Following is the prayer offered by President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, to dedicate the Richmond Virginia Temple on Sunday, May 7.

Our Father in Heaven: As Thy grateful children we approach Thee in prayer on this great occasion when, by the power of Thy holy priesthood, we will dedicate this Richmond Virginia Temple unto Thee and Thy beloved Son, for Thy work and Thy glory.

We thank Thee for the plan Thou hast established for the eternal life of Thy children. We thank Thee for Thine Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for His Atonement for our sins, His Resurrection for our immortality, and His experiencing our pains and infirmities that He may strengthen us in our infirmities. We thank Thee for the Holy Ghost, Thy Holy Spirit, who testifies of Thee and Thy Son and who leads us into truth.

We thank Thee for the Restoration of the gospel, beginning with Thy appearance with Thine only Begotten Son to the Prophet Joseph Smith, whom Thou hast called to bring forth the Book of Mormon as another witness of Thy Son and of Thy plan of happiness for Thy children. We thank Thee for the restoration of the authority and keys of the holy priesthood by which we proclaim Thy word and perform Thy prescribed ordinances of salvation.

Attendees leave the Richmond Virginia Temple dedication in Richmond on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

We thank Thee for Thy blessings to this nation and pray that Thou wilt inspire and strengthen those who seek to preserve our constitutional form of government. We pray especially for its leaders and for all that reside here that we may qualify for Thy promises that if we will serve Thee and keep Thy commandments we will prosper in the land.

We pray for the youth of Zion — the rising generation — that they may manifest the truths of Thy gospel in wise choices and activities. We pray for Thy blessings on our missionaries, young and older.

We thank Thee for the members of Thy Church whose faithful payment of tithes has made possible the construction of this beautiful temple. 

We pray for the millions of Thy children who contend for freedom and those who have been displaced from their homes by the ravages of war to become refugees in other nations and places. Please bless them and all who seek to relieve their suffering and give them hope.

We pray for the fulfillment of Thy prophecies for the gathering of Israel, that the way may be opened for Thy servants and Thy work to be established and blessed in all the world.

Please bless the presidents of Thy temples, who hold the keys for the sacred work in these houses of the Lord. And please bless the counselors and matrons and assistant matrons and all who work under their direction as they exercise the authority of Thy holy priesthood in these sacred ordinances and covenants. Please bless all who worthily serve in Thy holy temples that they may participate with joy and understanding, that Thy work will go forward in power to fulfill Thy purposes for all Thy children.

The exterior of the Richmond Virginia Temple is clad with Moleanos stone articulated with a Jeffersonian version of a Doric order, found in Greek and Roman architecture. Added to this are interlocking diamond circles and the dogwood blossom (the Virginia state flower). These elements are found on buildings throughout the Richmond, Virginia, area.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We pray that Thy Spirit will always be present in these holy spaces to enlighten and guide and bless all who are here and all that is said and done here.

We pray that Thou wilt protect this temple and all of its surrounding facilities from every destructive influence of any kind.

Now, Beloved Father in Heaven, by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee this Richmond Virginia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate unto Thee every part of this sacred structure and its surroundings for its holy purposes, including the grounds and ancillary facilities and the landscaping and decorations. We dedicate all of this temple’s structural parts from its foundations to its crowning steeple. We dedicate the baptistry, the ordinance rooms, the sealing rooms, the celestial room and all the other locations in this holy house to perform their sacred functions.

And now we renew our expressions of love and thanks to Thee as we dedicate this temple unto Thee and Thy sacred work and pray for these blessings in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.