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JOPLIN, Missouri — The LDS stake center devastated by a deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., has been rebuilt and was dedicated 16 months and one day after the tornado hit.
According to a news release, Joplin Stake President Creed R. Jones of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose home was one of more than 7,000 destroyed in the twister, conducted the dedication session Sept. 29. About 600 people attended. Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy offered the dedicatory prayer.
Speakers recalled miracles amid the tragedy. When the Category F-5 tornado hit on May 22, 2011, eight LDS Church members rode out the storm inside the stake center in what turned out to be the only area of the building left standing - the women's restroom. When the survivors opened the door, they found most of the rest of the building in ruins.
Elder Callister warned that the new stake center itself will not save lives. "Our lives will be saved only if we dedicate ourselves to Christ," he said.
Related:
Group rides out Joplin tornado inside LDS church building
A group of people in Joplin, Mo., rode out the devastating tornado in a Latter-day Saint stake center. Amazingly, all eight walked out alive.He added that there is no tornado, earthquake, job loss or other misfortune that can take away eternal blessings if members have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.
Elder Callister urged those in attendance to "never, never, never give up on the Lord's promises."
Pres. Jones, who with his wife rode out the tornado in their car, said there are three refuges in life: home, church and the temple. There is safety in church ordinances, he said. "If you keep your covenants, your covenants will keep you."
Local LDS Church member Beryl Nickolaisen said that in the aftermath of the tornado, members have learned to put the needs of others above their own.
Source: Joplin Missouri Stake News release
According to Joplin's city manager, by the end of April 2012 the community and other volunteers had provided more than 810,000 hours in cleaning up and rebuilding around the city. LDS Church members contributed more than 20,000 of those hours.
Reconstruction on the 21,023-square-foot replacement stake center began about seven months after the twister hit.
The tornado killed 158 people and injured about 1,000. It was the deadliest tornado in the U.S. since 1947.
