REXBURG, IDAHO — In what he proclaimed as his "first official act" since becoming president of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Rexburg Idaho Temple on Feb. 10.
President Monson arrived with his wife, Sister Frances Monson, amid a heavy fog, which delayed their travel by about 15 minutes. In the early morning hours, the Gem State's "newest gem" — the temple on a hill — stood as if in a sea of whiteness: the building's white exterior walls blended in with high banks of snow and dense fog. Yet, it stood as a beacon to all desiring to travel the pathway to eternal life.
In comments to the Church News, President Monson mentioned the travel that members in the Rexburg area once had to undertake to attend other temples; although those temples aren't great distances away, driving conditions often become hazardous during winter months.
"In addition to that, there are so many young people going to the university here, to BYU-Idaho, and they've earned the right to have the opportunity to attend the temple.
"The members here have been faithful and true for many generations. To have their own temple will increase the work for the dead in this area and will bring a spiritual enhancement to all who live within the temple district."
Throughout the day of dedication, President Monson said, his thoughts turned to President Gordon B. Hinckley, who announced on Dec. 12, 2003, the plan to build the Rexburg Idaho Temple. As President Monson arrived at the temple, he paused briefly to speak with several members of the news media. In one comment, he said that he was "filling in" for President Hinckley, who had planned to dedicate the temple on Feb. 3. After President Hinckley passed away on Jan. 27, the dedication date was postponed until Feb. 10.
At a press conference in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Feb. 4, at which he was introduced as the new president of the Church, President Monson said that he and President Henry B. Eyring, newly called as first counselor in the First Presidency, would attend the temple's dedication.
However, President Monson explained to the media at the temple, President Eyring was unable to attend the dedication because he broke a bone in his ankle and could not travel.
Later, President Monson mentioned that President Eyring had been looking forward to attending the dedication and he has a particular fondness for Rexburg inasmuch as he was president of Ricks College (which later became BYU-Idaho) from 1971 to 1977, before he was called as Commissioner of Church Education.
To the media at the temple, President Monson said that the Rexburg temple was "a symbol of stability."
Asked what he felt when he came to such a location, he said, "Reverence."
He made reference to a statement by President Joseph F. Smith who, in 1916, said of the work done for the dead in temples: "Through our efforts in their behalf, their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them, and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their people here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties."
That the mantle of the prophet had fallen upon President Monson was no doubt to those members who saw and heard him speak during the dedication.
Among them were Alan and Kathrine Holyoak of the Rexburg 6th Ward, Rexburg Idaho East Stake, who attended the second dedicatory session with their children, Grant, 15; Matt, 13; and Emily, 8. President Monson paused in the foyer to shake their hands.
Afterward, Matt said, "I've never seen a prophet in person before. It's really something to me that the first time I saw President Monson was in the temple on the day it was dedicated."
Grant said, "We know that President Monson is the prophet. This was my first experience to hear him speak as the prophet. I felt the same spirit as I listened to President Monson that I felt when I listened to President Hinckley."
Though only 8 years old, Emily spoke with a mature perspective: "This was such a good experience. It might be the only time I am ever able to shake a prophet's hand. I cried because I was so happy."
