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https://youtu.be/VkBpEOLSKe4
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The Seattle Washington Temple is the 19th operating Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The people of the Pacific Northwest were very anxious to get a Temple in their area. A group of Stake Presidents had even petitioned the First Presidency for a temple in the 1960’s but to no avail until 1974.
In 1974, the First Presidency petitioned F. Arthur Kay to look for a property that would be suitable for the house of the Lord. F. Arthur Kay was an area representative at the time, and he was under strict instructions to keep the search private. For five months F. Arthur Kay searched all the surrounding areas for the perfect piece of property, and was simply not able to find it.
On December 23, 1974 Brother Kay and his real estate agent had been out searching, and again, had no luck in finding the property suitable for the house of the Lord. Discouraged, the two drove back to the real estate office. One the ride back Brother Kay prayed silently pleading to the Lord saying: “Heavenly Father, will I ever find the land that Thou hast in mind for Thy holy house? Please, Father, wilt Thou lead me to the property and reveal it unto me?”
As the car approached the parking lot of the real estate office, the lot just behind the offices caught Bro. Kays eyes. He had been to that same parking lot dozens of times, but this time his eyes were opened and he saw the hillside completely differently. He recorded “My eyes were drawn to it. I noticed immediately that it was situated higher than its surrounding property. It was heavily wooded with fir, hemlock, cedar, madrona, and alder trees. There were flowing cherry and numerous other species of trees and shrubs. I pointed to this beautiful hillside and I remarked to Mr. Cade, ‘You know, what we’re really looking for is a piece of property just like this one above us, just behind your office!’ I was impressed to say, ‘Could this property possibly be for sale? Who owns it? What would it be worth?’ Mr. Cade didn’t know but said he would find out.
We drove around the property for the first time. Together we walked over and through and around the property. I knew plainly we had found the temple site. My heart was overcome with gratitude beyond description in knowing that the Lord had heard my prayers.”
That piece of land was indeed the land the Lord intended for the Seattle Temple. Our Heavenly Father wants to hear from us, and will answer our prayers.
After finding the land opposition began. Various groups of people opposing the temple attempted to hinder the project throughout the building and the planning process. These groups formed and worked to stop the Church even before the land was formally acquired. The Church closed on the property on August 13, 1976. F. Arthur Kay became the temples first president said "I felt the influence of the adversary so strongly that it caused the very hairs on the back of my neck to stand straight up. But in time, the spirit of the Lord would prevail and assure me that in the end, all would be well."
At the dedication of the Seattle Temple President Spencer W. Kimball said "Here we learn the answers to those important questions that puzzle all mankind. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go when this mortal life is finished and over? . . We are here to receive the word of the Lord."
President Howard W. Hunter taught, “We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him” (“He Invites Us to Follow Him,” Ensign, September 1994, 5).
Not only is it important for us to know Him, it is equally important we know that He knows us.
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References
Chad Hawkins “Temples of the New Millennium”