Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Tokyo Japan Temple

Dedicatory Prayers

Dedicated 27–29 October 1980
by Spencer W. Kimball

Our Father in Heaven, Thou who hast created the heavens and the earth and all things therein. Thou most Holy One, who art perfect in mercy and love and truth; in the name of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we are met this day in this sacred building, to dedicate it unto Thee, our living God. We present to Thee this beautiful temple, provided by the sacrifice of Thy people in the Orient who love Thee and Thy Son.

We are thankful that Thou didst send Thine Only Begotten Son to this earth to be our Savior, and that in this last dispensation Thou didst send a Prophet, Joseph Smith, called long before his birth to bring about the restoration of the gospel. We are thankful that Thou and Thy Beloved Son didst appear to him in person to reopen the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and establish Thy Church and kingdom in its fulness by the power of Thy holy priesthood.

Our gracious Father, Thou hast permitted us to build and dedicate unto Thee for Thy glorious work of salvation for the living and the dead, a score of holy temples upon the earth, among which is this wonderful, well appointed temple in this beautiful land of Japan. We are grateful, too, that there are ten more temples now being built, or soon to begin construction, a total of thirty throughout the world.

We thank Thee, Holy Father, that Thou has inspired through Thy latter-day prophets the building of these many temples in which sacred ordinances are administered for both the living and the dead.

We also thank Thee, our Father, for the perfect organization of Thy Church today. Please reveal to the First Presidency of Thy Church Thy mind and will in all things necessary for the benefit, blessing, and welfare of Thy people. Give to them heavenly wisdom to guide them in giving inspired leadership to Thy ever-growing earthly kingdom.

Remember in love Thy servant whom Thou hast called to be Thy Prophet in this day to all mankind, and whose days have been many upon the earth. Lengthen his span of mortal life and give him a listening ear, and give to him health and strength and the powers and gifts Thou seest are needful to lead Thy people.

Give to the Twelve Apostles, Thy special witness, a rich endowment of Thy Holy Spirit and bless them with vision and judgment and wisdom.

Our Father, we thank Thee for all our many blessings. We are thankful for the more than thirty thousand missionaries who are dedicating themselves to the cause of spreading the gospel to all of the nations of the earth. Give them wisdom, faith, and devotion to take the gospel to the truth seekers and honest in heart everywhere. Bless them with joy in their labors and success in their ministry of love.

Influence, we pray Thee, the rulers of nations and governments of the earth, that any barriers which stand in the way of the spread of Thy gospel may be removed, that Thy truths may permeate every corner of the earth so that, as directed by Thy Son, our Savior, every nation, kindred, tongue and people may hear the message of salvation and exaltation.

Our Father, may peace abide in the homes of all Thy saints. Bless the poor and the needy of Thy people. Let not the cry of the widow and the orphan, the lonely and oppressed go unheeded.

We especially pray Thee, our Father in Heaven, to bless and bear up the youth of Zion in all the world. Shield and preserve and protect them from the adversary and from the words and works of wicked and designing men. Keep Thy people, Father, in the straight and narrow path that leads to live eternal. Preserve them from the pitfalls and snares that are laid at their feet. May our children grow in testimony of the divinity of this work and preserve them in purity and in truth. Please bless us that we may be able to stir the youth of Zion with a desire for eternal marriage in Thy holy temple.

Wilt Thou richly endow the sisters of the Church, our wives, our mothers, our daughters, with the spirit of their exalted callings and responsibilities. Father, Thou knowest our great love for them. So, also, in their various needs, pour out precious gifts of wisdom, faith and knowledge upon them.

Kind Father, bless all those who come to this temple, that they may do so with humble hearts, in cleanliness, and honor, and integrity. We are grateful for these saints, for their devotion and their faith, for their worthiness and their determination to be pure and holy.

Bless them as they come into this holy house for their endowments, sealings, marriages, anointings, and other ordinances. Bless this temple that it may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory, a house of eternal marriage, a house of sealings, and Thy house, the house of God, wherein Thy holy saving work may be done for the salvation of both the living and the dead.

Bless, we pray Thee, the presidency of this temple and the matron and all the officiators herein. Endow them with wisdom and with the gift of discernment. Help them to create a holy atmosphere in this place so that all ordinances may be performed with love and a sweet, spiritual tone that will cause the members to greatly desire to be here, and to return again and again.

Bless also the workmen, the guards, the gardeners, and all others who attend to the mechanical, the laundry and kitchen, the grounds and other physical needs of this sacred edifice. Remember also in Thy mercy all those who have labored in the erection of this house, or who have, in any way, by their means or influence, aided in its completion.

We are jubilant this day, our Holy Father, and have hearts filled with praise to Thee that Thou hast permitted us to see the completion of this temple and to see this day for which we have so long hoped and toiled and prayed.

Today we dedicate this holy temple unto Thee, with all that pertains unto it, that it may be a house of prayer, a house of praise, a house of worship; that Thy glory may rest upon it; that Thy holy influence may be here continually; that it may be the abode of Thy beloved Son, our Savior; that angels who stand before Thy face may be the hallowed messengers who shall visit it.

We pray that all who enter the threshold of this, Thy house, may feel Thy power and be constrained to acknowledge that Thou hast sanctified it, that it is Thy house, a place of holiness.

We pray Thee, Heavenly Father, to accept this building in all its parts from the foundation to the steeple that graces the highest point.

We pray Thee to bless the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, roof, the elevators, stairways, doors, windows and other openings; all things connected with the lighting, heating, and sanitary facilities, and all articles used in or connected with the holy ordinances administered here. Bless the veils and the altars, the baptismal font and the oxen on which it rests.

We pray Thee to bless all the furniture, seats, locks, and fastenings and all other appliances and appurtenances found in this temple and the annexes and all ornamentation thereon, the painting, the gilding, the bronzing, the fine work in wood and metal of every kind, the embroidery and needlework.

O Lord, we pray Thee to bless and sanctify the grounds on which this temple stands, and with it, the fences, the walks, paths, the trees, plants, flowers and shrubbery that grow in this area. May they blossom beautifully and be pleasant to all and a haven of peace and rest for holy meditation. May their beauty add sacredness and holiness to this glorious temple program.

Father, preserve this building, we beseech Thee, from anything which might cause it harm, destruction by fire, or flood or the rage of the elements, shafts of lightning, blasts of hurricanes, upheavals of earthquakes, and disturbing elements of all kinds.

Confirm upon us the spirit of Elijah, we pray Thee, that we may redeem our dead and also connect ourselves with our fathers back to the beginning in unbroken links welded by Thy holy priesthood.

Almighty Father, increase within us the power of faith. Strengthen us by the memories of Thy glorious manifestations and blessings of the past.

And now, our Father, we praise Thee; we glorify Thee; we worship Thee. Day by day we shall magnify Thee and give Thee thanks. We pray Thee in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, to hear these, our humble petitions, and accept this, Thy holy house.

By the power of the holy priesthood Thou hast given us, we dedicate this building, and all that pertains to it, to Thee, our Holy Father, and ask Thy blessings upon it, in the worthy name of Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen and Amen and Amen.