The San Diego Temple has been rededicated! On August 23, 2026, the temple was rededicated by President D. Todd Christofferson. We attended at our stake center which acted as an extension of the temple. We showed our recommends to get in and were able to sit in about the 5th row from the front thanks to Jesse who was running all the tech for the broadcast and got there early. We were there just over an hour early and had lots of time to sit, read, write, listen to the music as we prepared for the dedication.
During the dedicatory session, they had two youth speakers who both did a great job. The temple president and matron spoke. A general authority seventy on the temple committee spoke. And Pres. Christofferson spoke before offering the dedicatory prayer. A small choir also sang in between some of the speakers. They were all in the Celestial Room for the dedication.
I felt the spirit so strongly as I listened and thought about how grateful I am for our temple to be open once again. Jesse and I have had many sweet experiences in that temple together as we've talked about and prayed for our lives together, for our kids, for blessings we needed. It is wonderful to hear from our prophets and apostles at conference and the messages they share with the world. But there is also something really special about hearing them speak in your local area to that particular group of saints. I really felt that during this dedication about the work, the faith, the hope, the goodness of us, the saints here in San Diego.
Here are just some of the words from the dedicatory prayer:
"In accepting thy gospel we have become a covenant people. We have taken upon ourselves the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and have promised to keep His commandments. Strengthen us in our resolutions and guard us against failure in observing the obligations we have accepted. In thy sacred temples we make further covenants with thee. Give us the will to live above sin and selfishness. Save us from pride and arrogance. Smile with favor upon us we humbly pray thee. Bless us with a spirit of benevolence toward all who are in distress wherever they may be or whatever their circumstances."
The stake purchased white handkerchiefs for everyone who attended the temple dedication which was very special to have our own embroidered temple handkerchiefs to remember this day.
Craig and Sam came into town that evening to be here for Branden's endowment that Tuesday. The first endowment session open again after more than three years. Branden was able to go through and receive his own endowment. What a special day it was. Quite a few people from our ward were working their temple shift that morning. As we walked through our newly opened temple, it was so fun to hug this sister and that sister and then another sister as we walked through to the endowment room. It felt like we were really home again.
Branden was well-prepared for his temple experience. There are always questions and things to learn, but he had read and prepared and went to stake temple prep and asked us questions. He had a great experience and really loved it.
While we were with Branden, Devin was able to do baptisms for the dead. His first time in the San Diego temple. I walked him in and got him settled. He waited a while for friends we heard were going to be there at the same time as us. They did show up, but he waited a while for them. It worked out okay though since we took a while. He had a good experience and was happy to be there.
We had lunch at Urban Plates after the temple. Such a beautiful, wonderful day.
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