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KANSAS CITY, Missouri — As the sun began to rise in Northwestern Missouri, it was the dawning of a new era for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the dedication of a temple in Kansas City.
Sunday morning, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the 137th LDS temple, which was built in Kansas City, Missouri — a city with which the church has a long-standing history.
Keeping tradition, the president of the church, Thomas S. Monson, travelled to the site for the dedication and added the final mortar to the cornerstone of the new temple, signifying its completion. He also presided over three dedicatory sessions and before leaving, greeted dozens of people who waited to say goodbye.
"He was very happy when he left today and he felt like this had been a wonderful day and the Lord had blessed us and there was a great spirit in the meetings," said Elder William R. Walker of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the church. "It was just wonderful dedication day."
Sunday was a sharp contrast from 1838, the year Missouri's governor issued an "extermination order" to the saints and they were driven out of the state. Last month, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon visited the temple and brought a proclamation expressing appreciation for it.
"He did acknowledge when I took him on the tour through the temple, he said, 'Our people have not always treated your people the way they should have been treated, but we think that is all in the past and this is a time of healing,'" Walker said. "And so I thought it was a very sincere and wonderful expression on the part of the governor."
I think it is a great lesson about promises kept and dreams that we need to hold onto.
–- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, LDS Church
With those difficult days in the past, church leaders believe a temple in this area will honor those early church members who endured persecution.
"Remembering all those generations who were here before and moved on didn't get to stay, didn't get to have this chance, so that's added to the feeling I think we have all had today," said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Elder Holland also believes the new temple signifies a bright future for church members in Missouri.
"I think it is a great lesson about promises kept and dreams that we need to hold onto," Holland said. "To keep faith with the journey we're on and that journey will take us back to a lot of the places we thought maybe we missed along the way."
"It was wonderful, it was almost like a dream come true, for so many saints, the early saints and for the saints here today, it's just a blessing for them and the wonderful people that they are," said Alison Jensen, a member at the dedication.
But 175 years later, the LDS Church has a strong presence in the area again, and Latter-day Saints believe the new temple is helping others to better understand their beliefs.
"It was wonderful, it was almost like a dream come true, for so many saints, the early saints and for the saints here today, it's just a blessing for them and the wonderful people that they are," said Alison Jensen, a member at the dedication.
Next month, a temple will be dedicated in Brazil, followed by another in Brigham City, Utah, which is set to be dedicated September 23rd.
