Washington DC Temple Rededication

Latter-day Saints arrive for the rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple on Sunday, August 14, 2022. From https://churchofjesuschrist.org/.

On this historic day, August 14, 2022, the Washington DC Temple was rededicated in 3 sessions. In the Seneca Stake, Chinese translation was provided at the 10am session in the Montgomery Village Chapel, while the 3 English sessions were broadcast at the Germantown Seneca Stake Center. President Nelson presided, spoke, and pronounced the dedicatory prayer at the 10am session. President Oaks did the same at the 1:30pm session and read the same rededication prayer pronounced by President Nelson. President Eyring did the same for the 5pm session.

The temple rededication meeting was a refreshing treat to all those who attended with a great desire to feast upon the Spirit and to rejuvenate a testimony of the importance of temples.  The purpose of this historic meeting was to rededicate the temple as an edifice of God to last throughout the next eon of time in accomplishing God’s work.  However, more important, the underlying takeaway message for each of us as individuals is how we are going to rededicate our commitment to God and to building His kingdom.  I am so grateful for the rededication of the Washington DC Temple in our own backyard and for the opportunity to rededicate myself to God.

Benjamin Tsai

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Thanks to Jason Liu, the stake presidency message about the temple rededication (at the end of this page) is available in Chinese here.

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2022年8月14日，華盛頓特區聖殿就會再次被奉獻。在8月14日當天我們不會舉行平常的教會聖餐聚會。下面的信息會提供關於聖殿奉獻這個特別活動的的細節和組織情況：

 

作為一個支聯會會長團，我們想鼓勵個人的聖殿奉獻日準備。首先，要保持配稱：學習聖殿推薦書的面談問題，你可以在2019年10月羅素納爾遜會長在總會大會的閉會演講中找到這些面試的問題。設定目標和承諾來更加完全的依照聖殿推薦書持有者的方式生活。第二，學習金博爾會長（President Kimball）作的1974年華盛頓特區聖殿的奉獻期待文。這個祈禱中的應許會啟示和提升你和你的家庭。第三，積極參與家譜事工，準備聖殿教儀的家人名字，在聖殿8月30日重新開放之後去做聖殿的教儀。第四，為在主的殿見證聖殿的神聖和聖殿的事工而祈禱。

 

聖殿奉獻的安排和時間計劃： 

• 依總會指示，每位參加者都必須配戴口罩。
• 聖殿奉獻儀式會在2022年8月14日星期日舉行，同一時間也會在Seneca支聯會中心（18900 Kingsview Rd, Germantown, MD 20874) 和Montgomery Village教堂進行直播。 **請大家注意：中文的直播只有早上10點一場，如您需要聽中文請在早上9點30分以前到Montgomery Village教堂參加。(20020 Montgomery Village Avenue, Montgomery Village, MD 20886)。
• 奉獻儀式一共會有三場，分別是早上10am，下午1:30pm和下午5pm。都是東部標準時間。所有的場次都會有不同的演講者還有合唱團。
• 一部分的支聯會成員會有機會去聖殿現場參加奉獻儀式。比如，有一些成員會是合唱團的成員，還有我們支聯會慈助會會長Eme Martin姐妹會在下午1:30pm的場次演講。
• 我們的支聯會中心和Montgomery Village教堂會在奉獻儀式當天成為聖殿延展的一部分，在聖殿奉獻當天，這兩個教堂只會向持有有效聖殿推薦書的成員開放。
• 教堂只會開放兩個入口，並在入口處檢查聖殿推薦書。
• 請注意教堂的門會在每個聖殿奉獻場次開始前60分鐘開放，並且在奉獻儀式開始前15分鐘關閉。請不要遲到，否則您可能會被要求參加另外一場的儀式。
• 成員們應穿著聖餐聚會的正式著裝，並且在每場儀式開始前30分鐘入座。您可以在等待時閱讀經文。請不要在教堂走廊中久留或者在教堂中隨意走動。
• 進入教堂後，請您將手機靜音，並不要使用其他電子產品。請大家保持像在聖殿中一樣的虔敬。

