Following is the text of the prayer offered by President Thomas S. Monson on Oct. 23, to dedicate the site for the Rome Italy Temple.

Our beloved Heavenly Father, in the name of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and in the authority of the holy apostleship which I bear, I join these, Thy children and friends, and dedicate unto Thee, Heavenly Father, this magnificent plot of ground which Thou hast created.

Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

An artist's rendering shows the plans for the Rome Italy Temple. On Oct. 23, President Thomas S. Monson offered a prayer to dedicate the site on which the temple will be constructed. Plans to build the temple were announced by President Monson on Oct. 4, 2008.

I dedicate it for the purpose of the erection of a beautiful temple unto Thee. Heavenly Father, wilt Thou bless this spot, hallow it, sanctify it; grant that it may be worthy for a house of Thine. Wilt Thou, Heavenly Father, bless all who participate in the construction of Thy temple, that no harm, no danger, no accident may befall; that the workmanship may be beautiful and worthy of the house which will be built. Wilt Thou grant, Father, that the architects and the builders, and the people who live here, and neighbors throughout this great area may have Thy spirit to be with them as we all work in unison for the fulfillment of this project.

Wilt Thou temper the elements. Wilt Thou, Heavenly Father, bless the progress of the temple, that there may be no delays. Grant that the workmanship may be superb. Heavenly Father, grant that we may have fulfilled here the words of John Ruskin, that essayist who said: "Wherefore, when we build let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think as we lay stone on stone that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred, because our hands have touched them; and men will say, as they look upon the labour and wrought substances of them: 'See, this our fathers did for us.' "

Heavenly Father, Thou knowest our hearts; they are filled with gratitude and love. Thou knowest the rejoicing of those who have lived here and have gone beyond, just a step beyond our view. Wilt Thou, Heavenly Father, grant that we may be true to the heritage which is ours, true to the trust vested in us, true to Thee and true to the work.

May we incline our eyes, our thoughts, and our lives onward and upward to Thy celestial glory. As the temple grows heavenward, may we also grow heavenward and closer to Thee and be filled with Thy holy spirit.

To Thee, Heavenly Father, we ascribe all honor, all praise, all glory, and ask only that our efforts may be approved in Thy sight. We stand here today in a spirit of unity, a spirit of love; and the feeling in our hearts is one of joy and gratitude to Thee. We love Thee, Heavenly Father, and we shall show our love by keeping Thy commandments, by loving the Lord our God and our neighbor as ourselves. To this end, and with this spirit in our hearts, we now turn to the task of building and invoke Thy holy blessings to be on us. Wilt thou accept of our gratitude, Heavenly Father. Wilt Thou bless us with Thy spirit, we humbly pray, as we dedicate this spot of ground and all of us who are assembled here to Thee and to Thy work. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(Text copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)