President Howard W. Hunter: "Nearly all Christian religions have houses of worship, but only one builds temples - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even though temples have been built since ancient times, the only ones that exist today are those constructed by the Latter-day Saints as commanded by the Lord since the restoration of the gospel. . . . It is in the temple that things of the earth are joined with the things of heaven."
Elder Boyd K. Packer: "After this life is over, it won't matter where we lived or how much money we had. What will matter is that we made our covenants and received our ordinances and kept the covenants."Elder Marvin J. Ashton: "Temple attendance will have an impact for good on all members. . . . As we speak of our lives, attitudes and future service, let the word commitment' take on new depth and meaning.Commit' means to do. A commitment in the temple is not an agreement to see and to hear; it is an agreement to do - to do the will of the Lord, to stand up and be counted for righteousness."
Elder L. Tom Perry: "You have now entered this beautiful building. You will never see anything like it. Wouldn't you want to live so that you will always be worthy to enter this house? The Lord has blessed us; He has given us this jewel to lead us back to His presence. May we always be temple worthy."
Elder David B. Haight: "What a glorious occasion. Our hearts are full; our emotions are tender on this historic occasion. On sacred occasions like this the veil is very thin. Can you imagine Joseph Smith and others on the other side of the veil witnessing and rejoicing in this sacred occasion? . . . Here, we set aside our own selfish purposes and serve those who cannot serve themselves. . . . Tickets, passports or fame will not allow one to enter the temple. For that you need a temple recommend. Here it [the templeT stands - strong, unchanging, a symbol of purity, built by love and the labor of God-loving people."
Elder James E. Faust: "I have never been on this hallowed ground when I haven't felt the spirit of peace and gratitude. . . . Coming to the temple is like being in the city of God. . . . The `jewels' inside [the temple] are beyond any price. You cannot put a dollar value on them. How much is the worth of just one child to parents? These crown blessings of the temple cannot be bought for any amount of money."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "Modern temples are related to things that are very ancient. Temples part the curtains to antiquity at the same time they part the curtains to eternity. We don't understand how crucial we are to all mankind. . . . As we dedicate this temple, let us rededicate ourselves in the spirit of consecration. . . . We come to the temple and dress alike, but we have different experiences. Two people can sit side by side, but one is in kindergarten and another is pursuing post-doctoral work."
Elder Russell M. Nelson: "Some people ask, Why build a temple?' Why has this house been provided rather than some other serene setting, like a mountain top or forest? This is the Lord's will. He gave these stern words:I command you . . . to build a house unto me; . . . if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead.' (D&C 124:31-32) . . . Temple ordinances are beautiful and sacred. They are kept confidential so they won't be mocked by the world. . . . The covenants made in the temple are solemn agreements between God and the individual."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "The teaching we receive in the temple is like the teaching we receive from the scriptures. Much of it is literal but some is veiled, like a parable. Like the prophecies of Isaiah, some such teachings have a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning, and some apply to more than one period of time."
Elder M. Russell Ballard: "Temples have the unique power of drawing family members together. Even when long distances separate you, if you received the temple ordinances, particularly the sealing of parents and children to parents, you are never far apart. The apex in our lives is the temple where we receive the ordinances that bind us together."
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: "What shall I do to merit blessings in [this part ofT my eternal life I am presently living? How am I spending eternity? This mortal life is really part of eternity. If we do not enter into it now, how can it be that we may do so later on? Of course we can repent, but how much better it is to live the commandments and avoid repentance."
Elder Richard G. Scott: "We gain the greatest understanding of the temple when we consider each ordinance from the initiatory through sealing as it relates to the Savior and as He relates to our Father in Heaven. . . . Our objective is to live a life like our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ to the maximum degree so that we may serve eternally as they direct."
