The First Presidency Prayed as the Fire Chief Toured the Boise Temple — and Granted Unlimited Occupancy

During the open house for the Boise Idaho Temple in 1984, Church officials faced a serious obstacle: the projected number of dedicatory attendees far exceeded Boise's fire safety occupancy limits.

Architect Ronald W. Thurber arranged a 10 a.m. tour with the city's fire chief. He notified Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Seventy, who agreed to come early. As the group gathered in the temple president's office beforehand, Elder Pinnock revealed that he had called the First Presidency that very morning about the challenge. The First Presidency had placed the matter on the prayer roll and would be praying for the tour in their weekly temple meeting — at the exact same hour as the fire chief's visit.

At 10 a.m. the fire chief arrived and was given a private, thorough tour. Afterward, he agreed to grant the temple a permit for unlimited occupancy, requiring only a few standard safety procedures.

When the group returned to the president's office to give thanks, Brother Thurber was asked to pray. He later said, 'I was in such tears I could hardly pray. The First Presidency had taken a particular issue and solved it by imploring the assistance of Heavenly Father.'

Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in Chad Hawkins, '6 Temple Miracles You've Never Heard Before,' LDS Living, September 16, 2022.):

During the open house for the Boise Idaho Temple in 1984, Church officials faced a serious obstacle: the projected number of dedicatory attendees far exceeded Boise's fire safety occupancy limits. Architect Ronald W. Thurber arranged a 10 a.m. tour with the city's fire chief. He notified Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Seventy, who agreed to come early. As the group gathered in the temple president's office beforehand, Elder Pinnock revealed that he had called the First Presidency that very morning about the challenge. The First Presidency had placed the matter on the prayer roll and would be praying for the tour in their weekly temple meeting—at the exact same hour as the fire chief's visit. At 10 a.m. the fire chief arrived and was given a private, thorough tour. Afterward, he agreed to grant the temple a permit for unlimited occupancy, requiring only a few standard safety procedures. When the group returned to the president's office to give thanks, Brother Thurber was asked to pray. He later said, 'I was in such tears I could hardly pray. The First Presidency had taken a particular issue and solved it by imploring the assistance of Heavenly Father.'