Dedicatory Prayer

Asunción Paraguay Temple, 19 May 2002

Almighty God, Father of us all, we come unto Thee in prayer as we dedicate Thy holy house this Sabbath day. Hear our prayer and accept of our thanks for Thy marvelous blessings upon us.

We are grateful that this Thy house has been constructed in this nation of Paraguay. Marvelous has been the growth of Thy work in this part of Thy vineyard. We thank Thee for the labors of missionaries who have taught the everlasting gospel. We thank Thee for all who with open hearts and open minds have accepted these teachings and entered the waters of baptism to become members of Thy Church. We thank Thee for the strength and power of Thy work. We are so grateful for the restoration of Thine everlasting gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We thank Thee that Thou didst reveal Thyself and Thy Son to the boy Joseph in answer to his prayer offered in faith. We thank Thee for the coming of Moroni with the testament of the Book of Mormon. We thank Thee for the restoration of the priesthood under the hands of John the Baptist, and Peter, James, and John, with special priesthood keys later bestowed by Moses, Elias, and Elijah. We thank Thee that the hearts of the children have turned to their fathers with love and great service in Thy temples throughout the earth.

And now, acting in the authority of Thy divine priesthood and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we dedicate to Thee and to Thy Son this the Asuncin Paraguay Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We pray that Thou wilt accept it and hallow it and consecrate it as Thy holy house, even the House of the Lord.

We thank Thee for the beautiful grounds on which it stands and dedicate these with the vegetation which adorns them. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the figure of Moroni atop the steeple. We dedicate the interior room and features designed to accomplish Thy work—the baptistry, the facilities for the initiatory ordinances, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms, and every other facility within this sacred structure. May they never be defiled. May all who look upon this structure regard it as a house of holiness. May all who enter its portals be clean of body and mind and worthy to serve in these sacred precincts. Bless the presidency of the temple and the matron and her assistants, and give them strength and energy to carry forward the work of this Thy house. Bless all who serve with them that a spirit of dedication may pervade all of their activity.

We pray for those who come as patrons that they may be touched by Thy holy Spirit. Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon them as they carry forward Thy work, a part of Thy great plan of happiness designed to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.

May this temple stand as a crowning jewel to Thy work in this nation. May Thy Saints throughout the land look to this Thy holy house as a sanctuary to which they may come to make sacred covenants with Thee and partake of the great blessings which Thou hast prepared for Thy faithful children.

We pray for this nation, that its citizens may enjoy the blessings of peace and freedom.

Bless Thy people in all the world. Sustain them, watch over them, increase their faith and their love for Thee.

As we dedicate this temple we also dedicate the adjoining Moroni Chapel and all of its facilities. May all who use it recognize that it is a house of worship, a house of learning, and a house of sociality. May they keep it clean and attractive as a structure dedicated to the accomplishment of Thy work and the fruition of Thy purposes.

Protect both the temple and the chapel from the storms of nature and any defilement from evil and destructive hands.

Both of these sacred structures have been made possible by the tithes of Thy faithful Saints throughout the earth. Bless and prosper them as they walk in obedience to Thy commandments.

Holy Father, how we love Thee! How we love Thy beloved Son! Accept of our love as we consecrate ourselves to the advancement of Thy work, we pray in the sacred name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.