The new Oakland Temple Visitors and Family History Center on the temple grounds here is "another evidence of the Lord's work rolling forward," said Elder David B. Haight of the Council of the Twelve.

"We are witnessing the hand of the Lord," Elder Haight said before he dedicated the new facility Sept. 12. "This is a continuation and magnification of the growth of the Lord's work."The visitors center is located on the temple grounds to the right of the temple as one enters the front gates. The dedicatory ceremony was held in the Interstake Center located to the left of the temple, across the temple gardens from the visitors center.

Also attending the dedicatory ceremony, held on a bright, sunny day, were Elder J. Richard Clarke and Elder L. Aldin Porter, both of the Presidency of the Seventy; and Elder John H. Groberg of the Seventy and president of the North America West Area, who conducted the ceremony. Local Church leaders also attended, along with representatives of the Church's Missionary and Family History departments.

Among civic, business, religious and local government leaders attending was Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, who spoke warmly of the Church at the ceremony.

Those who participated on the program lauded the magnificence of the 22,000 square-foot building, which offers a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. A replica of the Christus statue, like the one in the North Visitors Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City but slightly smaller, dominates the main foyer. Electronic communications resources, including touch-screen computer videos, offer answers to questions about religion, families and the restored gospel.

The sixth largest family history center in the Church is housed in the lower level in the visitors center and includes the latest in electronic equipment.

Calling the new facility an "eternal university," Elder Haight said in a Church News interview that the visitors center portrays in dramatic fashion the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of the gospel. "The center gives visitors an opportunity to see the majesty of the broad picture of the gospel."

He added that the purpose of the family history center is to assist in putting the "golden link" in family chains.

Following his remarks at the ceremony, Elder Haight offered the dedicatory prayer of the new facility: "We have met here this day - our Father - to present unto thee a newly finished facility. . . . Two vitally essential activities of thy Church - the missionary work of proclaiming the gospel and the ever-expanding family history search for family linkage of ancestry - have joined together to make possible on this sacred plot of land, a gospel teaching and research facility, using the most modern teaching skills to declare and testify of the reestablishment of the Church of thy Son Jesus Christ in these latter days. . . ."

Elder Clarke, executive director of the Family History Department, said in his remarks that having the Oakland Temple, the Interstake Center and the visitors and family history center on the same grounds provides a "balance of the programs of the Church. Here we have all the important physical elements, the temple in supreme position and a new visitors center where we can share information about our beliefs in a most friendly and understanding way and a new family history center where eternal families might be emphasized.

"There is a renaissance in family history awareness across the world. In Russia, 200 regional areas are allowing Latter-day Saints to microfilm the names for the ancestral file - an event that many said would not happen."

Elder Porter, executive director of the Missionary Department, said that people frequently have three questions they would like answered:

What of Jesus Christ? What is the purpose of life? What about the importance of family?

"We hope people leave the new visitors center with a clear vision of who they are and how important their families are. We want to make a good impression for the Church, but we are also very anxious to bring to people the blessing of gospel covenants," he added.

Elder Groberg, discussing the many purposes of the new facility, said it is hoped that it will generate good will in the community among the general public, leaders in government, business and industry, and members of the clergy.

He added that the visitors center informs others that Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus Christ, and that "we plan to stay in the community and help solve its problems.

"May all come and enjoy the peace, the quiet and the beauty that is found on Temple Hill."

In his remarks, Oakland Mayor Harris related, "I have been acquainted with and touched by members of the Mormon faith for a number of years. I have learned your membership demonstrates its beliefs by example. You espouse not only family values, but you also value the extended family. That's what I admire about LDS people."

Other participants on the program were Lorenzo Hoopes, former president of the Oakland California Stake and the Oakland Temple; Lynn Anderson, whose husband, Gary, is president of the Oakland California Stake; and Robert A. Madsen, president of the California Oakland Mission.

The dedicatory ceremony culminated four days of activities, which began Sept. 9. Included were tours for hundreds of business and civic leaders and local clergy, as well as the public. After the dedication, Elder Clarke and Elder Porter conducted workshops on family history and missionary programs for Church leaders from most of the 68 stakes in Northern California.

The new visitors center director is Elder Theon Thorley, who is assisted by his wife, JoAnne. Wayne S. Ferguson, assisted by his wife, Dorothy, will direct the family history center.