Elder Ronald A. Rasband Dedicates Ephraim Utah Temple, Emphasizes Gathering Israel and Temple Covenants

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated the Ephraim Utah Temple on Sunday. The temple, located in central Utah, marks the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ newest addition to its global network of temples. Rasband emphasized the sacred nature of the site, noting that his great-great-grandparents settled Ephraim in 1850 and that the location holds deep historical and spiritual significance.

In his dedicatory remarks, Elder Rasband spoke of the blessings that come from making and keeping temple covenants. He described the temple as a place where members can draw upon the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and participate in the gathering of God’s children. He also highlighted the role of the tribe of Ephraim, the namesake of the city, in fulfilling the responsibility of gathering Israel in the latter days.

The Ephraim Utah Temple is strategically positioned near Snow College, providing students with opportunities to engage in temple service and missionary work as part of the gathering of Israel. Elder Rasband noted that the tribe of Ephraim has a primary responsibility in this endeavor, and he called for temple ordinances and covenants that reflect the heritage of the Ephraim ancestry.

The temple was announced in May 2021 by the late President Russell M. Nelson, who also presided over the groundbreaking ceremony the following year. Elder Rasband dedicated the temple in a public ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the event rebroadcast to local chapels at 2 p.m. The dedication marked the culmination of years of planning and community effort.

Ahead of the open house, Elder John A. McCune, first counselor in the church’s Utah Area presidency, praised the dedication of temple workers who help operate the Ephraim Utah Temple. He noted that, together with the nearby Manti Utah Temple, the two temples require approximately 2,500 temple workers. The Ephraim Utah Temple joins the Church’s global network of 224 dedicated temples, continuing its mission of spiritual service and community engagement.

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