2008 Formal Re-dedication
of the People's House
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The formal re-dedication of the Utah State Capitol was broadcast from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. The ceremony’s program was based on the program used during the original dedication. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's performance includeed an Anthem for a New Year titled “Into Light”. The music for this anthem was written by local songwriter Kurt Bestor and the lyrics came from a poem specially written for this celebration by Utah’s Poet Laureate Katharine Coles. Music was also heard by the International Children’s Choir, Utah Symphony Orchestra, Bells on Temple Square, 23rd Army Band and the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir School. The dedication was done by the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley. 
Speakers included Governor Jon M. Huntsman, David Hart, chief architect of the project, Christine M. Durham, Chief Justice of Utah’s Supreme Court, John Valentine, President of Utah’s Senate, and Greg Curtis, Utah’s Speaker of the House. The First Lady also lead Utah’s school children in an inaugural bell ringing, signifying the reopening of the Capitol. A fireworks show brought the celebration to a climactic end.
New Year Anthem
"Into Light"
Dark of the year, morning comes slow.
Light rises pale. Hard frost rings.
The earth's a deep beast asleep under snow,
A deep beast turning all night in our dreams.
Pleasures of morning, in this slow light
Falling like snow and raising sky's dome
We gather here, all hushed and quiet,
Hushing as winter comes into this room.
From earth's deep places, the strength of the hills,
Deer come out to drink from the stream.
Wait for the ringing, the voice's clear bell,
The sun at its height, lifted into its dream --
And then it breaks -- do you remember
How the ice breaks in the spring of the year,
How the deer come to drink clear water
And the earth turns, returning us here?
So we return to the pleasures of waking.
Dawn rises slow; the night falls away
As dreams fall from us: so we are taken
Back from ourselves and into the day.
Lift us again, moon for the season.
From its warm nest the bird breaks into flight.
Set loose we spin with earth into blue,
Heaven's dome turning us back into light.
Katharine Coles, PhD
Poet Laureate of Utah