On February 15, 2014, our family had the amazing opportunity to go to the Gilbert Temple Open House in Gilbert, Arizona. It is such a beautiful temple! We have been wanting to take our kids to a temple open house for a couple of years now and we knew this would be a great opportunity since we have family that lives so close to this temple. Daren's sister Julene lives in Gilbert and my brother Matt lives in Goodyear, about an hour away. So when the Church announced the open house dates and we saw that the last weekend was a 4 day weekend for us, we decided to make the trip. I was extra excited to find out that the Gilbert Temple is the largest temple the church has built in 17 years. All the temples are beautiful but I was excited to show the kids a really big one.
The day finally came to go to the temple. As we drove up and saw all the cars and the many people lined up and the beautiful temple in the background of it all, I just felt my emotions starting to overflow and I could feel the tears starting to come. I was extremely excited to be inside the temple with my husband and all of our children. I am not someone who likes to cry in front of people so it has been very distressing for me how easily I cry these days! Luckily, the excitement took over and my emotions settled back down.
We crossed the parking lot and got into line. We waited for about 15 minutes or so until it was time to go into the new stake center that was built next to the temple. Inside the chapel they showed a video that explained the history of temples in Arizona and explained the different rooms in the temple and what they were used for. They said the idea was to answer most questions outside of the temple. Quick questions inside were okay but for the most part they wanted it to be very quiet as we went through the temple. There was also a place when you finished the tour to go and ask more questions.
After we exited the stake center, the line moved very quickly. Just before we entered the temple, there were several youth lined up to cover our feet with special slippers so we wouldn't get the temple carpets dirty. Even Avery got her feet covered with the white booties.
The inside of the temple was so beautiful! I loved hearing the oohs and aahs of the kids. My favorite part was showing them the mirrors in the sealing room and how they showed our family being eternal. We picked up the ones that were a little too short so they could see themselves go on and on forever in the mirrors. The Celestial Room was a close second favorite.
After we finished the tour we went around the outside of the temple and took some pictures. The babies were getting a little fussy so we left for the day. But the next morning before church, we went back and took more pictures without the huge crowds.
I asked each of the kids to write down or tell me about their experience going to the temple.
Natalee: I felt very peaceful and happy and wanted to cry which I held back 'cause I was wearing mascara.
Haylee: While I was in the temple I wouldn't stop smiling even though the foot covers were annoying.
Mackenzie: When we went to the temple I felt the Spirit very strongly. I felt closer to my family.
Kelsey: I felt like I was gonna cry and like I was so happy. I felt like I was with Jesus. And I felt like there was a lot of what I missed. And I liked that there was a lot of beauty there. It was so good! I felt like I was about to cry.
Nathan: There was that thing with just water in it. I liked it.
I just feel like I need to end this blog post by bearing my testimony of the temple. I am so grateful for God's plan of happiness. I am grateful for the family that he has blessed me with, immediate and extended, and I know that His plan is for us to be together forever and that He gave us temples to make that happen. I know I need to get to the temple more often because everything in my life just goes better when I worship in the temple. Being in the temple isn't just for the future. It gives me the strength to better handle all the things going on in my life now. I love the temple and I'm so grateful we were able to take our children to the see the Gilbert Temple!
 |
| Ami, Matt, and Leah |
 |
| Jeff, Julene, and Sam |
 |
| February 16, 2014 |
