'Hour of jubilation' at medical facility
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MURRAY, Utah — Calling it an "hour of jubilation," President Thomas S. Monson dedicated a new state-of-the-art medical center on a 100-acre campus in Murray, Utah.
Speaking and offering the dedicatory prayer on Sept. 25 on a cool fall morning, President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, invited the some 2,000 people present in a large tent on the hospital grounds to bow their heads "as a prayer of dedication of this lovely facility is provided to the great physician of all, our Heavenly Father."
The new Intermountain Medical Center, the flagship facility for Intermountain Healthcare, is located on State Street a few miles south of Salt Lake City and includes a 15-story tower and several adjacent buildings housing six "centers of excellence," according to hospital officials, for the treatment and care of women and newborns, cancer patients, trauma victims and more.
Also attending were Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Wendy Watson Nelson. An auditorium in the education center was named after Elder Nelson last June. Elder Nelson was a renowned surgeon at the time of his call to the Twelve in 1984.
In his dedicatory prayer, President Monson expressed gratitude "to those who have dreamed dreams and then brought to fruition those dreams in the form of this mighty complex. We express gratitude to all who have labored so diligently and given so liberally that these services of dedication could go forward. May the benefits of these structures bless the lives of those who come here for needed help.
"Let those who shall labor here do so with Thy Spirit as a constant companion. Help the doctors and nurses and all those who assist them to remember the words of Paul, who declared to the Corinthians, 'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?' May each who enters here for care and healing be treated with dignity and respect, befitting a child of God.
"Bless the medical personnel, that they may be guided by Thee as they diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. May there be no mistakes made in this regard. Help their minds to be clear as life and death decisions are made. Help them to have compassion, as well, for those who are suffering.
"Within these walls, words of hope will be provided to those who are in need of Thy help. There will be those who will need Thy comfort as they mourn. Feelings will be tender. Needed will be service, kindness, patience and love. May such ever be provided."
President Monson also blessed the facility with safety from "untoward incident.... May it fulfill its planned purpose and stand firm against any danger."
After President Monson completed his prayer, he was warmly thanked by Douglas C. Black, chairman of the Intermountain Healthcare Urban Central Region Board of Trustees, who then invited many present, including Elder Nelson, to come forward for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Simultaneously, physicians and nurses at the eight entrances of the Intermountain Medical Center held separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies, with each shown on screens in the tent.
Intermountain Healthcare has its roots in early Church history in Utah, with the first Church-owned hospital, Deseret Hospital, opening in July 1882. Sponsored by the Relief Society, Deseret Hospital was initially a remodeled barn on 500 East between South Temple and 100 South in Salt Lake City. In 1884, it moved to a nearby adobe structure. LDS Hospital followed in 1905, with others succeeding, including Primary Children's Hospital in 1911 and other facilities in Ogden and even in Idaho and in Star Valley, Wyo.
In 1975, the Church divested itself of all Church-owned hospitals, donating 15 hospitals to the public with the hope the facilities would remain non-profit and be governed by volunteers from the community.
Historical resources: "The Story of Intermountain Health Care" by Tom Vitelli, 1995; special advertising supplement to the Deseret Morning News and The Salt Lake Tribune.
E-mail to: julied@desnews.com
