September 2009 - September 2011

The Journey from Beginning to End

Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Dream Realized!

MANAUS, Brazil — June 09, 2012 via KSL News
Thousands of teenagers in Brazil performed in a special cultural celebration before their church leaders Saturday. The teens, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, were celebrating the completion of the newest LDS temple. The temple, which is the sixth in Brazil, will be dedicated Sunday by church leader President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the LDS Church Presidency. Uchtdorf, who attended the celebration in a stadium, lead services and received a traditional headdress as a gift from the Brazilian members. "Thank you so much for this," he said. "We will honor this and keep this, and are cherishing it throughout our lives." He and Apostle Quentin L. Cook traveled to Manaus in the Amazon for the dedication of the temple deep in the jungle. Uchtdorf praised the area for the remarkable growth of the Church in one generation. "Your strong faith, your example of dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ will be a blessing and a hope to the world," Uchtdorf said. "As you look back to those few in the very beginning with gratitude, future generations will look back to you." After his remarks, young people performed traditional dances and missionaries even joined the celebration. As per tradition, Uchtdorf will seal the cornerstone of the temple and lead the dedicatory sessions Sunday.

From the original concept and design...

To reality!

Announcement: 23 May 2007
Groundbreaking & Site Dedication: 20 June 2008
by Charles A. Didier
Public Open House: 18 May–2 June 2012
Dedication: 10 June 2012 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Site: 7.7 acres.
Exterior Finish: Branco Paris granite from Brazil.
Ordinance Rooms: Two ordinance rooms (two-stage progressive) and two sealing.
Total Floor Area: 32,032 square feet.

Temple Facts
The Manaus Brazil Temple was the sixth temple built in Brazil.
On October 5, 2011, numerous onlookers gathered around the Manaus Brazil Temple to witness the raising and placement of the gold-leafed angel Moroni statue atop the single spire.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Ground was broken for the temple on the banks of the mighty Rio Negro on Friday, June 20, 2008. Elder Charles A. Didier presided over the ceremonial digging for Brazil's sixth temple. The program included inspiring remarks and musical selections.
Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is located on the Rio Negro about 11 miles above its confluence with the Amazon River. For the thousands of saints of northern Brazil who for years have traveled days to reach the Caracas Venezuela Temple, Recife Brazil Temple, or São Paulo Brazil Temple, a temple in Manaus is a blessing indeed.2

Brazil Manaus Temple Spire

The Brazil Manaus Temple is Dedicated
Dedicated 10 June 2012
by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Dedicatory Prayer
O God our Eternal Father, we approach Thee with thanksgiving and love on this historic day of dedication. Our hearts reach out to Thee in faith and prayer. This temple is an answer to the prayers of Thy faithful people, and a fulfillment of Thy promises to them. We are jubilant and our hearts are filled with praise to Thee.
We are grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ which has touched the lives of all assembled for this dedication. We thank Thee for Thy divine truth, restored to earth in this Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for all who have succeeded him, including the prophet of our day, even Thomas S. Monson. We love him, sustain him and pray for him.
We thank Thee for the progress of Thy work in this great nation of Brazil. We give thanks for all who have helped to make this beautiful temple possible. Wilt Thou continue to bless the leaders and the people of this nation for their friendliness to Thy church.
We ask Thee to touch the lives and hearts of all who will have an opportunity to listen and hearken to the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Hasten the miracle of conversion among the great and good people of this land.
We thank Thee for the sacred record of Lehi, Nephi and Jacob, of Alma and Mosiah, of Benjamin, Mormon and Moroni. We thank Thee for this voice that has come from the dust to bear witness of the divinity of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thou hast sent Thy prophet Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. This holy temple opens the gates to eternity that these merciful purposes may be fulfilled.
Dear Father, forgive us our many shortcomings. Strengthen our faith and fortify us against weakness. Give us power to resist the many and clever deceits of the adversary.
May love for Thee and Thy Son grow in our hearts. May it be expressed in our love one for another, by our keeping Thy commandments and honoring the covenants made in Thy holy temple.
Now, Beloved Father, in the name of Jesus Christ and by authority of the everlasting priesthood, we dedicate the Manaus Brazil Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it unto Thee as Thy hallowed dwelling place. We dedicate it unto Thy Son as the house of the Lord where the fulness of the priesthood may be exercised. We dedicate it as a house of worship, a house of covenants, a house of faith, a house of God.
We dedicate the grounds on which it stands with all its vegetation; the building from the footings to the top of the steeple with its crowning figure of Moroni; the walls and windows that they may stand against the storms of nature and be looked upon with reverence and respect; all the interior and exterior elements of this structure and its surroundings; the baptistry, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms, and the magnificent celestial room.
Wilt Thou accept this temple as the gift of our hearts and hands. May Thy Holy Spirit dwell here at all times and be felt by all who come within its portals. May a mantle of holiness come upon this sacred edifice. May it stand as a beacon of everlasting truth and light in this beautiful and unique part of Thy creation. Wilt Thou protect it from any who may be disposed to harm or defile it in any way.
May all who enter do so worthily. Wilt Thou seal upon them an endowment of righteousness that will become a guardian throughout their lives.
Bless the youth of Thy church with an understanding of the temple and the divinity of Thy work. May they be true and faithful throughout their lives.
Bless all who attend as patrons that Thy Spirit may rest upon them, that the sacred covenants of Thy house may be impressed upon their minds and hearts. We pray for those who shall serve and work in this temple in any capacity. May they do so with a spirit of dedication and love.
We pray for the temple president, his counselors, for the matron and her assistants as they serve Thee in their sacred responsibilities.
We thank Thee for faithful tithe-payers throughout the world whose consecrated offerings made possible this and other houses of the Lord. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them. May they feel of Thy love and may Thine encircling arms of mercy be round about them.
Our Father in heaven, we love Thee. We know that Thou lovest us. We love Thy Beloved Son who stands at Thy side. We thank Thee for His atoning sacrifice. All of the blessings of this house rest upon that great divine act of the love of Thy Son, the Savior of all mankind.
Dear Father, accept our prayer as we dedicate this temple unto Thee, as we rededicate ourselves to Thee and Thy service, and we do it in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

07 September 2011: The Homecoming!

Oh, happy day!  07 September 2011!  Elder Mitchell Hayden Tenney returned with honor from serving two years in the Brazil Manaus mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
 

Mom waiting @ the airport...

Dad waiting @ the airport...

Sam waiting @ the airport...

He Is HOME!!!

No more waiting - first hug to Mom!

How sweet it is!

And a big hug for Dad...

Meeting his nephew, Isaac, for the first time!

Loves for Miss Livvy!

Very happy "little" brother, Sam!

And reunited with big sister, Jessica!

All the family who met @ the airport to welcome Elder Tenney home!
Dad, Allison & Isaac & Olivia, Jessica, Sam, Mom, Elder Tenney, Wade & Olesya, and Grandma Barbara Tenney

Soon to be released from full-time service...he will miss wearing his nametag.

Shoes worn out in the service of the Lord

Elder Mitchell Hayden Tenney:  Returned with Honor!

Welcome Home!