Draper Temple Open House

Utah's 12th Temple


At the Church for refreshments after the tour (the decorations were not that of your typical Relief Society function.)

All tuckered-out on the ride home. Brett does make a great pillow.

Cameron showing a little bit of the Brett attitude.


It was nice to take the boys to the Open House for the Draper Temple. I'm glad they can see the inside, so it doesn't seem so "secretive" to them. We had a Family Night on Monday about Temples and the boys were really excited for Wednesday. Brett and Nat rode with us (thanks guys, you're always great to entertain the kids!!!). There was quite a wait at the church to even get on the bus, so after driving from the "blue" church to the "yellow" church, which actually was the "red" church (it really is amazing how organized it all is), we got right in and they had a nice video presentation. Elder Holland's remarks about heaven not being heaven without his wife and kids was wonderful. The boys loved the bus ride to the temple and they were thrilled with the baptismal font. Cameron kept his arms in front of Spencer as we walked in front of it so Spence "won't fall in". It was cute.
It was a beautiful building, but I was distracted by the throngs of people walking on the squeaky vinyl mats, not to mention the smell of the vinyl. I couldn't help but try to calculate how many feet of vinyl they had to lay, and thought of the poor guy unrolling all of it. I am easily distracted at times.....hey, wanna go ride bikes?
I was actually kind of disappointed in my feelings as we walked through. As I thought about it later I realized that although it is a beautiful building, as I saw it, that's all it was. The important part of the temple isn't the beauty of the African wood or the amazing chandeliers, it's the ordinances that are performed after it is dedicated. So I am sure my feelings will be different when I return after it is dedicated (and all the vinyl is removed).

I asked the boys some questions the next day
mom:"Why do we go to the temple?"
Spencer:"a bus" (He LOVED the "school bus" that took us to the temple)
Cam:"to be baptized and get married"

Mom: "What do we do at the temple?"
Spencer:"You get baptized at the temple"
Cam:"you have to have a recommend and you get married"

Mom:"What was your favorite part of the temple"
Spencer:"where you get baptized" (he's got the baptism thing down)
Cam:"the place that's supposed to be heaven" (even now, a week later, he is talking about the Celestial room--the chandelier truly was amazing)