Temple Dedication

I am excited about the Brigham City Temple dedication today. I've had the opportunity to be at the Mt. Timpanogos, Madrid, and now the Brigham City dedications. Each of the previous dedications have provided special experiences, I'd like to share one of them today.

One of the most special experiences in my life happened at the Mt. Timpanogos dedication, that was a special day! I arrived home from the mission the same Saturday morning and we drove directly from the airport to the American Fork Stake Center where the temple dedication was being broadcast. I was still wearing my black missionary badge. It was a beautiful dedication and then it came time to participate in the Hosanna Shout - a special ritual used in the dedication of temples. Following the Hosanna Shout, those assembled in the room sang The Spirit of God, along with those actually seated in the temple. Therein was a beautiful and sacred experience in my life. I heard beautiful choruses and many more voices singing than were actually present with us physically in the room. The song was incredible and penetrated my soul - I'll never forget the beautiful voices which seemed to number in the thousands. That day, there were many more present at the dedication than we could see with our physical eyes. The heavens must have rejoiced that day, for it sounded that way when we sang The Spirit of God.

President Woodruff later (after the Salt Lake Temple dedication)  told a congregation of Saints that “the Heavenly Host were in attendance at the [first] dedication [service] . . . and if the eyes of the congregation could be opened they would [have] seen Joseph and Hyrum [Smith], Brigham Young, John Taylor and all the good men who had lived in this dispensation assembled with us, as also Esaias, Jeremiah, and all the Holy Prophets and Apostles who had prophesied of the latter day work.” President Woodruff continued, “They were rejoicing with us in this building which had been accepted of the Lord and [when] the [Hosanna] shout had reached the throne of the Almighty,” they too had joined in the joyous shout.

As we participate in the Brigham City Temple dedication later today, I pray my heart is humble and ready to receive instruction from the Lord. This is a time when heaven and earth come together. These opportunities are unique, real, and sacred!

If you would like to read a good article regarding the Hosanna Shout, you can view one at: http://rsc.byu.edu/blog/?p=307