05/24/2026
“More than a week has passed since the open house ended for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, and now, from above, the grounds look so different. The tents are gone. The crowds have dispersed. The busy movement of visitors has been replaced with stillness and quiet reverence.
“But inside, sacred preparation continues. In the weeks leading up to the dedication, the temple is being meticulously cleaned and readied in every detail for its holy purpose as the House of the Lord.
“I love the symbolism in that. Before something is dedicated to God, it is carefully cleansed and prepared. And the Lord asks the same of us as we enter His house. That we come with clean hands, pure hearts, and a willingness to leave the world behind for a little while.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. Psalm 24:3–4
“Elder David A. Bednar taught:
‘The temple is a holy place specifically prepared for worshiping God and for receiving and remembering sacred covenants.’
“As the temple is quietly prepared for its dedication, perhaps it is also an invitation for each of us to prepare ourselves a little more fully to enter the House of the Lord.” ~Satina Tolman