Washington DC LDS (Mormon) Temple & Visitors’ Center (New Facebook Page)
Photo by Rachel: About.com
The strikingly elegant heavenward spires of the Washington, DC Mormon temple (holy temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have been slightly injured in the wake of the recent Virginia earthquake. No damage has been done to the temple proper nor the interior, and the LDS (Mormon) temple is open for patrons to continue their Spirit-filled worship and service to the Lord on behalf of eternal families.
The Washington D.C. Mormon temple was dedicated as 16th operating House of the Lord, back in 1974 by the late President (Mormon prophet) Spencer Kimball. As I thought about the temple visible from the Beltway, and having received my own spiritual instructions about the gospel plan–”endowment” and the thousands of others who’ve served there in that temple, I felt compelled to read the dedicatory prayer, a prayer given by inspiration to set apart the sanctuary as a House of the Lord–devoted to the purposes of redeeming the living and those who have died without a knowledge of the gospel. Some of the words of that prayer follow the section on the Visitors’ Center and the new DC Visitor’s Center Facebook page.
Washington DC Mormon Temple Visitors’ Center: Facebook Page
On the face of the new Washington DC Mormon temple of The Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon temple) Facebook page, an invitation is extended to friends of all faiths to learn about the purpose of temples and about the DC temple specifically, through exhibits and special presentations:
Relax in the garden and gaze at the reflecting pool. At night, view the glorious temple lit up against the night sky.
The Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center invites you to enjoy the beauty and spirit of “one of the world’s most technologically advanced religious exhibits.” This multimedia presentation includes interactive exhibits, videos, and a stunning reproduction of the Christus statue. Learn about the temple. Informed guides are available for free guided tours of the visitors’ center. All exhibits are free of charge, so bring the whole family!
The Washington DC Temple Facebook page will provide a streaming list, virtual catalog of upcoming events, musical and cultural performances, lectures, guided tours, and special venues for those of any faith and members of The Church of Jesus Christ (Mormons). There is always something edifying being produced and shown at the DC Visitors Center for individuals, families, and couples to enjoy.
The Washington DC Mormon Temple Dedicatory Prayer
The following is an excerpt from a prayer offered by the late LDS prophet (Mormon prophet), Spencer W. Kimball, who was called by Jesus Christ to lead His Church at the foreordained and appointed time in his life, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It reflects the spirit of the holy temple, the love of Latter-day Saints for those of all faiths, the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him, and the reality of the prophet Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and Son, as He was called to re-establish the Savior’s Church in our day. It is a boon to the DC community and surrounding areas as it is a luminary to the members and a true and literal House of the Lord where He manifests His goodness and power to all who enter to serve and worship there:
Our Holy Father in heaven, thou who hast created our spirits and the heavens and the earth and all things therein, thou most glorious one, perfect in mercy and love and truth, in the name of thy greatly Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we come to thee this day in this beautiful edifice, to dedicate it unto thee, our living God.
We praise thy Holy Name, our Beloved Father. We are grateful that thou didst cause this land to be rediscovered and settled by people who founded a great nation with an inspired constitution guaranteeing freedom in which there could come the glorious restoration of the gospel and the Church of thy Beloved Son.
And now we present to thee this beautiful temple, provided by the sacrifice of thy people who love thee devotedly.
We are thankful that thou didst send thine Only Begotten Son to this earth to be its Savior, and thou didst send a Prophet, Joseph Smith, called and named long before his birth to bring about the restoration, and that thou and thy Beloved Son didst deign to appear to the Prophet in person, to foil the evil one, and to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of thee and thy Son and thy holy purposes, through revelations.
We are grateful that this, thy son, Joseph Smith, till the day of his martyrdom, and his successors to this day, are recipients of thy revelations through which the priesthood, the apostleship, the temple work, and all facets of the true and complete gospel have been restored, and holy men have delivered the keys of the kingdom and all vital work for the living and the dead, to bring them to eternal life.
