Utah
Orem temple dedicatory prayer: Elder Christofferson notes the nobility, sacrifices of past generations
Following is the text of the prayer offered by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to dedicate the Orem Utah Temple on Sunday, Jan. 21.
O God, the Eternal Father, Thou great Elohim, Creator of heaven and earth, we present ourselves before Thee in humility to dedicate unto Thee and Thy Son this, the Orem Utah Temple. We are grateful for this privilege, and we pray that Thou wilt look upon us in Thy tender mercy and grant that Thy Holy Spirit may attend us.
We are grateful to live in the day of the hastening of Thy work. We thank Thee for the multiplying of temples across the earth in our time. We thank Thee, dear Father, for Thy perfect plan that provided our first estate as spirits in Thy presence, and now our second estate in this mortal sphere, and the promise of celestial glory with Thee and Thy Son for all who are “valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” We are grateful for Thy Beloved Son, whose Atonement and Resurrection enable and sustain Thy plan and redeem us. We feel impelled to exclaim in joy, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever” (Matthew 6:13).
We are grateful for our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of us have enjoyed this blessing throughout our lives thanks to the faith and example of our fathers and mothers, grandparents and other ancestors. Through their nobility and sacrifices they built families of faith that have endured and will yet endure through generations. Bless them, dear Father, and help us to be faithful in our time as they were in theirs.
The Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Others participating in these dedicatory services have come into the Church as the first in their family’s generations. Bless them and all members similarly situated as they begin a chain of eternal families including both their ancestors and their descendants.
We thank Thee for the Book of Mormon, the great instrument of gathering and conversion that Thou has prepared and preserved for this great and last dispensation. We thank Thee that Thou didst raise up the Prophet Joseph Smith and by Thy gift and power enable him to translate and publish this uniquely powerful testament of thy Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that our faith in the Savior may grow as we study the Book of Mormon such that we “shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in [Him]” (Moroni 7:33).
Father, we recognize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the kingdom of God upon the earth, tasked to gather Thy scattered covenant people both here and in the world of spirits. And so, we pray, “May the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 65:6).
Now, Father, on this day of joy and gladness, with hearts full of love and yearning to please Thee, acting at the direction of the First Presidency and in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, we humbly dedicate to Thee and Thy Son, this, the Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We pray that Thou wilt accept this offering and put Thy name and the name of Thy Son upon this house that it may indeed become The House of the Lord. We pray that the presence of Thy Holy Spirit may be here continually.
We dedicate the foundation, the walls and windows, the roof, and all elements of the construction. We dedicate each of the rooms that they may serve their intended purpose. We dedicate the furnishings and fixtures, the mechanical equipment, the beautiful grounds, and all else pertaining to this holy building.
The Orem Temple is pictured in Orem, Utah, on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
We also dedicate the stake center and service buildings located on this property to the purpose of worshipping Thee in the name of Christ and for accomplishing the work of the Church — the work of salvation and exaltation — in all its facets.
Holy Father, we ask Thee to bless and protect this temple and the other buildings we dedicate today. Grant that they may not be marred by earthquakes, storms or other natural forces. We pray that they may be protected from evil-disposed persons and any form of desecration. May Thy Saints be permitted to worship and serve Thee here without distraction or disturbance. May Thy servants “go forth from [the temple] armed with thy power, and … thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:22).
We pray for Thy blessings upon the leaders, members and missionaries of the Church from the First Presidency to the newest convert. Minister to us through Thy Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ in our individual needs and together as the body of Christ. We ask to be filled with joy and light. We would be holy.
The Orem Utah Temple in Orem on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.
Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
We also pray for the United States of America, the host nation for the headquarters of the Church and some 85 of its temples with more to come. For the sake of the righteous, we plead that this nation might be preserved in freedom and that its moral foundations be strengthened. Wilt Thou maintain it as a force for liberty and a beacon of hope in the world. May its citizens repent and turn unto Thee that Thou canst bless them.
Our gracious God, we thank Thee for this day and for this temple. Most of all, we thank Thee for Thy Beloved and Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. We thank Thee for His birth, His sinless life, His death to atone for our sins, and for His Resurrection that we might have immortality and eternal life. We raise to Thee this dedicatory prayer of gratitude and supplication in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Utah
Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily
UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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