The dedication of the Salt Lake Temple constitutes “the greatest and most significant event in the history of the Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley,”80 wrote President Gordon B. Hinckley. And J. Golden Kimball declared that when the Salt Lake Temple “was dedicated . . . it was the greatest sermon that has ever been preached since the Sermon on the Mount.”81 Indeed, all temple dedications are of extraordinary consequence in the history of the world. 1 Kings 8 records Solomon’s temple dedicatory prayer: “Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, Lord God of Israel” (1 Kgs. 8:22–23; see the entire prayer, vv. 23–53).
Correspondingly, in the latter days, God’s prophets or apostles dedicate temples to the Lord, beginning with the Kirtland Temple, dedicated by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 27, 1836. And the pattern continues, temple by temple, in this last dispensation. Temple dedications serve multiple purposes, including the following (emphasis is added in quotations below):
(1) To ceremonially assign that particular temple to the Lord God: “Thanks be to thy name, O Lord God of Israel” (D&C 109:1; Kirtland Temple); “O God, the Eternal Father, the Creator of heaven and earth” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Provo Utah Temple); “Almighty God, we come unto Thee in solemn and reverent prayer” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Nauvoo Illinois Temple).
(2) To respectfully ask God to accept the temple: “We ask thee, O Lord, to accept of this house” (D&C 109:4); “We pray that Thou wilt accept of this our offering” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Nauvoo Illinois Temple); “Deign to accept this the fourth temple” (Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake Temple); “We . . . pray that Thou wilt accept it” (John Taylor, Logan Utah Temple); “Father, we consecrate and dedicate this building unto Thee and ask Thee to accept it” (Spencer W. Kimball, St. George Utah Temple rededication).
(3) To set the temple apart and sanctify it from the profane and unclean world: “That it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy” (D&C 109:12); “Sanctify it and make it holy” (Lorenzo Snow, Manti Utah Temple); “Sanctify it” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Manti Utah Temple rededication); “Accept of it and to sanctify it, and to consecrate it” (Heber J. Grant, Laie Hawaii Temple); “We pray Thee to sanctify this . . . we pray that no unclean thing or persons may ever enter the portals of this building” (Spencer W. Kimball, Laie Hawaii Temple rededication).
(4) To provide a place that is set apart for women and men to worship and to participate in sacred ordinances, prayer, solemn assemblies, and many other holy proceedings (see D&C 109:8–10).