Temple Square

Because we don't live in Utah anymore, it is a priority to come visit Temple Square every time we come to the Beehive State. More than anything, I want my children to remember the magnificence of Temple Square and the significance of it as members of the church. It was a picture perfect day to visit the square.

We walked all around the square, looked at the tallest church office building, all the beautiful flowers and fountains. We spoke to some missionaries from Sweden and Japan, which Nate happened to know a mission companion that knew this particular sister missionary. What a small world in the church! We saw the old tabernacle, and looked across the street at the new Conference Center. We visited the Joseph Smith Building, where we got to see the new Joseph Smith movie. It was a brilliant production, as Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother, narrated the story from her perspective. Very moving! The kids loved it on the huge massive theater screen. We also got to eat lunch at the Lion House, a tradition when going to Temple Square.

Jaxton made the observation that this fountain looked like a Temple. What a creative little man. This fountain faces the temple, and I'm sure that they made it look this way to mimic the temple shape.

The boys were very excited that they were able to touch the Temple Doors. Grandma and Grandpa explained to them how we cannot go inside, but that we can touch the doors. So they went up all the stairs and what a memory to touch the doors of the temple. Jaxton gave a talk a few weeks later on the topic of "Preparing to go to the temple someday." He shared in his talk how he went to the temple in Utah and with his Grandma and Grandpa, he was able to touch the temple doors. In his talk he shared that he will choose the right and prepare so that someday he can actually go inside those temple doors. It was very sweet as he recalled that memory of touching the doors of the temple with his Grandparents.

We also went inside the visitor's center to see the tall Christus. The kids have never seen it before, and it was a very special, reverent moment. As we rounded the ramp that goes around and around up to where the Christus stands, the kids became more reverent. I'm sure they were able to feel the reverent spirit that was there. We sat down to look at the figure of Christ and they were quiet as His words were spoken out of the speakers. Afterward, we went up and they could see the marks in His hands and feet, just like we have talked about and looked at pictures about for so long. It was a special moment for them that I think they will remember.