2000 Dedication of the Montreal Quebec Temple
The Montreal Quebec Temple was dedicated in four sessions by President Gordon B. Hinckley — 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — on June 4, 2000. President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, also attended the dedication with his wife, Sister Frances J. Monson.
President Monson had served as mission president of the Church’s Canadian Mission from 1959 to 1962, during which time he sent the first six French-speaking missionaries to Quebec. At the dedication, he said, “Today, we have returned to Montreal, to a land I love, to the people I cherish.”
Many faithful Saints gathered for the dedication of the much-anticipated first house of the Lord in Quebec, including Brother Gerard Pelchat, first stake president of the first stake in Quebec, the Montreal Quebec Stake; and Roland LeMieux of the Montreal Quebec Mount Royal Stake, who was baptized 40 years earlier on Aug. 30, 1959. Even Richard Bybee — one of the first six French-speaking missionaries, who resided in California after his mission — traveled to Montreal to attend the dedication and meet Brother LeMieux, whom he baptized in 1959.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Oh God, our gracious Father, we thank Thee and bow in reverence before Thee. Bless us to be worthy always of coming to this, Thy house. Save us from evil and doubt. Bless us with righteousness and faith. May Thy Holy Spirit be felt by all who come within these walls. May old men dream dreams and young men see visions as they contemplate the wonder and majesty of Thy divine and eternal plan for the salvation and exaltation of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Montreal Quebec Temple here.
2015 Rededication of the Montreal Quebec Temple
The Montreal Quebec Temple closed for a complete renovation due to extensive water damage on June 2, 2014. Both the interior and exterior of the building were updated, the interior with new furnishings and the exterior with steel framing structures.
After the renovations were completed, President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, rededicated the Montreal Quebec Temple in three sessions on Nov. 22, 2015.
President Thomas S. Monson, who was then President of the Church, wanted to attend the rededication alongside President Eyring. President Eyring spoke of President Monson’s desire to attend the rededication, saying, “The last time [President Monson] and I spoke, I felt of his great love for the Canadian people.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “On this historic day in Canada, we sing Thy praises dear Father. We are mindful that Thou art God, the Father of our spirits, the Almighty Governor of the universe. How thankful we are that we know Thou hearest and wilt answer our prayers. We pray for these blessings on this day of rededication of the Montreal Quebec Temple as we renew our faith and strengthen our determination to honor our own covenants, in the name of Him who is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord and our King, even Jesus Christ, amen.”
Read the rededication prayer of the Montreal Quebec Temple here.
Timeline of the Montreal Quebec Temple
Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to build a temple in Montreal on Aug. 6, 1998. The groundbreaking ceremony for this house of the Lord was held on April 9, 1999, and was presided over by Elder Gary J. Coleman, second counselor in the North America Northeast Area presidency. Finally, the Montreal Quebec Temple was dedicated by President Hinckley in four sessions on June 4, 2000.
On June 2, 2014, the temple closed for renovations due to extensive water damage. Once renovations were completed, President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, rededicated the Montreal Quebec Temple in three sessions on Nov. 22, 2015.
Architecture and Design of the Montreal Quebec Temple
The temple has an area of 11,550 square feet and sits on 2.4 acres of land next to the St. Lawrence River. Next to the temple is a meetinghouse, and the two buildings are surrounded by trees, grass fields and gardens. The exterior of the edifice is made up of granite from Quebec, and the windows feature gold and blue glass in geometric designs, like the historic metal grill patterns that are found in buildings throughout Montreal.
The temple features a baptistry, a celestial room, two sealing rooms and two ordinance rooms. Details in the decor throughout the house of the Lord depict Canadian maple leaves as well as flowers for the different countries that settled Montreal — A fleur-de-lis honors the French, a rose the English, a thistle the Scots and a shamrock the Irish.
Interior Photos of the Montreal Quebec Temple
