Follow The Prophet – The Words & Deeds of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Place: Cebu, Philippines
Purpose: Cebu Temple Dedication and Celebration

Last weekend President Monson visited Cebu, Philippines, for the dedication and celebration of the new Cebu City Philippines Temple.  The Cebu Temple is the 133rd temple in the worldwide church.  The Deseret News reports:

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.”

Read more about the dedication and celebration at the following links:
Deseret News – Mormon President Thomas S. Monson arrives to dedicate Cebu City Philippines Temple
LDS Newsroom – Cebu City Philippines Temple Dedicated

Place: Thatcher, Arizona
Purpose: Gila Valley Temple Dedication Celebration

Yesterday President Monson was in Thatcher, Arizona, for the dedication celebration of the Gila Valley Temple.  Thousands of LDS youth depicted the history of the area through singing, dancing, and the spoken word.  President Monson presided at the celebration:

President Monson stopped on his way into the stadium to address the crowd. “I love these big events,” he said. “No one in the First Presidency or the Twelve advocate these big events more than Tom Monson.”…

To the delight of the audience, President Monson and President Eyring sang “Aya En El Rancho Grande” in Spanish.

Speaking to the audience during the program, President Monson said the Gila Valley Arizona Temple is the reason for the gathering.

“It shines as a beacon of righteousness to all who will follow its light,” he said.

To read more about the celebration in Arizona, see the link below:
Deseret News – Youths celebrate Gila Valley Temple in Arizona

Place: Provo, Utah
Purpose: Dedicating Zions Bank Financial Center

Yesterday, President Monson dedicated the Zions Bank Financial Center in Provo, Utah.  Many elected officials, business leaders, and Utah county residents were in attendance at the event.  The Deseret News reports:

“May it ever be a bright and shining star in the business community of Provo, and may its influence extend far and wide,” President Monson said of the new headquarters for Zions Bancorp’s central Utah region.

In addition to offering a dedicatory prayer, President Monson told those in attendance about some of his boyhood experiences in Utah County and also reaffirmed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ confidence in the bank.

“You can rest assured that this church doesn’t put its investments and its confidence in anything that isn’t stable, honorable and (having) a record of performance and integrity,” he said.

See the link below for more information:
Deseret News – President Thomas S. Monson dedicates Zions Bank Financial Center

Place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Purpose: Temple dedication

Over the weekend, President Monson was in Vancouver, Canada, to dedicate the new temple there, the 131st temple of the Church.  The Church News reports:

President Monson placed mortar in the cornerstone then asked others to do the same.

“You look like a good boy,” President Monson told Ashton Bates, 9. He added, “You are going on a mission. Have your mother remember that.”

See more about the dedication at the following links:

Vancouver British Columbia Temple: Church’s 131st temple dedicated
President Monson dedicates Vancouver LDS temple