Temple Dedication!

(This post was written on Feb. 10th and I'm just getting it posted here.)
The Rexburg, Idaho Temple is dedicated!! We were able to attend the 9am session. It was foggy this morning and I think that played a part in the session starting 1/2 an hour late. President Monson didn't say why they were late but the fog is a logical conclusion. (I found out yesterday, the 12th, that his plane couldn't land in Idaho Falls and had to divert to Pocatello, about 45 minutes farther south of us.)
I took notes because I knew I wouldn't be able to remember everything!! The first thing to happen this morning (after the opening hymn and prayer) was the cornerstone sealing ceremony. In today's Temples, the cornerstone isn't an actual stone like it used to be. The Cornerstone has historically always been in the Southeast corner. Pres. Monson reminded us that Christ is the cornerstone of our lives and this work.
President Monson's humor is just as quick and cute as President Hinckley's was!! The dignitaries went outside and placed mortar around the stone. Pres. Monson went first and then invited "his physician" Elder Russel M. Nelson to place some and joked that Elder Nelson ought to do better even though the instruments aren't what he is used to. Then he invited Elder Costa (of the Presidency of the 70) to place some "in Spanish". Elder Bednar, Temple President Christiansen, thier wives and other people, including children, took their turns. One of the little boys was a redhead. After they were all done Pres. Monson told a story about a redhead boy he talked to at conference once. He told the boy that he loved to have redheads in the mission field and wanted one in each district because they were pacesetters and really worked hard. The mother of this boy wrote Pres. Monson later and told him that every day since, the boy had stood in front of the mirror and said "I'm going to be a pacesetter"!!.
After returning to the Celestial room, Elder Bednar spoke. He testified that the Savior revealed His will for the location of the Temple. He spoke of leading VIP tours before the public open house began. He recalled a tour he led of leaders of various other denominations. In the baptistry they were all seated and Elder Bednar spoke of the Christian dilema of what happens to those who lived in a time or place that they never heard of Christ or His Gospel. He bore his testimony of the doctrine of baptism for the dead. Elder Bednar quoted from Doctrine & Covenants 109 (which is the dedication prayer for the Kirtland Temple). He then bore his testimony in closing.
Elder Russel M. Nelson spoke next. He quoted Joseph Smith. I couldn't write down the whole thing but the beginning he said "this work is worthy of archangels" (speaking of temple work). In the Temple we lear of God, of the Atonement, Eternal life and the Fall.
The Chior sang again and then Pres. Monson spoke. He said there was no other place he would rather be than in the Temple, dedicating it as his first official act as President of the Church. He told about Pres. Hinckley's involvement in the building of the Temple. Pres. Hinckley approved all the plans and checked in on the process constantly. He was involved in every step and was looking forward to being here for the dedication. Pres. Monson said he was sure that our loving Heavenly Father allowed Pres. Hinckley to be there today. Again, I couldn't get everything written down (I wish I knew shorthand in these kinds of situations!!). Just a few of the things I caught in Pres. Monson's talk- Trust in the Lord and He will lead your paths. The work will go on night and day in this Temple. If we let the Temple touch us, we will be guided and directed.
Pres. Monson then offered the dedicatory prayer. It was beautiful. We all participated in the Hosannah shout. The chior sang the "Hosannah Anthem" and the congregation joined in to sing "The Spirit of God".There were only 18 men and women in the chior (9 each). There must have been angels singing as the sound was so full and glorious that they couldn't have been alone.
It was a wonderful dedication and I am so grateful that we were able to go with our two oldest boys.
The work begins on Tuesday!! I have a 6am appointment for an endowment session. It seems like the Temple was announced so long ago and the building has taken sooooo long. But, of course, looking back on it, it went by really fast and now it's ready and dedicated!!!