男女青年（年齡在8到15歲之間）需有成年成員陪同參加儀式。具體指示如下： 

• 未接受洗禮以及未獲得聖殿推薦書的兒童將不被允許參加儀式，包括嬰兒。家長們需要提前安排照顧孩子的事情，有需要可以聯繫您的施助弟兄或者姐妹。
• 歡迎大家自己攜帶白色手絹來參加和散那歡呼。支聯會已經購置了一些繡有聖殿和奉獻日期的白色手絹提供給來Seneca支聯會中心參加奉獻儀式的成員。
• 在每一場儀式結束後，教堂會清場。如果您計劃參加多場的儀式，您需要在下一場儀式開始前60分鐘重新進入教堂。

誰可以參加奉獻儀式，還有我需要準備什麼？ 

• 已經接受洗禮的教會成員必須在教堂（支聯會中心或者Montgomery Village教堂）出示聖殿推薦書方可進入教堂。
• 已經接受洗禮的8到11歲的成員需與主教面談並獲得特殊奉獻儀式的聖殿推薦書方可參加。
• 已經接受洗禮但是還未接受恩道門的12到18歲成員必須獲得一個由主教團成員簽發的臨時聖殿推薦書方可參加
• 18歲以上已經接受洗禮和恩道門的成員必須持有有效的聖殿推薦書方可參加。該推薦書需先通過主教團和支聯會長團的面談。
• 請根據情況聯繫主教團成員來預約獲得或者更新您的聖殿推薦書。

聖殿奉獻儀式會發生什麼？ 

• 在聖經中有關於古代以色列人如何奉獻他們的會堂和聖殿來將這些地方祝聖的記錄（見列王紀上8:22-54）。後期聖徒也曾經以相似的方式來奉獻聖殿和其他神聖的地方用以完成主的事工，這樣的奉獻最早是從嘉德蘭聖殿開始的。 （見教義和聖約109章）
• 嘉德蘭聖殿的奉獻為今日的聖殿奉獻設立了規程，也就一般有以下的一些內容：

1. 奠定基石的儀式，該儀式表示著主的殿的工程建設的完成和象徵著耶穌基督是我們的信仰基石。 （見以弗所書2:19-21）。華盛頓特區聖殿的奠基儀式在1970年聖殿完工時就已進行了，所以在這次再次奉獻是將不會再次進行。
2. 教會領袖的演講和音樂節目
3. 奉獻祈禱文傳達，由第一會長團成員之一來進行並且被記錄在教會的正式記錄中。教會已經宣布第一會長團和羅素納爾遜會長本人都會出席儀式，納爾遜會長會親自奉獻聖殿。
4. 參加儀式的成員參與和散那歡呼。這歡呼是用以懷念當耶穌基督進入耶路撒冷時，他的跟隨者為救主發出的讚美。進行時，全體成員需起立，揮舞白手帕，然後齊聲高呼三次：“和散那，和散那，和散那歸於神與羊羔。”歡呼以“阿門，阿門，阿門”結束。
5. 唱聖詩：“神靈如火”。這是從嘉德蘭聖殿奉獻以來是有聖殿奉獻時都會唱的聖詩。

作為支聯會會長團，我們表達我們對你們每一個人的愛。我們很期待8月14日的聖殿重新奉獻儀式，也希望我們可以藉此機會，用最高和最神聖的方式來重新奉獻我們的生活給我們的救贖主耶穌基督。

 

Arnold會長

Ure會長

Butler會長

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Seneca Maryland Stake

On Sunday, August 14th, the Washington DC Temple will be rededicated. There will be no regular sacrament or second hour ward meetings that day. This message is to provide details and logistics to prepare for this unique event. 

As a stake presidency, we would like to encourage your personal preparation for the temple rededication. First, be worthy – study the temple recommend questions, which are available in President Nelson’s closing remarks at the October 2019 General Conference. Make goals and commitments to more fully live the standards expected of temple recommend holders. Second, study the original Washington DC Temple dedicatory prayer delivered by President Kimball in 1974. The promises in this prayer can inspire and uplift you and your family. Third, actively participate in family history work and prepare family names to take to the Washington DC Temple for ordinance work after it opens on August 30th. Fourth, pray to have a witness from the Lord of the holiness of the temple and the work that happens there. 

