek West.
Another ancestor, Oliver Walker, is buried in the Old Nauvoo
Burial Grounds.
And I have two great, great, great, great grandmothers,
Nancy Cressy and Keziah Van Bethysen,
who received their temple blessings in December of 1845
in the original Nauvoo Temple.
I marvel to be standing where they trod.
Nauvoo is coupled with the words "the Beautiful,"
which is perfect.
That's a great description of this place, its buildings,
its place in history, and its faithful people, who
came and left and made it beautiful in our eyes
and our hearts.
In 1938, as the ideas of restoring this area
were being considered, an enthusiastic advocate
for this project showed his historians' heart.
Bryant S. Hinckley, who was the father of President Gordon B.
Hinckley, wrote this:
"This extraordinary project (referring
to the restoration of Nauvoo) will be a matter
of far reaching significance.
It will bring into relief one of the most heroic, dramatic,
and fascinating pioneer achievements ever enacted
upon American soil.
It will reveal a record of fortitude and self-reliance;
patriotic and courageous endeavor that should stimulate
faith in the hearts of all men.
Annually thousands will visit it.
Nauvoo is destined to become one of the most beautiful shrines
in America."
Well, his dream has come true.
Thousands have come, and it is most beautiful.
I first visited Nauvoo in 1967 as a teenager.
We were traveling to New England to pick up
my brother from his mission.
On our trip, my family stopped by Nauvoo,
and we saw the early success in restoring a few places here.
Then again, a few months after we
were married in 1974 in Salt Lake City, Utah,
my husband and I headed to Washington DC,
but we made sure we stopped by Nauvoo,
and our hearts were captured by this place.
Even though there was no temple, just a big depression
and a well at the bottom, I remember
the one restored home of Heber C. Kimball,
and I remember the temple sunstone preserved
in a park, and the important structures,
of course, of the Community of Christ that they
maintain so beautifully.
There was not a lot to see, but there was still
the wonderful view of the curving
river and the sweet pervading spirit of history.
Each time we crisscrossed the United States on road trips,
we would stop and visit Nauvoo the Beautiful.
And each time there were a few more
restored homes and activities.
We came several times when we visited a daughter that
lived in Iowa City, and we would come with them to "their"
temple, which is now the new one that we stand before.
Coming to Nauvoo has always had a feeling of home, of comfort,
and calm to me.
As an oft time visitor, a descendant of its citizenry,
a lover of history, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (who believes
in the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith
and the Church restored through him),
and as a woman who appreciates beauty,
I am grateful to stand here and participate
in the success of plans to make Nauvoo even more beautiful.
Thank you to all the visionaries,
builders, contributors, caretakers
of the past who add today to this city,
even the beautiful city of Nauvoo.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We are gathered here today for the dedication
of a portion of historic Nauvoo that we call the "Temple
District of Nauvoo."
That name is appropriate for two reasons.
First, as you can see, the area we are dedicating
is quite close to the temple and can appropriately
be called part of the same district.
Second, the structures we are dedicating in the district
are all connected to the building of the Nauvoo Temple.
In the Edward and Ann Hunter home,
Joseph Smith wrote an important letter about temple work
that is now Section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
In the William and Caroline Weeks home,
William, the Church Architect, worked with Joseph Smith
on the design of the Nauvoo Temple.
The home of William and Esther Gheen is close to us here.
William labored to build the temple
and donated, and collected from others, funds
for its construction.
He died before its completion.
Esther Gheen received important ordinances within the temple.
Elder and Sister Cook will have more
to say concerning the persons I just named.
William and Elizabeth Jones also lived within the area
that we are dedicating.
We have not rebuilt their home, but we have set up
an exhibit that provides information
about the art of cutting stone for the building of the temple.
That is appropriate because William Jones
was one of the stonecutters who worked on the Nauvoo Temple.
He was born in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, in 1799,
and married Elizabeth Hughes in about 1825.
