Milton A. Barlow Center Dedicatory Prayer
Pronounced by President Merrill J. Bateman, on April 13, 2002
Our Father in Heaven we are so grateful unto thee for the bounties of life, for the goodness that thou hast given to us, for the greatness of this earth, for the opportunity to be upon this earth, on this special earth, where thy Son came. This is His footstool, this is the land that He trod. We are so grateful to have been planted here. Were grateful now this day for this building which has been purchased, which has been renovated, which has been prepared for the various units that will occupy its premises. We ask a blessing on this building, that it will be solid and stable and able to stand the elements and the events of time, that it will be able to provide housing and offices and working space for those who are assigned here in a manner that will be representative of thee and thy work on this earth. We also pray, Father, that thou wilt bless the occupants of the building those who come here daily. We pray that thy spirit will be with them, that they will remember the large overarching purpose of all thy work which is to bring about the immortality and eternal life of each man and woman on this earth. We pray in various ways that we may contribute to that mission, that we may remember who we are and what we are about. Were grateful for the neighbors who will be nearby and pray for them. We pray that they will see us as good neighbors, as good tenants here, that relationships will continue to develop, and that the opportunity to build bridges and build friendships throughout this important community will continue to grow. We are so grateful for the architects and builders who have turned this building into a beautiful place, into a place that is inviting, that has light in it, that will reach out and draw people, that will help people feel comfortable in our presence. Bless the building that those feelings and the light will continue to be here. We thank thee for all that we do receive. We thank thee for life and we thank thee for the young people who will come from Brigham Young University and from here in this district. Bless them, that they too will come to an understanding of who they really are, that they will continue to mature in their faith and their spiritual feelings and grow in understanding and appreciate that theyre thy sons and daughters. They have enormous power as long as its used within the parameters of the Gospel. We pray, Father, now that we may go forward with strength, that we may enjoy this building, that we will be able to treat it with the respect that it needs and maintain it in a manner pleasing to thee. These blessings we pray for in Jesus name, Amen.