September 13, 2012

I have been looking forward to this day for weeks.  We reserved our tour at the new Brigham City Temple (thought nobody ever asked to see it and there were many people there without tickets for those wanting to go).  When we did the only time left available was for 8:15 am.  So instead of waking up and waking all our kids at 5:00. so we could drive the two hours there, we decided to make a real event of it and spend the night in a hotel.  So after Kate was done with school we packed everyone in the car and made the drive.  Everyone was in such a good mood and excited.
We stayed at the Days Inn.  When we arrived in Brigham City we stopped for dinner, and everyone again was so well behaved  Then we went and drove around. "There is the NEW temple"  Sam kept saying. He seemed the most interested.   Then we went to our hotel and tried to go to sleep.  Sleeping in a hotel room with three kids is never perfect, but it went well enough and we slept until almost 7:30. Then we quickly got dressed and grabbed the free hotel breakfast.
We drove to the parking lot where buses where busing people in.  The kids were super excited about riding the bus too.  And the kids looked adorable.  Sam by choice packed his purple bow tie, surprisingly because he hates ties, I even packed a back up set of clothing in something I was sure would not be a fight.  But he didn't argue and wore his church clothes proudly.  Kate too was proud of her clothing and kept pointing out to everyone that she and her baby sister "were not twins, but just had matching dresses, sweaters and leggings on" .
We arrived at the temple.
It is small and in the middle of the downtown area.
It is straight up, and bright white.
The tour started with a video in the garage.  As we sat the children were well behaved again.  Kate kept repeating the directions the bus escort had told us- "to be reverent, to only get on the "B" bus"
As the video ended Sam asked me "is Jesus behind that door"
My little boy has such faith.  I tried to explain to him that we would not see Jesus today.
I wish Sam, I wish.
He seemed disappointed.  After all we are always telling him the temple is Jesus's house.
I tried to explain to both Kate and Sam that though it is Jesus' house, it is rare to see him,   But that if they were quiet and listened they could hear him through the Holy Ghost.
Kate repeated that was what she learned that "the Holy Ghost could teach her if she was reverent" later tonight.
The tour continued. and we walked with our children into each room of the temple, trying to explain to them and share with them a special moment.
Kate was quiet most the time.  And finally got excited when we entered the Celestial Room.  Because there were very sparkly chandeliers, and she thought they were beautiful, and kept pointing them out to me.
I think my favorite thing was hearing about the peach blossoms and how they are integrated into all the decor, the carpet, the furniture, the paintings, the windows, because the area is know for peaches.  I tried to remember if I have noticed any other temples having so much local details.
Then we went outside and looked around.  The kids loved the fountain no surprise.
We took some pictures, and got back on the bus.  We were only there for less than 2 hours.
It made me really glad that we had made more of an event of it.  Maybe the kids will remember our temple trip a little more as it was more of an event than a quick trip.
I couldn't help from tearing up thinking about how special the day was to me.  Special to be in the temple with all my kids, and hoping that we can continue to be in the temple as a whole family again and again as they turn into adults.