They moved to Cincinnati in the mid-1830s,
where they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
They came to Nauvoo in 1840, where
he applied his stonecutting skills
to help build the temple.
Elizabeth was one of the first to join the Nauvoo female
Relief Society and helped support the temple workers
in a variety of ways.
They both received ordinances in the Nauvoo Temple
after it was completed.
After the Saints were forced to abandon Nauvoo,
the Joneses joined the exodus to Utah Territory.
Another part of the Temple District
that Elder Cook will dedicate is an area
known as the West Grove.
Because the number of Church members in Nauvoo
was quite large and there were no buildings that
could house large numbers, gatherings of large groups
were held outdoors.
There were three major groves in which
these gatherings happened, the West Grove being one of them.
A portable speaker's stand called
"the temple stand" was used in the West Grove
from 1839 to April 1844.
Saints would sit on split-log benches
or on the ground to listen to the speakers.
There was, of course, no amplification,
and it could be taxing on the speakers
to speak loud enough to be heard,
and taxing on the listeners to try to hear.
But many heard Joseph and others teach there.
On September 4, 1842, William Clayton,
at Joseph Smith's request, read to the Saints gathered
in the West Grove a letter from Joseph about one
of the temple ordinances: baptism for the dead.
That letter is now in the Doctrine and Covenants
as Section 127.
The West Grove was also the site of an August 12, 1841
meeting with a large contingent from the Sac and Fox
Native Americans.
Joseph Smith, in that meeting, told
them many things that had been revealed to him concerning
their ancestors, and promises in the Book of Mormon
that had been made concerning them and other native people.
He urged peace among all people.
Chief Keokuk replied that he believed Joseph Smith to be
"a great and good man," and acknowledged their kinship
as both being sons of "the Great Spirit."
He pledged his people's commitment to live peaceably.
Other events in the West Grove included Church conferences
where missionaries were sent out, and an important discourse
by Joseph Smith on the Godhead and the gathering of the Jews.
You will note that our efforts to revitalize this grove
include the planting of small native trees
that, over time, will grow into a grove reminiscent of the West
Grove that existed in Joseph's day.
Frankly, this area does not look like much now,
but over time it will be beautiful.
As part of his prayer, Elder Cook
will also be dedicating a structure that
is not in the Temple District.
It is the newly restored home of Orson and Marinda Hyde.
Elder Cook will say more about the Hydes,
but I will note here that my wife and I feel
a certain kinship with the Hydes.
Marinda is a distant cousin, but our feeling of kinship
comes from something else.
A few days after our marriage, Jane and I
began attending a Church history class
at BYU taught by LaMar C. Berrett.
Professor Berrett mentioned that he needed a research assistant.
Jane applied and was chosen for the position.
Her principal assignment was to assist Professor Berrett
with his research into Elder Hyde's 1840 -
41 mission to the Holy Land.
In the restored Hyde home, that mission,
and other missions of early Apostles of this dispensation,
will be featured.
We welcome the addition of the Hyde home
to our facilities in Nauvoo.
In fact, we welcome all these new and restored facilities,
and express our appreciation to you
for your participation with us here today
to celebrate their addition.
We honor those who built Nauvoo, and treasure the legacy
that they left.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Oh, my dear brothers and sisters.
What a privilege it is to be assembled
with you at this special dedication of the Nauvoo Temple
District.
It's always a joy to be here in this sacred place,
but even more so to be here for this dedication.
When we visit Nauvoo, my thoughts always go back
to my ancestors who joined the restored Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints here in its infancy,
and they played such a role in the establishment of Zion
here in Nauvoo.
They suffered persecutions and many hardships
as they stayed loyal and dedicated
to the witness of the Spirit they
had when they were baptized.
I am grateful that one of the homes to be dedicated today
is the Edward and Anne Hunter home.
My great, great, grandfather, also named Edward Hunter,
is his nephew and was very close to him.
