Over a three-day period, March 20-22, President Thomas S. Monson presided over 12 sessions to dedicate the Draper Utah Temple. In addition to offering the dedicatory prayer in each of the sessions, he addressed several of the sessions.
He was joined in the dedicatory events by his counselors in the First Presidency, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and members of the Church’s Quorums of the Twelve and Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, several leaders of auxiliary general presidencies, and the temple presidency and their wives.
Church members wait in the "tunnel" for admittance to the Draper Utah Temple to attend a dedication session. | Gerry Avant
Some 16,000 members attended dedicatory sessions in the temple. Thousands of others attended a live broadcast to stake centers throughout Utah Sunday afternoon. Also, proceedings of the 11:30 a.m. session on Sunday were carried to the temple district’s 25 stake centers.
President Thomas S. Monson greets Church members Friday afternoon at the Draper Utah Temple. The temple was dedicated in 12 sessions March 20-22, 2009. | Gerry Avant
President Dieter Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, arrive at the Draper Utah Temple on Saturday, March 21. | Gerry Avant
Youth from the Sandy Utah Crescent North Stake assist Church members as ushers during the Draper Utah Temple dedication sessions Sunday, March 22, 2009. | Gerry Avant
Throughout the days of dedication, President Monson took time to greet many members, especially children over the age of 8 who attended. From time to time, he sang to some of the children.
Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve, arrives Saturday for the dedication of the Draper Utah Temple. | Gerry Avant
President Thomas S. Monson speaks with William, 9, and Preston, 8, Fitzgerald of Meridian, Idaho, as their mother, April Fitzgerald, right, and President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, left, looks on. | Gerry Avant
“I like for the children to know that they are welcome in God’s house,” he told the Church News after Saturday’s concluding session and referring to the work that youth from the age of 12 may perform in temples. “The Savior said, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me.’ He is mindful of them.”
President Thomas S. Monson, his wife, Sister Frances Monson, center, and Sister Ann Dibb, right, are pictured returning to the Draper Utah Temple following the cornerstone ceremony. | Gerry Avant
President Dieter Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, greet Church members Saturday prior to a dedicatory session for the Draper Utah Temple. | Gerry Avant
After one session, President Monson paused to speak to Matthew and Stephen Behunnin. Putting his hands on the shoulders of each of the boys, he said, “You are the kind of men that we want to serve as missionaries.” He conversed a bit longer with the boys.
Later, Matthew, 11, said, “It is amazing that President Monson would choose my brother and me and said that we represent the kind of men that the Lord will need in the mission field.”
President Thomas S. Monson greets Church members Friday evening following dedication sessions at the Draper Utah Temple. | Gerry Avant
Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve, and his wife, Sister Barbara Ballard, arrive at the Draper Utah Temple Sunday morning. | Gerry Avant
Younger brother Stephen said, “I felt very special when President Monson shook my hand.”
While the first day of dedicatory events, which began Friday, brought warm and pleasant weather, the southeastern corner of the Salt Lake Valley saw brisk winds on Saturday and Sunday.
Draper Utah Temple cornerstone ceremonies, Friday March 20, 2009 | Gerry Avant
Youth choir at the Draper Utah Temple sings during the cornerstone ceremony. | Gerry Avant
Youth sing during cornerstone ceremonies Friday, March 20, during the Draper Utah Temple dedication. | Gerry Avant
Choir director Becky Alexander, left, was asked by President Thomas S. Monson, center, to participate in the cornerstone ceremony. President Henry B. Eyring, right, of the First Presidency looks on. | Gerry Avant
Sister Ann M. Dibb, left, Sister Frances Monson, center, and President Thomas S. Monson pose Friday evening following Draper Utah Temple dedication sessions. Sister Dibb, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, is Pres. and Sister Monson's daughter. | Gerry Avant
President Dieter Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, greet Church members Saturday prior to a dedicatory session for the Draper Utah Temple. | Gerry Avant
President Thomas S. Monson speaks with Church members Friday evening following Draper Utah Temple dedication sessions. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, looks on. | Gerry Avant
Sister Ann Pickrell assists her mother, Sister Beth Pearson, front, Sunday morning at the Draper Utah Temple dedication. | Gerry Avant
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