What a special, beautiful day! We traveled to Brigham City where we were able to attend the third session of the Brigham City Temple Dedication.
I feel like this is my own personal temple because it was built in my hometown where I lived from when I was 3 years old. My Grandpa Coombs was the principal at Central Elementary which once sat where the temple now stands. The temple is full of local flavor which continually reminds me of home. The decor is graced with peach blossoms and local landscapes and history. There is also a painting of a woman picking apples (in the NE stairway) that resembles my Grandma Tams. It could be Grandma picking Wolf River apples with a purple ribbon in her hat.
This last June, my parents were called to be in the Brigham City temple presidency. The temple has become even more my own because of this. For months, we've heard stories about the construction, design, open house and cultural celebration preparations. My parents were our own private tour guides as we walked the halls of the temple open house. It has been a privilege to be a part of it, even if it has mostly been through my parent's experiences.
Because my parents spoke during the third session, Trent, Noah, Jonah and I were able to be seated in the fourth row of the Brigham City Temple Celestial Room. Kevin and Amy, Vickie and Calvin, Laurel, Nathan, Jackson, and Holly (my siblings and their families - We missed Julie and Joe who weren't able to attend) were also there with us. My dad was the first speaker and my mom followed. They both did such a great job! I was so proud of them. They both testified with power.
My parents were followed by Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder William Walker, President Boyd K. Packer, and then the dedicatory prayer written by President Packer, but read by Elder Russell Nelson. Singing The Spirit of God and then participating in the Hosanna Shout there in the Celestial Room was a singular, tender experience. The connection to my past and to this area was particularly strong as I used my handkerchief that I inherited from Grandma Coombs (in fact it still has a little of her lipstick that hasn't washed off) for the Hosanna Shout.
It was wonderful to be with my family and feel the spirit of family and of the temple. It was a really great day!
