LDS Church Apostle Jeffrey Holland dedicates Toronto Ontario Temple

TORONTO (ABC4) — President Jeffrey R. Holland, the acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, rededicated the Toronto Ontario Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sunday afternoon.

“Today we are happy to break the lock on the Toronto Ontario Temple and its grounds, to have what we pray will be a continuous flow of faithful recommend holders in this renewed opportunity now open to us,” Holland said to those assembled both in person and across several different digital means.

Holland told members in attendance that they should take the time to rededicate themselves to the promises of Christlike living.

For many Latter-day Saints in Ontario, having President Holland there was what some called “a beautiful moment.” Following a recent health scare, Holland commented that he is pleased with the improvement of his health.

“I felt great. I am so happy with some improvement in my health, or at least in my movement and the conditions of my health,” President Holland told the Church Sunday. “I was very, very happy about that and happy to be back in Toronto.”

Originally announced in 1984 and finished in 1990, the Toronto Ontario Temple was the second to be built in Canada and the first on the east side of the country. It is currently one of 11 Temples announced, under construction, or in operation in the country.

Odette Yu has served in the Toronto temple for over a decade and told the Church that this was “everything and more than I expected.”

“It was my first time being in the dedicatory session. It was everything and more than I expected. The temple felt different. We’ve been here during construction. We’ve been here for the open house. But it was different when the dedication took place. We could feel there was a difference in the temple,” she said.

Her husband, Steven said this was probably their most powerful experience in the temple.

“We can hardly wait to serve the Lord here in His holy house,” he said.