The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE

As President Russell M. Nelson concluded the prayer dedicating the site of the future Ephraim Utah Temple on Saturday, Aug. 27, rain began to fall.

The rain continued as the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others turned the soil.

Jude Price — who has deep Sanpete Valley family roots and is President Nelson’s first cousin once removed — watched the rain and immediately claimed to know the source. As President Nelson left the groundbreaking ceremony, she yelled out to him: “These are the tears of joy of our ancestors,” she said.

Moments later, the heavens opened, and the sprinkles of rain became a downpour.

President Nelson’s participation in the groundbreaking ceremony was a surprise to those gathered for the ceremony. In contrast to the pomp and circumstances that usually would greet a surprise guest of his stature, however, the prophet’s arrival was met with reverence, sacred silence and many tears.

President Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, were accompanied by Elder Walter F. González, a General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Zulma González; and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Nancy Duncan. In addition, Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox and Ephraim Mayor John Scott and other state, county and city officials participated in the ceremony.

Turning his thoughts to a “stalwart part of the Lord’s vineyard” in central Utah, President Nelson announced a temple in Ephraim on May 1, 2021. The temple will stand less than 10 miles from the Manti Utah Temple, located in a neighboring community along Utah’s pioneer corridor.

The area has great personal significance to President Nelson. “My dear mother was born in Ephraim, a short ways away from where we stand today. My father was born in Manti. Three of my four grandparents were born here in Ephraim. All eight of my great-grandparents lived in Ephraim. All were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their native countries of England, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.”

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