He, like Bishop Hunter, had a testimony of the gospel
and joined the Church.
My Edward Hunter joined the Church
in Newton Square, Pennsylvania, where he
lived with his Quaker parents.
His father, William, is the brother of Bishop Edward
Hunter, so they were brothers.
When missionaries came to Newton Square,
young Edward Hunter, my Edward, accepted the gospel
and was baptized in June of 1840.
Now less than a year later, he came here to Nauvoo.
Now my father's name is Malcom S. Gaddie,
his mother is Mary Elizabeth Hunter.
Her father is William Edward Hunter,
and his father is my Edward Hunter, the nephew
of Bishop Edward Hunter.
So I have a connection that I dearly love.
It was a joy to be able to see the restored home this morning.
According to records in my family tree,
in the autobiography of Edward Hunter
the elder (the Presiding Bishop),
he says that he was unfortunate in raising children, and owning
a great deal of land, he needed help working it.
It may have been brotherly love that
led his older brother William to send his son
Edward to help out.
Or it might have been some other reason, we're not sure.
But any rate, young Edward went to live with his uncle.
The older Edward Hunter became very attached to young Edward
and reared him as if he had been his own son.
Now, with respect to the Edward and Anne Hunter home,
which will be dedicated today, they
joined the Church in Chester County, Pennsylvania,.
They sold their possessions, their prosperous farm,
and they assisted others in the Church
to come and move to Nauvoo.
Before moving, Bishop Edward contracted
to have the Nauvoo house built. He helped Nauvoo prosper
through river trade and land sales
during the Industrial Revolution of the 1840s.
In 1844 Edward was called to serve
as the bishop of the Nauvoo 5th ward.
As I mentioned earlier, my Edward, the nephew,
went to Nauvoo in 1841.
Edward became an officer in the Nauvoo Legion
in September of that year, 1841.
He was the herald and armor bearer
to the Lieutenant-General of the Legion,
who was none other than the Prophet Joseph.
Quoting again from the family record:
"While working in Nauvoo the following year,
Edward stayed at the home of James and Penina Evans
Whitesides, where he met and married their lovely daughter
Mary Ann on the 18th of November in 1843.
This marriage was performed by their friend Hyrum Smith.
Edward held the office of Seventy in the Priesthood
when he took his wife, Mary Ann, to the Nauvoo Temple
for their endowments, and that happened on February 6, 1846."
About the time the Saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo
and were gathering in Council Bluffs,
Brigham Young called for volunteers
to serve in a battalion of infantry for the United States
in the war with Mexico.
And my Edward volunteered.
So he ended up in Los Angeles in July of 1847
while his wife, Mary Ann, came across the plains
with their children in the 2nd company of pioneers
in the watch care of Bishop Edward Hunter.
I'll be eternally grateful to them
for their watch care of Mary Ann.
The family then were reunited in Salt Lake
City in October of 1847.
I am so grateful that Uncle Bishop Edward
Hunter invited his nephew to be part of his life.
I am doubly grateful that my Edward Hunter joined the Church
and remained faithful throughout his life.
He held many positions of trust, both in the Church
and in the community, during his life
and in the many years he lived in Grantsville, Utah.
He became the first bishop when the Grantsville Branch became
a ward, and he was ordained June 25, 1877, by John Taylor.
I express gratitude for the pioneer heritage which I have.
We all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before.
I feel a debt, and a sense of gratitude,
a sense of thanksgiving for the wonderful Saints who
established this legacy in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I am so grateful for the Prophet Joseph
Smith and all the ordinances and covenants that
have been restored through priesthood power
here in this sacred spot.
I bear testimony that this is the restored Church
of Jesus Christ with His living Prophet,
President Russel M. Nelson, who continues to guide, direct,
inspire us, to inspire us to hear Him, our Savior,
and to repent daily.
