Draper Utah Temple Open House

A few weeks ago, Rick and I had the opportunity to go with my parents, my sister-in-law, Cheryl, and my little nephew, Logan, to the Draper Utah LDS Temple Open House. What an amazing experience! I'm so glad we went.

The temple is beautiful inside and out. We drove the back way from Utah County to Draper (not I-15) and it was so neat to come around a bend in the road and be able to look down to the valley and see the temple nestled in the mountains. The picture above is scanned in from the pamphlet that they give you to read while you're walking through the temple - it explains about the temple and gives descriptions of areas in the temple.

It was a really neat day. After you arrive at your assigned parking lot, you enter the church building for a few minutes to watch a short video about temples. Then you board a bus that drives you up to the temple. Then you get to go inside and you can't help but feel peaceful and calm. Even though the temple has not been dedicated, I felt the spirit so strong. When you are finished with the open house tour, you are led into the cultural hall of the church next to the temple for refreshments and the opportunity to ask any questions about temples and the LDS church. Then the bus takes you back to your parking lot.

While we were having our refreshments and looking at all of the beautiful pictures of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and reading different things about the temples, I was so overcome with emotion that I had to step out into the hall for a minute. I am just so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me - knows my trials, my strengths, my weaknesses - everything about me. I'm grateful for my (our) Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his willingness to atone for my sins. I know that He lived on this earth and that He still lives. I'm grateful for temples and that families can be together forever, not just in this life, but for all eternity. I'm grateful to be sealed to my parents and to my husband. I know that there is nobody else I'd rather spend all eternity with. I am grateful for the gospel in my life...it helps me to be happy and to get through the rough times.

If you happen to live in Utah, or plan on visiting Utah within the next month, I would encourage you to visit the Draper Utah Temple Open House. Here is a link to the Church's website to get tickets:

http://www.lds.org/temples/openhouseinfo/0,12357,1921-1-590-2,00.html

If you have questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples, or what we believe, here is a link to a website that can help to answer your questions:

http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/

I hope that you have the opportunity to attend and feel the peaceful, calm, and loving spirit present there.

Hope you have a great weekend! =)