Preston England Temple
Dedicatory Prayer

God, our Eternal Father, we bow before Thee in solemn prayer 
as we dedicate this sacred house.
 
We worship Thee in spirit and in truth, Thou Great Elohim, the 
Almighty Judge of the nations, the Father of all mankind and 
the God of the universe.
 
We bow in reverence before Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who came to earth and gave His precious life in an act of 
Atonement that opened the gates of immortality and eternal life 
for each of us.
 
We bow in deepest gratitude for the gifts and blessings of the 
Holy Spirit which has borne witness of They divine reality and 
that of They Son.
 
We stand in respect and love for the Prophet Joseph Smith, the 
instrument in Thy hands in opening this great and final 
dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times, when 
Thou hast brought together in one the doctrines and practices 
of all previous dispensations.
 
Almighty God, forgive our sins on this day of dedication that we 
may come before Thee clean from all evil, and worthily as Thy 
children.
 
Through the centuries Thou hast smiled with favour upon 
England, "this sceptred isle." Great have been her ways, 
marvellous her destiny. She has bequeathed to the world the 
great principles of English law to enhance the dignity of man, 
and the priceless gift of the English Bible which since the year 
1611 has stood as a testament of the Redeemer of the world.
 
This magnificent temple has been reared in this beautiful area 
where Thy chosen servants, in the days of their deep poverty 
and great sacrifice, first preached the restored gospel. Through 
161 years of history this land of England, together with Scotland, 
Wales, and Ireland, has yielded a harvest of converts who have 
blessed and strengthened Thy Church. In early years thousands 
gave their lives when they left their homes, and with hope born 
of an abiding faith, sailed across the seas, and traversed a 
continent in search of Zion. Hallowed be their memory.
 
And now on this day which will long remain in our memories, 
acting in the authority of the eternal priesthood in us vested and 
in the name of Jesus Christ we dedicate unto Thee and unto Thy 
Son this the Preston England Temple of The Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints. We pray that Thou wilt accept it as 
the sacred offering of Thy thankful people. This is Thy house 
and we ask that Thou wilt sanctify it with Thy presence. From 
this day forth may Thy Holy Spirit dwell within these walls and 
touch the hearts of all who enter herein.
 
We dedicate the grounds on which it stands, with their trees 
and shrubs, flowers and lawns which add to the beauty of Thy 
house. We dedicate the structure from the footings of the temple 
to the figure of Moroni. We dedicate all of the components of the 
building that they may function harmoniously together to create 
a house that is "fitly framed."
 
We dedicate the Baptistry, the endowment rooms, the 
magnificent Celestial Room, the sealing rooms with their sacred 
altars, and every facility which is a part of Thy holy house. 
Stay the hand of the vandal that he shall not deface or destroy. 
Temper the elements that they shall not damage or cause undue 
wear. May no unclean thing come within these hallowed walls.
 
May Thy people come here rejoicing in their hearts to enter into 
covenants with Thee, and be endowed with power from on high. 
May they kneel at these altars and be sealed together as families 
under the authority of the holy priesthood. May they return 
frequently to carry forward a great and selfless labour of vicarious 
work for the dead that the earth may not "be utterly wasted" at 
the coming of Thy Son. May the multitudes of the dead, through 
living proxies, receive the ordinances herein offered.
 
Now we pray for the temple president and his counselors and the 
matron and her assistants. We pray for all who will serve in these 
hallowed precincts. May each work with an eye single to Thy glory 
and the building of Thy kingdom.
 
We pray for those who serve in temples throughout the world that 
all may rejoice in the glorious opportunity that is theirs to assist 
Thee, dear Father, in Thy work of bringing "to pass the immortality 
and eternal life of man."
 
Bless Thy work in all the earth that it may roll forth "fair as the 
moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners."
 
We invoke Thy blessings upon Thy servants, the missionaries, 
wherever they labour. Watch over them, protect them from every 
evil, lead them to those who will accept their message, and bind 
their testimonies upon the hearts of all who shall hear them. 
We remember before Thee those called and ordained to lead Thy 
Church in these days of great opportunity. Sustain them, we pray 
Thee, give them strength, speak through them and reveal unto 
them Thy divine will concerning Thy work.
 
Bless the Saints of the United Kingdom, these wonderful people 
of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as 
those of the Irish Republic. As they pay their tithes and offerings, 
wilt Thou open the windows of heaven and shower down 
blessings upon them. Bless their homes and families. Bless 
their children that they may grow up with a love for the truth. 
Bless them in body and mind and spirit.
 
Holy Father, we love Thee. We love Thy Divine Son. We love Thy 
holy work. Help us to be faithful. Help us to be true. Help us to 
walk always with integrity. May we always look to Thee with 
gratitude and love and faith. May we be found always walking 
in Thy paths.
 
And now as we conclude this prayer dedicating Thy holy house, 
by the same authority of the holy priesthood we dedicate the 
other structures that comprise this complex designed and built 
to serve Thy purposes--the Preston England Stake Centre, the 
Missionary Training Centre, the Family History facility, the 
Distribution Centre, the Patron Housing and Temple Missionary
Accommodation facilities, and the Grounds Building, that each 
may fulfil its appointed purposes and be preserved and 
protected from evil hands and unrighteous designs.
 
Our dear Father, on this sacred day of dedication, we rededicate 
ourselves and all that we have and are, to Thy holy work and that 
of Thy Beloved Son, and do it all in His name, even the name of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.