I know we all are doing better and being better
because of his counsel.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Dear brother and sisters,
I'm very grateful for the messages
that we've received from Elder and Sister Curtis
and my wife, Mary, and these beautiful renditions, both
the prelude and the opening hymn,
and to have this wonderful prayer that was given,
and we appreciate very much all of you being here.
I am grateful for this assignment from the First
Presidency to dedicate the Nauvoo Temple District.
I am thankful that our Church Historian, LeGrand R. Curtis,
was assigned to assist in this dedication.
I appreciate the inspiring and informative messages that he
and Sister Jane Curtis delivered, as well as my wife,
Mary's.
I love the early history of the Restoration
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I treasure the sacrifices and dedication
of our faithful early members who worked closely
with the Prophet Joseph Smith despite poverty
and other challenges.
It is inspiring to contemplate what they accomplished.
I will share a few true accounts to illustrate principles
of devoted service and exceptional sacrifices
to bless the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
An essential principle to qualify
for the celestial kingdom is being "valiant
in the testimony of Jesus."
Providing devoted service and necessary sacrifice
is evidence of commitment to this principle.
Sacrificing for the kingdom acknowledges
the supreme sacrifice of the Savior.
It causes us to rejoice in what the Savior did for us.
It also helps us to prepare for the ultimate opportunity
we will have of accounting to the Savior.
The history of the Church in Nauvoo
covers a relatively short period of time.
Joseph received guidance to "build up
a city" in the spring of 1839.
The Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo and commence
their westward trek beginning in February of 1846,
a period of only seven years.
Joseph was martyred on June 27, 1844, so his guidance in Nauvoo
spanned just over five years.
Even though the time was relatively brief,
the guidance and instruction were seminal, especially
pertaining to the restoration of all the temple ordinances.
In 1839 members of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles had located in Nauvoo and Montrose,
across the Mississippi River, and were
preparing for their mission to Great Britain.
They met often with Joseph and were instructed
in the "first principles of the gospel, the Resurrection,
and the Judgment, and the building of Zion."
One of the most touching accounts
of members of the Twelve leaving for their mission to England
occurred here in Nauvoo.
Brigham Young and his family lived in Montrose
and were very ill.
He finally was able to go to Heber C. Kimball's home,
here in Nauvoo, "before collapsing from exhaustion."
Brigham's wife, Mary Ann, soon crossed the river
to care for him.
She found that Heber was also ill,
and his family was bed ridden.
Brigham and Heber gained enough strength to climb into a wagon
and start their mission journey.
Quoting from the true account in Saints,
"[Heber] turned to the wagon driver and told him to stop.
'This is pretty tough,' he said to Brigham.
'Let's rise up and give them a cheer.'" The account indicates
that the Kimball and Young families heard a noise,
went to the door, and discovered "it was Brigham and Heber,
standing in the back of the wagon and leaning on each other
for support.
"'Hurrah!
Hurrah!' the men cried, waving their hats in the air.
'Hurrah for Israel!' 'Goodbye!
the women called out. 'God bless you!'"
Two years prior to this mission, in 1837,
Joseph Smith had called Apostle Heber C.
Kimball to lead the first group of missionaries to England.
Heber was accompanied by fellow Apostle Orson Hyde,
among others.
Though faithful and successful on that mission
and upon his return, Orson subsequently
had a period of disaffection from the Church in Missouri.
His actions were painful to the leaders of the Church,
and he was separated from the Church.
Elder Hyde regretted his actions and sought
to return to the faith.
Joseph Smith allowed Orson Hyde to return to the Church
and even reinstated him as an Apostle.
Although he was not a formal part of the second mission
to Great Britain with the Twelve,
Orson received a different assignment.
This mission assignment took him through Europe and the Ottoman
Empire to Palestine.
He climbed the Mount of Olives in Palestine.
There he fulfilled his calling to dedicate
Jerusalem for the gathering of Israel in the last days.
Elder Hyde's inspiring dedication has been noticed,
acknowledged, and appreciated in recent years
by prominent Jewish leaders.
