Following are excerpts from the prayer given by President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicating the Brisbane Australia Temple on June 15, 2003.

"We thank Thee for the marvelous blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for Thine appearance and that of Thy Son to the boy Joseph to part the curtains which had remained closed through centuries of time and to usher in this last and final dispensation. We thank Thee for the marvelous witness of the Book of Mormon of the divinity and reality of the Savior of the world. We thank Thee for the restoration of the priesthood with all of the authority and keys thereof and for the establishment of Thy Church. We thank Thee for the great faith of Thy people from the very beginning, many of whom have given their very lives in testimony of the truth of this marvelous work.

"We thank Thee for Thy sons and daughters who have extended the blessings of Thine eternal plan of happiness to all who would accept their message. We thank Thee for the strength of Thy work in this good land. We thank Thee for other houses of the Lord on the soil of this nation and are grateful to now have this beautiful structure in this great city of Brisbane together with the accompanying chapel and other facilities. On this Sabbath morning our hearts reach up to Thee in gratitude and love.

"Now divine Father, in the sacred name of Thy Son and in the authority of the holy priesthood which comes from Thee, we dedicate and consecrate this the Brisbane Australia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it unto Thee and unto Him and pray that Thou wilt accept of it as the offering of our hands for the accomplishment of Thine everlasting purposes. . . .

"We dedicate and consecrate every feature of this beautiful structure for the purposes for which they were designed. May they serve well the needs of Thy faithful Saints. May all who come within these walls be worthy before Thee to enter into Thy presence. We pray that Thou wilt deign to visit this sacred edifice and likewise Thy Beloved Son. May Thy Holy Spirit always dwell here and be felt by all who serve here. . . .

"Now, Father, as we dedicate and consecrate this Thy temple, we also dedicate the neighboring chapel. . . .

"O Lord God of Israel, may glory and honor and praise and worship always be found in these sacred premises of temple and meetinghouse. May Thy Holy Son be here remembered and here worshiped by generations of Latter-day Saints. May these sacred structures be recognized and respected by the people of this great city. May Thy blessings rest upon this nation, this land of freedom where liberty is cherished and the right of worship is safeguarded.

"For all of these blessings we feel to pray as we solemnly meet together on this day of dedication in the name of our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord and our King, even Jesus Christ, amen."