It was so interesting to read a report in the newspaper today about Philadelphia and the Mormons. You may know that the true name of the Mormon Church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. They are referred to as the Mormons because they believe in a New Testament of Jesus Christ which is titled The Book of Mormon.

The reason this report was so interesting was that the Mormons are such ardent supporters of the U.S. Constitution, which was signed in Philadelphia in 1787. And now there is a temple near the Philadelphia City Hall. How did they arrange that? It is the 152nd temple for the Church.

Temples are not ordinary meeting houses or chapels for the Latter-day Saints, it is a place were they conduct special ordinances like baptisms for the dead and marriages for time and all eternity, and other sacred ordinances. In fact temples are closed on Sundays. The Saints meet in thousands of chapels around the world, serving their more than 15 million members.

Elder Henry B. Eyring gave the dedicatory prayer for this temple. He first explained that he was born in Princeton, New Jersey, where one of the principle battles of the Revolutionary War was fought. He has often visited Valley Forge, Trenton, the Delaware River when one of the miraculous battles of the war was fought. He has stood in Independence Hall where the two major documents of the Founding of America were produced.

Elder Eyring said: “The Founding Fathers of this country gave so much for this country. These men, in the very place where the Lord has placed a temple, created under the inspiration of God, a governmental structure that allowed the freedom of religion.”

In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Eyring said: “We thank Thee for all who have made possible this day, those who have made the decision to place a temple here, the architects and contractors, the city officials . . . the workmen and all associated with this undertaking. Bless the faithful tithe payers of the Church who have given to further the building of temples. . . . We are profoundly greatful for the Constitution of the United States and for the Bill of Rights. These are the guarantors of our independence and our liberty. . . . Bless those who lead and inspire . . . in their endeavors that righteousness may grow, that the people may look to Thee, and that this nation, under God, may continue as a base from which Thy work may spread throughout the earth.”

It was an inspirational prayer and it is an inspirational sight to see the new temple in Philadelphia.