Mary and I joined with Elder and Sister Holland
and accompanied Jewish leaders, including former Senator Joseph
Lieberman and former Attorney General of New York, Robert
Abrams, and others, to visit this beautiful site
in Jerusalem in 2016 on the 175th anniversary
of the dedication.
We were able to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel,
Benjamin Netanyahu to share details about Elder Hyde's
historic dedication.
During Elder Hyde's mission, his wife, Marinda, and her two
young daughters were cared for by the newly organized Relief
Society.
The Saints in Nauvoo donated labor and supplies
to build a home for the Hyde family.
The Hyde home, though not part of the Temple District,
will be dedicated today.
There is an exhibit in the home where
you can see the route that Elder Hyde traveled
from England to the Holy Land.
Elder Hyde served faithfully with distinction
for many years, including as President
of the Quorum of the Twelve.
He died in 1878 in Utah.
I now will turn to the Temple District and the events
leading to the dedication of the original Nauvoo Temple.
In contemplating this, think of the exceptional physical,
temporal, and spiritual sacrifices that were made
to complete the Nauvoo Temple.
The sacrifices that were made to build this temple
are among our greatest historical heritages.
These sacrifices not only blessed
the participants, but also subsequent generations.
One of the homes I will dedicate today
is the William and Caroline Weeks home.
He was a designer and builder with roots in Massachusetts.
He discovered the gospel as a student
and moved to Nauvoo in 1839.
On January 19, 1841, the Prophet Joseph
received a powerful revelation instructing him
and the Saints to build the Nauvoo
Temple, found in section 124 in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Joseph called for designers and architects
to submit their ideas for the design of the Nauvoo Temple.
He was impressed with Brother Weeks' proposal
and exclaimed to William, "You are the man I want!"
As the Church Architect, William worked
with Joseph Smith in his home studio to design the temple.
The process took nearly two years,
and the temple's cornerstones had
been laid by the time the designs were finalized.
The temple was funded by three types of tithing.
First, members contributed one-tenth of their assets.
This was a serious test for the Saints
from Missouri, who had meager resources.
Second, they contributed one-tenth of their increase,
as we are asked to do in our own day.
Third, the men tithed their workdays.
In 1842 rapid growth in Nauvoo required the city
to be divided into 10 wards.
Each ward would work one day on the temple.
So, every man would work on the temple every 10 days.
Some workers with special skills were hired by the Church.
As we think about this arrangement for building
the temple, we understand that almost every family who
has ancestors from this early Church period
also has a true account of how those ancestors,
with great personal sacrifice and dedication,
helped build the Nauvoo Temple.
This represented a test of the Saints as a whole
and has blessed the Church for generations.
Two specific examples of those who assisted in various ways
to build the temple are:
First, Bishop Edward and Anne Hunter,
about whom my wife, Mary, lovingly referenced.
Among the challenges that the Prophet Joseph Smith constantly
faced were issues of safety, and avoiding spurious charges
relating to Missouri.
Joseph spent some time in the Hunter home
in an upstairs office during one of those periods.
He was blessed to receive additional instructions
about the doctrine and practice of performing
proxy baptism for deceased ancestors,
including what is now section 128 of the Doctrine
and Covenants.
While Bishop Hunter became bishop of the Nauvoo 5th ward,
as Mary described, it was later in Utah,
after the passing of Newel K. Whitney in 1850,
that Edward Hunter became the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
He helped direct work on the Salt Lake Temple,
and ministered to the needs of Latter-day Saints.
The second example is William and Esther Gheen, whose home
will also be dedicated.
They were close friends of the Hunters
in Pennsylvania, where they were baptized in 1839.
In 1842 they moved to Nauvoo when
temple plans and construction were already under way.
They purchased land to build their home from Joseph Smith,
just down the hill from the temple site.
They built their home facing east toward the temple.
