President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dedicated the Fort Collins Colorado Temple on Sunday, October 16, 2016, in three sessions.
President Uchtdorf directed the completion of the temple with the traditional cornerstone ceremony. He placed mortar around the cornerstone and invited others to do the same.
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President Uchtdorf at the cornerstone ceremony, which signifies the temple has been completed, explained it's a wonderful thing that this temple is dedicated to Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. “We seal this [cornerstone] and remind each other that it really is the Savior, it is Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone in our lives and in His Church, and that’s why it is called the Church of Jesus Christ.
"When you think about it," said President Uchtdorf. "When you see those majestic mountains, the Rocky Mountains to the west and the plains to the east—and here, right at this wonderful intersection of both, is the house of the Lord. We thank all those that made this possible."
- Ft Collins Temple Cornerstone
- Ft Collins Cornerstone
- Ft Collins Temple Cornerstone
- Ft Collins Temple Cornerstone
- Ft Collins Temple Cornerstone
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
- Ft Collins Temple Cultural Celebration
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elders Ulisses Soares, C. Scott Grow and Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy; and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of the Church, also participated with President Uchtdorf in the dedication.
Members of the Church gathered in the temple and at many locations in Colorado and southern Wyoming to participate in the dedicatory sessions.
A day before the dedication, Church leaders enjoyed a performance by young Latter-day Saints who presented through song and dance the history of the Church in Colorado and Wyoming. The cultural celebration was held at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Colorado State University.
President Uchtdorf told the youth that they are truly an ensign to the nation and a light to the world. “Therefore, make the values of the temple the focus of your life. Take on the shine of the life of Christ, and harmony will be among you. Unity will be among you and you will be a majestic example of the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
During a three-week open house in August and September, 105,000 visitors watched a short video about temples and then walked through the temple. A number of invited leaders in government, clergy and education from Colorado and Wyoming also toured the temple in August. Governor Matt Mead, the governor of Wyoming, and first lady Carol Mead attended, as well as Colorado’s Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Donna Lynn. Fort Collins Mayor Wayne Troxell, members of the city council and local ecclesiastical leaders toured the temple as well.
Approximately 44,000 members of the Church in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming will be served by the new temple.
Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord,” where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ceremonies that unite families for eternity.