Oklahoma City Temple

We think it's great that Elliot is in a mission with a temple, right in Oklahoma City.  Well, technically it's in Yukon, Oklahoma, which is a western suburb of Oklahoma City. 

The construction of the temple was announced on March 14, 1999.  Ground was broken and the site dedicated on July 3, 1999, by Rex D. Pinegar.  From the Church's temple website: 

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple, Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the Seventy and president of the North America Southwest Area declared that turning the ceremonial shovelful of soil during groundbreaking services is symbolic of "turning our lives over to Christ and keeping His commandments." He also recognized the role that having a temple in an area plays in aiding members to develop their faith and build strong families. Additionally, the temple's presence will help the youth of the temple district to see their future clearly and understand what the Lord expects of them.  [¶]  During his remarks, Elder Pinegar also referred to the deadly tornado which struck Oklahoma City May 3. After the tornado, he toured the devastated areas and saw little standing but the people, which manifested their faith. He mentioned the pure motivations of Church members who reached out to help others simply because they wanted to help. 

James E. Faust, then the second counselor in the First Presidency, offered the dedicatory prayer on July 30, 1999.  He said: 

We dedicate the beautiful surrounding grounds with their flowers, shrubs, and trees. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the tower with its figure of Moroni. We dedicate the walls and windows that they may be secure against the storms of nature. We dedicate the Baptistry that a great and eternal work may therein go forward in behalf of those beyond the veil of death. We dedicate the endowment rooms, the sacred celestial room, the sealing rooms with their altars where men and women and parents and children may be bound together as families for all eternity. We dedicate the halls and offices and every other facility found in this Thy holy house. May all be sacred unto those who come here. May a spirit of reverence and worship pervade this structure at all times and under all circumstances. Wilt Thou be pleased to smile upon it, to accept of it, and to accept of the labors of those who will work here in Thine eternal cause.

The 10,769 square foot building, which sits on an acre of land, serves members of the church from twelve stakes in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.  It's a beautiful building, as the pictures show.  We hope Elliot will have opportunities to visit the temple while he is there.