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25 years ago
The Atlanta Georgia Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, then second counselor in the First Presidency, in 11 sessions June 1-4, according to the June 5, 1983, Church News.
The article quoted President Hinckley: "This is the day of which many thousands have dreamed. It is a day for which you have lived, for which you have prayed, for which many of you have sacrificed and for which we thank the Lord."
President Hinckley conducted some sessions, including the first, himself, according to the article, and assigned President Ezra Taft Benson, then president of the Quorum of the Twelve, to conduct the others. Speakers also included President Thomas S. Monson and Elder Neal A. Maxwell, both then members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
More than 12,000 members from 11 Southern states attended the sessions in the northeast Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs, the article reported.
It stated: "President Hinckley said for a long period there were temples only in the western part of the United States and Canada and the thousands of members in the South who wished to partake of temple blessings had to travel long distances."