We are grateful for the preservation of the gold plates so that the Book of Mormon, the most correct book, might be restored with all its glorious truths, to show to the house of Israel “… that they may know the covenants of the Lord … and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God . …” (Title page, Book of Mormon.)
Our Father, we bless thy Holy Name and magnify thee day by day as thou sittest enthroned in glory, might, and dominion, and with an infinitude of power and glory; increase our faith, as we remember the glorious deliverances of the past, that we may not falter, but may accomplish all thy holy purposes.
Our Father, bless us that we may live thy commandments and follow thy program. Please forgive us our trespasses as we totally repent, and let us earn and enjoy the rich blessings thou hast promised to the faithful.
Father, we know that the wicked have been punished in the past with famine and pestilence and want and sorrow and war. We pray that thy people may repent and follow thy commandments and be able to avert such calamities as others have suffered before us.
We are greatly concerned, our Father, with the widespread wickedness in this world, the blasphemy, the corruption, the pollution, and the immorality, and we are reminded of days long past when the cities of the plains were destroyed, when cities were sacked and buildings razed and people taken prisoner, to become slaves of enemy nations. We remember the devastation of a flood which was to cleanse the earth from pollution of men, and now we see all the sins of the past being portrayed before our eyes again, when people worship the permissiveness of so-called freedoms, walking blindly into the traps which must terminate in destructive calamities. Bless them, Father, that they may return to thee in total righteousness.
Father, we are concerned with the political world of today and that nations seem to need only the lighting of a match to bring war and desolation and destruction. Bless, we pray thee, the leaders of nations, that they may rule wisely and righteously and give thy people freedom to worship thee in truth and righteousness. Stay the powers, our Father, that would bring us to the brink of annihilation.
Bless all people, our Father, that they may prosper, but not more than their faith can stand.
Our Father, bless the leaders of thy kingdom here upon the earth; reveal thy mind and will to them. Let them be true to righteousness today, tomorrow, and until the scene is folded up.
Our Father, in blessing thy people with prosperity, we pray that they may not be surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth which would bring them to worship these false gods.
Insomuch as the nations repent and follow thee, be gracious, our Father, and let thy destroying angel be pacified and let thy people be forgiven. Be merciful, O Lord, with thy repentant ones when they have suffered and transformed their lives.
Our gracious Father, we remember vividly the commands of thy Son to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15.)
Our Father, our efforts to fulfill this command seem small and infantile, not wholly rewarding. Give us, we pray, hearts of determination that we, thy people, may make such sacrifices as are necessary; that our sons may live righteously through their growing years and strive for spiritual excellence to be worthy to take the gospel to the nations of the world.
Our gracious Father, there are national gates which seemingly need to be unlocked and doors that need to be opened, and hearts of kings, presidents, emperors, and ministers which need to be softened, that they may permit the gospel to be taken to their people.
Our Father, bless the countless millions in the world, that they may receive thy truth, and bless the missionaries on whom the sun never sets, that nothing will prevail against them in their faithful presentation of thy gospel to the world, and bless especially, our Father, the children of thy people in overseas countries that they may devote their sons to this holy work. Wherein we have failed, help us to see our duties; wherein we have been prevented, open the doors, we pray, and swing the gates wide open and let thy servants cover the earth with their testimonies.
Our Almighty Father, increase our faith as we remember the glorious deliverances of the past. We remember that thy powerful hand did reveal thyself in the unconsumed “burning bush” in the desert. Thou didst reveal thy power in delivering the children of Israel from captivity in Egypt; thou didst deliver Noah and his posterity from the raging sea; thou didst lead the Lehite family across impossible deserts and uncrossable seas; thou didst protect Daniel in the lions’ den; thou didst open prison doors and thou didst lead the modern Saints across the plains to the mountain valleys.
With these and numerous other events, we know that thou canst unlock gates and open doors, that we may present to the people of this world thy exalting program as thy Beloved Son has decreed. So we pray, lead our missionaries to all nations with their testimonies of the truth and successfully bridge all barriers.
Additional Resources on Mormon Temples including the Washington DC Temple:
What Can You Tell Me About Mormon Temples
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