This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Having served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland, Bountiful resident Sheldon McConkie was eager to watch a televised broadcast Sunday of the country's new temple. The dedication, originally held Sunday morning in Helsinki, was led by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. A re-broadcast of the ceremony was held at several locations in Salt Lake City around 6 p.m. McConkie and his wife, Sirpa, who is of Finnish descent, were among about 500 people who filled the Little Theater at the Salt Lake City Conference Center to watch the broadcast. "It was great to see President Hinckley there and so vigorous in participation . . . we're so glad to see the facility dedicated and ready for use," McConkie said. There are more than 120 LDS Temples around the world, according to the church's Website, http://www.lds.org.

- Michael N. Westley