William Gheen "assisted in building the temple by labor
and liberal donations."
On July 15, 1845, William Gheen died soon
after arriving home from a mission
to collect funds for the temple.
Brigham Young spoke at William's funeral
and said, "he had known Brother Gheen for three years
and said if [William] had his life to live over again,
he didn't think he could mend it, [and]
that he was a good man."
Esther Gheen remained faithful and sought the full blessings
of the temple.
She was endowed in December 1845 and six weeks later, she
entered the temple again, this time
to be sealed to William by proxy.
The role of the sisters in this period is inspiring.
Wallace Stegner, not a member of the Church,
but a significant historical writer about that period,
spoke of the devotion and heroism of those involved,
especially the sisters.
He concluded, "Their women were incredible."
The overwhelming attribute that flows through
is the faith of the sisters.
Their faith in the restored gospel
of Jesus Christ and the Prophet of the Restoration, Joseph
Smith, were most remarkable.
After the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum,
these faithful women continued to sustain Brigham Young
and the Twelve Apostles.
It was some of these sisters who recorded
their impressions of Brother Brigham succeeding the Prophet
Joseph Smith's mantle.
One month after the martyrdom, the sisters,
determined to see the temple progress,
raised the necessary funds to pay
for a third wooden crane, used to hoist stone
to build the temple.
The sisters demonstrated their faith
in the eternal significance of the endowment
and temple sealing by the sacrifices they
were willing to make.
They sacrificed their time and what little treasure they had.
They also, by assignment, did the first ordinance work
performed in the Nauvoo Temple.
On December 10, 1845, Mary Ann Young, Vilate Kimball,
and Elizabeth Ann Whitney administered
the washing and anointings for the first endowments
to be performed in the holy temple of the Lord.
Many of the sisters left records of assisting
with temple ordinances all day, and then
cooking and washing much of the night.
However, they made it clear that their unwavering
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the knowledge that
was bestowed upon them in the temple
allowed them to rejoice as they moved into the unknown
and headed across the plains.
I think the women of the Church today
are every bit as strong and faithful.
I would certainly include my own mother, my sister, my wife,
and our only daughter in this description.
It is significant to note on this occasion
that Eliza R. Snow, in 1845 while living in the Temple
District, composed a poem entitled "My Father in Heaven,"
which is now known as our much-loved hymn, "O My Father."
This text declares in her precious words:
In the heav'ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I've a mother there.
The words of this hymn reflect our doctrinal understanding
of the existence of a Mother in Heaven.
Our doctrine confirms that each of us
is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents,
and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.
This hymn will be highlighted on a wayside marker in this Temple
District.
The hymn will also be our concluding musical number
following the dedicatory prayer.
It is important to understand how significant the temple
ordinances were to members of the Church.
The records show that in the two months before the temple was
closed and the Saints were forced to vacate Nauvoo,
some 6,000 members received saving ordinances.
These ordinances then sustained them
through all the trials and tribulations they subsequently
faced in their exodus to the unknown future.
I remember with appreciation and tender feelings
being present when President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated
the rebuilt Nauvoo Temple on the anniversary of the Prophet
Joseph Smith's martyrdom, June 27, 2002.
In that dedicatory prayer he said,
"On this same site in the year 1841, thy people,
under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
and in obedience to revelation from Thee,
began construction of a temple to the Most High. ...
May this sacred house stand as a memorial to him
who lived here and was buried here:
Joseph Smith, the great prophet of this dispensation,
and his brother Hyrum, whom he loved."
In the tender but turbulent history of Nauvoo,
two great prophetic priorities were
occurring at the same time.
Missionaries were being sent across the world,
and the Nauvoo Temple was being built
to provide sacred saving ordinances
for the living and the dead.
In our day, President Russell M. Nelson, our beloved prophet,
has succinctly taught that these same purposes require our best
efforts.
Quote, "We invite all of God's children
on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior,
receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy,
and qualify for eternal life."
