The following is the prayer offered by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Sunday, January 18, to dedicate the Alabang Philippines Temple.
Our dear Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that we can gather together today in this holy house of the Lord. With deep respect and heartfelt gratitude for this sacred occasion, we pray to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hearts are filled with joy as we worship and praise You and Your beloved Son.
We have been looking forward to this special day of dedication with justifiable anticipation, and we cannot say even a fraction of how we feel. We can only say that we are deeply grateful for the many blessings you have given us.
We are deeply grateful for your great plans of happiness and mercy. We are blessed to know that You are our Father and that we are Your children.
We are so grateful for Your Son and Savior and His role in salvation, deliverance, and redemption in Your eternal plan.
We are so grateful that You and Your Holy Son appeared to Joseph Smith and thereby began the great work of “the restoration of all that was spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.”
We are so grateful that the Book of Mormon, another testimony of Jesus Christ, has been translated and published. We cherish this sacred text that enables us to learn and live according to the teachings of the Son.
We are so grateful that a heavenly messenger came to earth and restored priesthood authority and keys to the Prophet Joseph Smith. As we worthily receive the ordinances of the Savior’s gospel and keep the covenants we have made with you and your Son, we are blessed with the power of godliness in our lives.
We are so grateful for the privilege of living on earth during this special season of the dispensation of the fulness of times. We are witnesses to your work accelerating in accordance with the times. We live in a time when temples dot the earth. And we are so thankful that there are 14 houses of the Lord in the Philippines that are operating, under construction, or have been announced.
Heavenly Father, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, and with the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood and the permission of the President of Your Son’s restored Church, we dedicate and consecrate the Alabang Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to You and Your Beloved Son.
I pray that you will accept and visit this holy house. May your glory be upon this temple and your people. We ask You to sanctify this sacred sanctuary by Your Spirit today and forevermore.
We are deeply grateful for the consecrated resources, tithes and offerings of your faithful disciples around the world who have made this house of the Lord possible. Please open the windows of heaven and shower upon faithful Latter-day Saints every spiritual gift and blessing they need.
We will dedicate every space and function of this structure, from the scaffolding and foundations to the top of the spire. We dedicate the grounds, outbuildings, landscaping, and decorations to accomplishing your divine purpose.
We dedicate the baptismal font and the initiation, endowment, sealing and celestial rooms for the blessing of individuals and families on both sides of the veil.
We ask you to watch over and protect this temple from natural disasters, all evil deeds, and all kinds of other destructive events.
May the godly power expressed in the ordinances of the holy priesthood draw all of your covenant children to worship in this holy house. We ask You to help each of us more fully realize and strengthen our covenant connection with You and Your Beloved Son.
We especially ask that you bless the emerging generation of children and young people. May the children, youth, young men and young women of the Primary strive diligently to grow in You, to long for communion with the Holy Spirit, to be armed with Your power and protection, and to be equipped to receive every spiritual blessing and gift they need. Guide and inspire parents and leaders to help these precious young people learn, understand, live, and love the doctrines of your Son’s gospel for themselves.
We ask You to bless and protect our patrons and leaders who worship and serve in this house of the Lord. Please strengthen them. May no evil combination have the power to rise up and conquer your people, who will give your name to this holy house.
May all who step into the threshold of this temple feel your power and feel compelled to acknowledge that you have sanctified this home as a sacred place. May the spiritual lessons learned in this sacred place bless and transform individuals, families, homes, and communities.
Pope, we love you. We thank you for the many tender mercies we have received from your beloved Son and Savior and Advocate. Hear our prayers on this day of consecration. In the sacred name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.
