Decisions Determine Destiny
Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Dedicated August 24, 2008
By President Thomas
S. Monson
History
In 1996 the 14 Stake Presidents in the Magic Valley area
co-authored a letter to President Hinckley stating their desire for a Temple to
be built in the Twin Falls Area.
In June of 2004 President Hinckley visited the area to
find a site for the Twin Falls Temple to be built.
The Candleridge Golf
Course was purchased as the new site for the Temple
The Testimony of an Authority
The
Temple was announced in October 2004 at the semi-annual general
conference.
The
groundbreaking for the Twin Falls Temple was held on April 15, 2006.
The
ceremony was presided by Elder Neil A. Anderson of the Presidency of the
Seventy
–"Our children and our children's children will not
travel to the Twin Falls temple by buggy, but they, too, will remember their
days in the Twin
Falls temple. The temple is our
solemn testimony to the
immortality of the soul.”
The Temple was constructed to overlook the beautiful Shoshone Falls, a landmark of Twin Falls.
A Controversy?
Many of
the residents in the area surrounding the Golf Course opposed the building of
the Twin Falls Temple, stating that the they had bought their homes to overlook
a Golf Course, and that their property value would decrease.
In
response, the Church created pamphlets and other printed materials stating
their intent to work with the residents of the area, and that the Temple would
be a place of beauty and peace.
The House of the Lord
The Open House
Five
weeks prior to the opening of the Twin Falls Temple an open house was held for
member of the community to tour the Temple. (I got to put on the foot
coverings!)
Over
159,000 attended the open house. 23,00
more than expected
After
completing the tour, community members were invited for refreshments and
to learn more about the gospel.
A Celebration
The night before the
dedication a Youth Cultural Celebration was held, celebrating the history of
the Magic Valley through song and dance.
"I think
you will always remember the part you had here. You can't help but remember it.” -President Thomas S. Monson, Youth Cultural
Celebration, 2008
The Dedication
The
Twin Falls Temple was dedicated on August 24, 2008 by President Thomas S.
Monson.
“And now we
dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee and Thy Son. Let Thy glorious light
ever shine upon it. Wilt Thou place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this
dedicatory service and upon all we have done and shall do in this, Thy Holy House,
which we now present to Thee.”
What makes this Temple Special to Me
I grew up in the
Magic Valley, and so the Twin Falls Temple played a big role in my youth
I was able to see it’s progress as it was
built, and I was also able to be a part of the Youth Cultural Celebration.
It took months of preparation, plenty of
Wednesday nights and many Saturday mornings, but President Monson was correct,
I can’t help but to remember this amazing experience. It was a night where everything was about the
Lord, we referred to it as “dancing for Jesus.”
I will never forget the witness I received that night of President
Monson being a true prophet, and of the house of the Lord.
(These are the girls from my ward, I'm not in the picture, but I still thought I would include this.)
The Twin Falls Temple is also very special to me because
it is where I was sealed to my Husband on October 23, 2010
Decision Determines Destiny
At the Youth Cultural Celebration, President Monson
introduced the 3 D’s, three words that we should always remember and apply to
our lives. Decision determines
destiny. The decisions we make will
determine the destiny that we receive.
Righteous decisions will always bring a righteous destiny. May we always remember that the decision to
attend the Temple will bring a promised destiny.
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