End quote.
It is now my privilege to offer the dedicatory prayer
for the Nauvoo Temple District.
Would you please bow your heads for the prayer of dedication.
Our beloved and Eternal Father in Heaven,
we are grateful to be assembled in Nauvoo
on this day of dedication.
We are most grateful for Thy Son, Jesus Christ,
and His infinite Atonement that makes it possible for Thy
children to return to Thee.
We thank Thee for the Restoration
of the fulness of the gospel and the establishment
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith and the thousands
of Saints who gathered here so many years ago
to build a temple unto Thee.
We are thankful for holy sites where important events occurred
in restoring Thy Church and the fulness of Thy Gospel, where
we can commemorate and experience
the legacy and sacrifice of those who went before.
These historic sites serve as material witnesses
of the blessings and interactions of Thee
with Thy children.
They help us remember.
They provide moral courage and spiritual strength
to those who visit and learn stories
of how the early Saints overcame adversity and sacrificed
so much to build temples that they might receive
Thy crowning ordinances.
We thank Thee for the opening of this dispensation, ushered
in by the appearance of Thee and Thy Son to Joseph Smith.
We thank Thee for the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine
and Covenants.
We are thankful for priesthood authority restored
to the earth, and temples that allow
Thy children to be endowed and sealed for time and eternity.
We thank Thee for President Russell M. Nelson,
his counselors in the First Presidency,
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
and all General Authorities and General Officers of Thy Church.
We are thankful for an unbroken line of priesthood
authority--for prophets, seers, and revelators--from Joseph
Smith to President Nelson, and the revelation imparted to Thy
servants to direct the Church and prepare the world
for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
We thank Thee for the restoration of the Nauvoo
Temple District with its homes, landscapes, and pavilions.
This was made possible through the generosity of donors
and faithful tithes of Saints worldwide.
Bless them for their sacrifice and commitment
to the building of the Kingdom.
We are grateful for the unique skills and efforts
of those who reconstructed, renovated,
and oversaw the rejuvenation of this beautiful historic
district.
Their work will bless the millions
who visit this sacred ground for many generations to come.
We thank Thee for the rich legacy
of the thousands of Saints who gathered here and settled
Nauvoo.
We are grateful for the revelation thou gave
the Prophet Joseph that they should build a house unto
Thee in this place.
We marvel at their sacrifices and dedication
over several years to prioritize the building of the temple.
We are grateful for the faith and industry
of these early Saints in establishing a "temple
city," a place of refuge where holy temple ordinances were
fully revealed to Thy children.
We are grateful that here in Nauvoo, Thou
revealed the fulness of temple ordinances,
of the endowment and eternal sealings.
We thank Thee for endowing the Saints with divine power
and sealing them as families before they
began their great trek west 175 years ago.
We are grateful that these same ordinances restored in Nauvoo
continue to provide a path to salvation and eternal families
for us today in temples across the earth,
including here in Nauvoo where the temple has
been rebuilt in our own day.
We are grateful for local leaders of the Church
and the community for their cooperation and support
in creating such a setting for the benefit of area residents
and visitors from around the world.
We recognize the support from those
who reside in Nauvoo and the surrounding region that
is so important to our history, and ask
Thee to bless them accordingly.
By the authority and keys of the holy Apostleship,
and acting under the direction of the First Presidency
and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
I dedicate unto Thee the Nauvoo Temple
District with all of its structures and landscapes.
I dedicate it as a holy place of inspiration and learning,
as sacred space that testifies of Jesus
Christ and the Restoration of His Church.
I dedicate the reconstructed William and Esther Gheen home.
This family is representative of the many faithful Saints who
embraced the gospel and gathered to Nauvoo
to assist with the construction of the holy temple.
I dedicate the William and Caroline Weeks
home, where Brother Weeks designed the Nauvoo Temple
under the prophet's direction and the Weeks
raised their young family.
