8-8-13

{Temple Tour 2013}

Can you imagine anything more amazing than spending a day in (or at) four different Temples with these five teens and your sister? This was the first thing we planned when Annie and the girls decided to visit. With five of our kids old enough for a Temple Recommend, a Temple Tour was a for sure. My mom was so sweet to come and spend the day with Gavin, Lance, and Hayden so we could do this. We started at the Temple we can see across the valley from our house, the Mount Timpanogos Temple...


The Temple workers were so kind and happy to have us there...

Afterwards, they posed for a wet hair picture and we made our way over the Suncrest Loop to Draper...

We knew the Draper Temple was closed for summer maintenance, but since we were driving right by it anyway, we stopped for a picture...


Next, it was on to Salt Lake where these beauties posed for a picture on their way out of the baptistry...

With the baptistry being underground, to get there in the Salt Lake Temple you go to a special door right in the middle of Temple Square. The Temple Worker inside buzzes you in when you ring the bell. We loved being in the Salt lake Temple together. The architecture and details are incredible. While we waited we looked around and talked about how amazing it was that so many early Saints worked and sacrificed for 40 years to build this Temple. We were humbled to attend and do the work that was intended for this Holy Place. While we were in the confirmation room the Temple Workers took more time than usual with us and explained the importance of the work we were doing and encouraged the kids to continue doing their own family history. A funny little part of that was that there was this very elderly gentleman assisting and he slept pretty much the whole time, bless his heart. A couple of times Annie and I weren't sure if he was still breathing. I am thankful for all of those good Temple Workers who give their own time to serve in the Temple.




When we were finished at the Salt lake Temple it was time to feed this hungry bunch. Today is Ricky's birthday, so we met him in Sandy for lunch at Firehouse Subs. Over lunch we told him about our day so far and talked about which Temple we would go to last. We knew we only had time for one more because Trent had to work tonight and Brant was leaving on a 3 day river rafting trip with the Scouts. The Jordan River Temple was right across the interstate from where we were having lunch, but all the kids wanted to drive a few more minutes to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. This is Riley's favorite Temple and Brant had never been there before. It really is so beautiful and ended up being their favorite Temple of the day. Partly because Trent met a cute girl there and the girls said they saw some "attractive" boys. At this Temple, Annie and I dropped them off in the baptistry and did some initiatories of our own. And that is another reason that today was so special. Annie took our Grandma Jeannie's name through the intitiatory in preparation for her endowment and sealing. It was a special time for us and we were so grateful to our momma for letting us do that for our Grandma and for babysitting the littler ones. This is one of those days that I'm sure each of them will always remember.



At about 3 o'clock, we hurried home for Trent to get ready for work and Brant to meet his Scout Troop. Annie and the girls had plans to spend the evening with Bryan's Aunt and Uncle so what was left of our group, Mimi, Riley, Lance, Gavin, and me, met Ricky at Texas Roadhouse to celebrate his birthday! Look how excited he was to "ride the bull"...

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