LETTER THE EDITOR:Many thanks after an excellent first year

It has been just over a year since the formal dedication of the Newport Beach temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I would like to personally express my appreciation to the good people of Newport Beach for their part in its construction.

I would like to thank then-Mayor Tod Ridgeway, then-Councilman Steve Bromberg and the other members of the City Council for their assistance. I would like to thank everyone on the planning commission for seeing what a wonderful addition the temple would be to Newport Beach. I would also like to thank the great neighbors who participated in the process of obtaining the permits to build the temple. Though we did not agree on some aspects of the project, our year-long conversation resulted in a beautiful appearance, one that I find breathtaking and reminiscent of our wonderful California heritage.

I, with so many members of the church here in Orange County, am grateful to all who assisted in the process of building our temple.

Since the four-week open house that was attended by more than 170,000 visitors, members of the church have quietly and reverently entered the temple doors to participate in sacred ceremonies including baptism, confirmation, and others, most important, marriage for eternity.

In case you are not aware, I would like to invite any who are interested to come to the Family History Center at the church building adjacent to the temple to learn how to search out their ancestors. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday each week except holidays. Genealogists are there to assist people in learning how to research family history. If you would like to know more about how to search out your family, please come by. There is no fee for assistance beyond covering the costs of copying, etc.

So, a warm thank you to any and all who have participated in the process of building the temple. It is a joy to all the members of the church in Orange County and we hope a source of pride to all who live here.

WEATHERFORD CLAYTON

President

Newport Beach California Stake