I dedicate the Edward and Anne Hunter home,
where they dwelt and served faithfully,
and where the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote inspired epistles
to the Saints explaining doctrines
that are foundational to the salvation and exaltation of Thy
children.
I dedicate the stone cutting pavilion
built on what was the property of William and Elizabeth Jones.
I dedicate the West Grove, where the Prophet Joseph
Smith delivered numerous sermons to the Saints teaching Thy
divine plan.
Along with the restoration of the temple district,
I also dedicate the Orson and Marinda Hyde
home, which has undergone extensive renovation.
This home highlights the apostolic missions
of Thy servants to Europe and the Holy Land during the Nauvoo
period.
Many of those that gathered to Nauvoo and helped
build the temple were converted during these missions.
I dedicate the furnishings, fixtures, infrastructure,
grounds, groves, landscapes, and facilities
in this historic district.
I dedicate the roads and walkways
that they may provide safety and ease of access.
Wilt Thou preserve and protect this site
from natural disaster and vandalism.
May those who come here be protected from danger.
Wilt Thou bless this entire district
to be a place of serenity where Thy Spirit may dwell.
May it forever stand as a memorial
to those who built the temple, and evoke feelings
of awe and reverence for the Savior Jesus Christ
and His restored gospel in all visitors to Nauvoo.
We pray that those who visit this site
may feel the significance of the temple
and be inspired to come to the House of the Lord themselves
to participate in the gathering of Israel
on both sides of the veil.
We are grateful for relief from the pandemic
and ask that Thy protecting hand might continue
to bless the entire world, that suffering may be lessened
and economies revived.
We pray that these sites may soon
be fully available to all who wish to visit.
I bless all those that will serve here
as missionaries and in other capacities
with spiritual protection and physical safety,
profound joy in their service, and
unforgettable spiritual experiences that
will draw them nearer to Thee.
May they grow in faith as they help visitors
participate in meaningful, immersive experiences
and receive a better understanding
of the significance of this sacred place.
At this time of dedication, we likewise
dedicate ourselves to Thee.
We pray for Thy help in restoring and renovating
our lives, that we might emulate Thee and Thy Son more fully
and be anxiously engaged in moving Thy work forward.
May we carry on the legacy established by the Nauvoo
Saints and recommit ourselves to remaining on the covenant path.
We are eternally grateful for our bounteous blessings,
and dedicate this Nauvoo Temple District
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unto Thee,
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?
I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav'ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I've a mother there.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I've completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
Our dear Heavenly Father, our hearts
are so full of joy and humility as we
are gathered in this beautiful city of Nauvoo
on this beautiful day.
And we are grateful for Elder Cook
and for his inspired remarks and this beautiful dedicatory
prayer, and for Elder Curtis, and for the wonderful remarks
that we have heard.
We are grateful for the Prophet Joseph
Smith, who restored this Gospel, and
for the on-going Restoration, and for our Prophet, President
Nelson, and the inspiring words that we feel from him,
and the way that we can better love and serve
each other as our Savior Jesus Christ has taught us
through the Restoration of the Gospel.
We're grateful for all the missionaries
around the world who share this message of joy and salvation,
and for those missionaries who serve here,
through song and through word, and through the stories
of heroic pioneer Saints who lived here, and teach us
that we too can do hard and heroic things in our own lives.
Please bless the youth of the Church, especially
those who come to visit here in Nauvoo, that all will
be gathered and feel the spirit of Nauvoo,
and they can carry it forward to the future generations
of this Church.
We again give Thee thanks for the gathering
of people from both sides of the veil
as we stand in the shadow of the Nauvoo Temple,
and how grateful we are for the covenants that
have been restored through Thy Prophet Joseph Smith,
and through this Restoration.
Bless us now that we will rededicate our lives
to love and serve better as we follow Thy Son, Jesus Christ;
and we say this in His holy and sacred name, Jesus Christ,
amen.