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Show driven out of Nauvoo they crossed the plains and came 1,500 miles to this country in the mountains. We thank Thee for the prophecy of Joseph Smith given on the shore of the Mississippi River, August 6,1842: "I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, and many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors, or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go assist in making settlements and building cities, and seethe saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Roclcy Mountains." And Oh Father, this promise has become fulfilled, with more than 120 stakes and over 1,100 wards from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south. With a temple in Canada, with a great temple in Salt Lake City, and others in Logan, St. George, Manti, Arizona, and on the far off Island of Hawaii, and plans for two more temples, one in California and another in Idaho. Our hearts go out in gratitude for the wonders with which Thou hast blessed the people, and thank Thee for the faith of the people here in remodeling this building, for the good fellowship here, and we thank Thee for the authority of the Holy Priesthood of the living God. I dedicate this ground upon which this building stands,and the surrounding land, and all the materials used in its construction from its foundation to its roof, and the furnishings and fixtures, all to be used for holy purposes. Inspire those who speak and teach here. Bless the children and the teachers that they may instil! in the hearts of the people of the love of the Savior and of the Gospel of Thy Son Jesus Christ. Help us as we grow in years, and increase our understanding that our minds may never become darkened. Strengthen our faith, may we grow in good deeds, may our lives bear witness to the truths of the Gospel. Dismiss us now with Thy blessings. We dedicate this building by the authority of the living God, and in the name of our Redeemer. Amen.39 The building was completed at a cost of $28,151.42, sixty percent ofwhich was paid by the Church and forty percent by the stake. Of the forty percent paid by the stake, the Morgan Ward paid sixty-two and one-half percent while the rest of the wards paid the balance of thirty-seven and one-half percent.40 Throughout President Randall's tenure, the stake maintained a vigorous building program. Interestingly, all stake buildings were insured, a practice not used today. Years of the Great Depression Because of speculation and highly extended credit the stock market crashed in October 1929. The entire nation was thrown into a state of economic depression. Industrial expansion ceased, businesses and banks closed while agricultural markets dried up. Between 1929 and 1932, President Herbert Hoover tried to stabilize the country, but his efforts were not very successful. Concern over the depression by the Saints in Morgan is first mentioned at stake quarterly conference on 21 and 22 June 1930. At the stake conference 128 |