As members left the sacred precincts of the Bountiful Utah Temple following dedication sessions, they were solemn in their descriptions of the events.
Superlatives were common as they described the event as "once in a lifetime," or "a beautiful experience" and often commented that "words can't describe it."Members attended in six locations: the temple, the Bountiful Regional Center, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Ogden Tabernacle, the Brigham City Tabernacle and on a delayed basis, the Logan Tabernacle.
Elder John E. Fowler of the Seventy, president of the Utah North Area and chairman of the Bountiful Utah Temple Committee, spoke to media representatives after the first session.
He explained that "The dedication brings to culmination the experiences of the construction of the temple."
He recalled previous milestones of the temple's construction, which were significant. The groundbreaking, at which President Ezra Taft Benson presided, marked the start of construction. The next major public event was held after the building was completed - the open house, during which more than 870,000 people toured the temple.
"And then the temple was closed and went back into a construction phase for the past few weeks. It has been scrubbed from ceiling to carpet, and prepared now to be absolutely spotless as we present this holy house to the Lord. The dedication is an opportunity for us, as members of the Church, to present to the Lord this temple, which has been constructed with sacred funds from all the faithful members of the Church across the earth. It is also an opportunity for members of the Church to rededicate themselves to the holy work that goes on within the walls of the sacred temple."
He said the music of the dedicatory sessions provided by the 28 stakes in the temple district added a great deal to the services. "The choirs have sung beautifully and touched every heart. There was a very joyful spirit in the temple, yet in a way, very subdued."
"There was such an outpouring of interest at the open house that the First Presidency has felt to make this
the dedicationT available in many places so those who felt a need to be involved could have the opportunity to do so."
After attending some 10 of the sessions, Elder Blaine P. Jensen, regional representative and vice chairman of the Bountiful temple committee, observed: "The people have come anticipating a worshipful experience, and they have not been disappointed. They have anticipated that they would be drawn closer to Heavenly Father, and this would be one of the most memorable experiences of their entire lives. And it has proved to be so.
"Every session is a new experience because you are living it for the first time," he said. Each session is special because of the "wonderful counsel we are given, the testimonies we hear, and the Spirit we feel. The music from the choirs is beautiful, especially `The Spirit of God like a fire is burning,' which is sung at the conclusion of each session with congregational participation."
At one session, he said, a family entered one of the rooms and their young daughter said, "Daddy, I'm going to do it now." He nodded, and she made her way through the chairs to a wall, and put her hand gently on it. "Now I have touched the temple," she said.
Elder Jensen said, "You know that all through the temple, those same kind of experiences are going on. And so that's what makes it so very, very special."
Children and adults responded the same way to the spirit of the dedication, he said. "I've watched the eyes of the young and seen the tears flow from them the same as from the others. The First Presidency is so sensitive and so gentle. They notice the young people and they acknowledge their presence. They speak to them, and they make it so easy for the young to feel at home.
"This has been all we anticipated."
He said the members attending in other locations appeared to enjoy the sessions as much as those who were in the temple. "The First Presidency is careful to acknowledge the other locations, and there is a sense that this is something covering the whole Utah North Area. These other locations add a dimension that make us feel even more grateful to be a part of the larger whole. We feel a real unity.
"People are weeping, being touched emotionally, having the same experience we are having here."
He said the dedication of a temple is a worldwide celebration. "It adds righteousness to the earth in a great measure. I believe ripples were created when a prophet stood on this hill and in a quiet voice said that this is where a House of God should be reared. The ripples of that marvelous pronouncement are going to roll out and touch millions of lives through the eternities."
David and Christine Brand of the Bountiful Utah Central Stake called the dedication ceremony "the highlight of our marriage."
"It was absolutely marvelous," said Brother Brand. "We can't even say how wonderful it was; it was just beautiful."
Sister Brand added that the temple is visible from their home. "We look up every evening and see the light on the hill. It helps us to be closer to Heavenly Father every day."
Pres. Grant Christian, second counselor in the Bountiful Central stake presidency, said: "There was a great spirit in the session. It was a great feeling to see all the First Presidency together." He said that when President Hunter was offering the dedicatory prayer, the overcast skies parted and sunlight broke through, bathing the celestial room of the temple with its rays.
Hiw wife, Geniel, said "The feeling was so strong you could hardly contain yourself."
They said the temple "will be a wonderful beacon" for the community.
Members attending the dedication ceremony in other locations also enjoyed the spirit of the event. Greg Cotter of Brigham City attended in the Brigham City Tabernacle. "We felt we were able to take part in every way," he said. "I really appreciated it."
Opel Tingey, a lifetime resident of Brigham City and member of the Brigham City 5th Ward, said she attended the first temple dedication of her lifetime. "It was inspiring and wonderful."
A friend, Lorraine Muir, expressed their feelings:
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"We are so happy over this temple. It was meaningful to attend in the tabernacle. Because we had a big screen, we felt like we were right in the temple."
The dedicatory sessions held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle led to the Tabernacle Choir being excused Sunday morning, Jan. 8, from its usual performance for the "Music and the Spoken Word" network broadcast. Recorded broadcasts were utilized so the program went out as usual.
The Tabernacle was filled during Sunday dedications. Soft organ music and a video of temples from around the world helped prepare the congregation. After the sessions, many in the congregation were emotional. After singing "The Spirit of God," one man said, "Now I'll be crying every time I sing that song."
Roger Cutler of the Mount Olympus 1st Ward, Mount Olympus Stake, said, "It's the first temple dedication I've been to, and I found it to be very inspiring."
