CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Thomas S. Monson arrived in Cebu on Friday for Sunday's dedication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' newest temple.
On Saturday, he walked through the new Cebu Philippines Temple, which is the 133rd worldwide.
President Monson said he has been to the Philippines several times and that being there again is "like returning home."
"I think they (Mormons in Cebu and neighboring islands) have long awaited a day of having a temple," he said. "The Lord has honored their faith and their prayers and now they have a temple of their own, and it's a beautiful temple."
While at the temple, President Monson shook hands with and congratulated the project's construction engineer, Knut Klavenes, who was baptized during construction of the temple.
Later that night, President Monson attended a cultural celebration, held in conjunction with the dedication of the new temple. Approximately 4,000 young people — 2,000 performing live in the Cebu Coliseum and another 2,000 shown on large screens performing in the far-flung reaches of the temple district — entertained the prophet, who was among the crowd. In addition to Cebu City, the new temple district includes the Visayas and Mindanao islands, in the southern Philippines.
President Monson said he would describe the Filipino people as "teachable."
The dedication of the new temple will be conducted during three sessions on Sunday. President Monson will preside over, address and offer the dedicatory prayer in all three sessions.
Assisting him are President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency; Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Presiding Bishop H. David Burton, and Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy and executive director of the LDS Church's temple department.
Proceedings of the dedication will be broadcast to LDS meetinghouses throughout the Philippines.
The First Presidency announced plans to construct the nearly 30,000-square-foot temple in April 2006. Ground was broken in November 2007.
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