“At the close of the dedication we raised our voices in the united shout of Hosanna to God And the Lamb which entered the Heavens to the joy And consolation of our hearts.” — Wilford Woodruff¹

While the Nauvoo Temple had been dedicated in parts since the baptistry was dedicated in 1841, the final formal dedication began on April 30th, 1846. That evening, a private dedication service has held with 30 men in attendance. Apostle Orson Hyde was among those in attendance, as he had been assigned to oversee the completion of the temple after the Saints began to leave Nauvoo. During the dedication the gathered men sung hymns, said prayers, and shouted "Hosanna to God and the Lamb". Immediately after, the group assembled in the attic of the temple and shared refreshments. Following the private dedication, public dedications were held on May 1, 2, and 3. Tickets to these public dedications could be purchased for a dollar. Despite many Latter-day Saints having already left Nauvoo heading westward across Iowa, the dedication services were well-attended, showing the Saints' love for the House of the Lord.²

1. Journal (January 1, 1845 – December 31, 1846), Wilford Woodruff Papers, Page 237-238

2. The Dedication of the Temple, BYU Religious Studies Center