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

As he prepared for the dedication the Feather River California Temple, Elder Ulisses Soares was deeply touched by the story involving the purchase of the temple site.

In the early 1970s, the property was owned by the family of Mehar Tumber, a devout Sikh, and used for growing peaches.

Tumber was not looking to sell the property — but did so willingly when Church representatives asked about its availability for the purpose of building a house of worship. Tumber was known as a man of great spirituality and faith.

“He had the biggest smile on his face and was so happy,” remembered a daughter when Mehar Tumber announced he had sold the property to the Church. “He thought it was a blessing to have a religious organization … as an anchor to our property.”

The property first used for a stake center, which was removed to make way for the temple, is now home to a house of the Lord. Another meetinghouse was built next door.

Heavenly Father was watching over this sacred ground, said Elder Soares, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“In His omniscience, the Lord knew the end from the beginning, and He was well aware that one day a sacred temple would be erected in this area which would bless thousands of His children throughout generations in this region. I am sure the Lord facilitated this process and provided what was needed to build His house in this location,” The Apostle said. “We are grateful for the Tumber family’s graciousness toward our Church and for their being instruments in the Lord’s hand in this marvelous endeavor.”

To read the full article, CLICK HERE