On May 6 the Kansas City Missouri temple was dedicated. Ernest and I got to attend the dedication (via satellite at our Stake Center) with Rob & Jane and their family. Martha & JoAnn watched Ally, Jacob, and Maddie for us, so we could all go together. We went to the earliest session, which also included the Cornerstone Dedication. President Monson presided. But, I suppose I should back up to Saturday night, and the Cultural Celebration first.
Lucy and Sophie both participated in it, as did Erik and Ashley. JoAnn and Martha came over to our house that night and we enjoyed Chinese food together and watched it online. Ally and Jacob loved the music, especially the Polynesian number. I especially liked the Pioneer hoedown and the "Broken Hearts" part performed by the Joplin Stake. You could so feel the Spirit, even through the TV, during the songs that were serious and the songs that were fun. Such a Celebration. Here's an
article that talks about show as well as the miracles that happened. It really was amazing. As we watched, we commented to each other how well they sang together, danced together, and how it was a miracle that no one fell. At times, the youth were so close together, that I am sure that if one had tripped, it would have been a catastrophic domino effect.
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| The Young Lady with the Gray Hair |
And, back to the dedication. As we arrived at the Stake Center, 50 minutes before the appointed time, we had our Dedication Tickets/Recommend checked at the door and we were ushered to our seat. There were already so many Saints there that we had to sit in the overflow in the cultural hall. We got to watch a slide show of different temples (rooms and exteriors) while the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang (a recording, I'm sure). It was fun to try and recognize which temples the different rooms belonged too.
Elder Holland conducted our session, with President Monson officiating. When President Monson walked into the room we all stood reverently and waited for him to be seated. I wonder if he had surgery, since he was limping and had a black cast (?) on his foot. They were seated in the Celestial Room. They had a small choir in the room. I knew a couple of the people in it which was fun. I don't know why it was so surprising to see people that I knew there. President Priday (our Stake President) said the opening prayer.
Elder Holland gave us some instruction about the Coverstone Dedication and then we moved to that section, which was outside. Here's another
article that talks about what happened. But as for what I remember -
President Monson got to do the first bit of cement on the trowel. He is so friendly, making little jokes and comments to everyone. I love that he is so personable. And that he shows that you can have a sense of humor even in such sacred events. I know that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor and I'm glad of it. Some of what President Monson said, I could see coming out of President Joseph Smith's mouth, such as "The ladies are always so much neater than the men" and "Come on over, the young lady with the gray hair." Near the end, someone asked if he would like to hear the choir sing again (there was another choir staged outside for the Coverstone Ceremony), and he replied, "Sure, since they are here!" Then he raised his arms up like he was about to begin directing them and then quickly put them down like he was chagrined. It was so fun. He even stopped in front of a few kids and showed them how he could wiggle his ears. - A running joke from the Cultural Celebration the night before.
The session was amazing. It began to storm outside shortly after the Cornerstone Ceremony so the satellite signal was actually lost a few times, so that we missed the beginning of the Dedicatory Prayer. It was still incredible. I don't remember much of the prayer, which is why I'm grateful that they
publish it.
We participated in the Hosanna shout. I love hearing the Saints come together like that. Then we listened to the choir sing the Hosanna Anthem, and we sang "The Spirit of God." Simply Amazing. This is heaven. Joyous voices raised in song, praises to our Lord, in the House of the Lord (the Stake Centers were considered extensions of the temple for the duration of the ceremony - and it felt just like we were in the temple itself). We take the song,
"The Spirit of God" for granted I think. We sing it in the normal course of our Family Home Evenings and Sunday Worship, and yet it is sung at every temple dedication as well.
So, we now have a temple. I cannot wait to attend with my family.
Side Note: They say that a Temple Dedication is a once in a lifetime event. I am so privileged to have attended two - St. Louis and now Kansas City. I've also been through Open Houses of Denver and Nauvoo, though I didn't attend their Dedications.
