Last week we took the kids to visit the new Temple built in Draper, Utah. This was a special opportunity for our kids to visit the inside of a temple as children rarely go inside Temples. Temples are different than the chapels we attend for services on Sunday and activities during the week. They are used for special occasions such as marriages and "sealing" families together for the next life as well as a place where members can learn more about and formally commit to follow Jesus Christ and his example. Before a Temple is 'dedicated' an open house is hosted for the media and anyone from the community to tour the building.
Temples are always beautiful buildings, carefully constructed and decorated. We believe that they are the house of God - a place where we can go to quietly meditate and communicate with Him. I have personally had beautiful experiences in temples where I have felt, through peaceful and happy feelings in my heart, that God knows me and wants what's best for me and my family. Above is a picture of 'the Celestial Room' - a room that symbolizes Heaven and the opportunity we have to be there with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and all of the people we loved in this life.
This room is "the Bride's Room" - a room where the Bride puts on her wedding dress and prepares for her wedding with the help of her mother or chosen friend. I have to admit I got teary walking in that room with my girls (which caused them to roll their eyes at me). I remember dressing Catherine in her little white dress as a baby for her blessing day and thinking about what it would be like to help her dress in her white wedding dress one day - just as my mom helped me.Here is a link to a really lovely, brief video explaining more about temples.
After touring the building we took pictures outside.
David eating his cookie he received afterwards.This new temple is built on a mountain bench in the southeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley. Gorgeous views. To accommodate the thousands of people touring the temple each day, they have official parking at nearby chapels with shuttles up to the temple.
On the way down I asked each of the kids what their favorite parts were:Emma: the Bride's dressing room
Catherine: the Bride's dressing room and the baptismal font
David: "riding the bus." me: "what else did you like?" David: "riding the other bus."
Spencer: the cookie. (I think he liked other parts too, but he was eating his cookie when I asked him.)
4 comments:
What a fun day! I just have to say a couple things; one is that I love that Spencer has started wearing ties and the other is that my company filmed our infomercial at a house across the street from that temple. It's very pretty.
:) :) :) :) one for each of my very special grandchildren.
We just got back from the temple. What a beautiful temple it is. The detail was amazing. It was such a sweet experience having the kids there with us. They have never been so reverent as they were today. I admit I got all teared up in the sealing room. I loved sitting there with Mike and all the kids thinking of our eternal family.
Looks like you hit a prettier day than we did. I loved how light it was inside the temple but I bet sunlight would make the rooms sparkle!
Isn't it wonderful to be there with our children? And your comment about the Bride's room was similar to what I experienced (except Maddie didn't roll her eyes...she isn't old enough to do that yet :-)).
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