Logistics and schedule for the temple dedication:

• All attendees are required to wear mask.
• The temple dedication will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2022, and broadcast live to the Seneca Stake Center for English and at the Montgomery Village Building for Spanish (Mandarin will also be available in the Montgomery Village Building for the 10 am session only).
• Dedication sessions will be held at 10:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 5:00 pm Eastern. Each session is expected to last around 90 minutes. All sessions will have different speakers and choirs.
• A handful of our stake members will be able to attend the dedication in the temple. For example, some will be singing in the 10 am session choir and our Stake Relief Society President, Eme Martin, will be speaking in the 1:30 pm session.
• For the rest of us, our stake center and the Montgomery Village chapel will become an extension of the temple during the dedication and access will be limited to those who have active temple recommends.
• Entrance to each building will be restricted to two doors where temple recommends will be checked.
• Please note that doors will open 60 minutes before each session and be closed 15 minutes before each session begins. Do not be late or you will have to wait until the next session!
• Members should come dressed in Sabbath day attire and be in their seats 30 minutes before each session begins. Feel free to bring scriptures to read while you wait for the session to begin. Please do not linger in the hallway or wander the building.
• When entering the chapel, we invite you to silence cell phones, put away any other electronic devices, and act with reverence as if you were physically in the temple.
• Recommended youth ages 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult (see below).
• Children who have not been baptized or do not have a recommend will not be admitted, including infants. Parents should make arrangements for child care as needed and may contact their ministering brother and sister for assistance.
• Feel free to bring your own white handkerchief for the Hosanna shout. The stake has purchased white handkerchiefs with the temple and the dedication date embossed on them that will be handed out to those who attend this sacred event at a Seneca Stake building.
• Following each session, each building will be cleared. Thus, if you desire to attend multiple sessions, you will need to reenter the building starting 60 minutes before each session.

Who can attend and what must I do to prepare?

• Baptized members of the church must show a recommend at the door of the stake center or MV building to gain admission.
• Baptized members 8-11 years old must be interviewed by the bishop and will receive a special temple rededication recommend.
• Baptized members 12-18 years old who have not yet received their own temple endowment must obtain a limited use recommend from a member of the bishopric.
• Baptized members 18+ years old who have been endowed must have an active temple recommend including interviews with a member of the bishopric and stake presidency.
• Please promptly contact a member of the bishopric to schedule an interview to obtain or renew your temple recommend.

What happens at a temple dedication?

• The Bible contains detailed accounts of how ancient Israelites dedicated their tabernacles and temples to set them apart as sacred places (1 Kings 8:22-54). Latter-day Saints have likewise dedicated temples and other sacred spaces for use in the Lord’s work, beginning with the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 109).
• The dedication of the Kirtland Temple set a pattern for modern temple dedications, which typically include the following elements:
• A cornerstone ceremony which signifies completion of construction of the House of the Lord and symbolizes Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (see Ephesians 2:19-21). A ground-breaking and cornerstone ceremony were held when the temple was constructed in the 1970’s and is not repeated as part of this re-dedication.
• Speeches by church leaders and musical performances
• Delivery of the dedicatory prayer, delivered by a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and recorded in the official records of the church. It has been announced that the entire First Presidency will attend and that President Nelson will dedicate the temple.
• Audience participation in the Hosanna Shout. This shout is reminiscent of the praise offered by followers of Jesus Christ at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The congregation stands, waves white handkerchiefs, and unites in shouting three times the words, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb.” The shout concludes with “Amen, Amen, and Amen.”
• Singing of the hymn “The Spirit of God” which has been sung at all temple dedications since Kirtland, Ohio.

As a stake presidency, we express our love for each of you. We look forward to our temple rededication on August 14th and hope that we can each rededicate our lives to following our Savior Jesus Christ in higher and holier ways.

President Arnold

President Ure

President Butler