On June 16 we decided to go on our monthly Temple trip. Amanda's Mom and sister were visiting so it worked out well. Danielle (her sister) watched Ella while Amanda, Sheri (her Mom), and I went to the Temple. We, being in the Jordan River Temple District and it being the closest Temple to us, decided to go there. We did not know that it was closed. At first we just thought the front entrance was closed, since that is what the sign said. It also told us to enter in by the back entrance. We went around to the back entrance and that is when we discovered it was closed.
Not knowing when another opportunity would arise to go to the Temple this month, we decided to go in search for another. Upon previous experience, I knew there was another Temple further West. So that is what we did. Turns out it was the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. (Anybody know how to pronounce that name? Please let me know.) Anybody recognize this Temple? It's new. In fact, right now is the Open House. This certainly would not do. Sure, it would be cool to go to the Open House but we weren't looking for that, we were looking to "attend" the Temple. So what did we do? Well, being in Utah and all, can you guess? We went in search of another Temple.
I knew the Draper Temple just opened but thought it was still by appointment only that you could attend. We decided that they wouldn't turn us away if we went so we did. The Draper Temple was on the opposite end of where we were. I had never been there but knew round about (very round about) where it was. I knew it was up along the mountains. I know, there are a lot of mountains here but let's give me the benefit of the doubt that I knew which mountains. (Even if I don't know the names of them.) I started heading that direction and could see something I thought was the Temple, but wasn't sure because of the lighting, it was during the early afternoon so "no" the Temple wasn't lit up like a beacon. Amanda called them and asked about needing an appointment and also the directions. (The address to the Draper Temple is a street name, not a grid coordinate, why they don't make things easy and stay with the grid system is beyond me, and my wife!) We were fairly close to it when she got them on the line. ...and given time I'm sure I could have figured it out. To make a long story short, this Temple was opened but... The next Session that was open wasn't until another hour or more and we had an appointment to get to that afternoon. We ended up doing some other work, which ended up cool because Sheri (Amanda's Mom) had some family names that she let me do.
All in all, I'm glad Utah has so many Temples and we were able, on the THIRD attempt, to keep our goal going strong!
I decided I wanted to add more.
One of my goals is to go to as many Temples as possible. I try to get the little Temple Schedules each Temples have available too. The Draper Temple's pamphlets were on order and were not available at the time so we'll have to go again, not just for the pamphlet but for pictures, to go other places in the Temple, and because it was just COOL! We didn't see the Oquirrh Mountain Temple up close, fairly close, only about a street away, but the Draper Temple is really stunning. I had the chance of walking around it. The houses there, oh, I mean MANSIONS, around the Temple are quite an eye catcher as well. The whole area was quite impressive, not unique for anywhere a Temple is placed though.
Everytime I type I don't feel like I get my meaning across and it bugs me. It is a big reason why I don't write/type more. I try to get over it though.
*DISCLAIMER* (I think that is what this is called.)
The pictures of the Temples were taken from LDS.org. Above the pictures of the Temples were directions on how to download the pictures themselves so I'm sure they are "ok" to use. I still wish I could put my own pictures up but alas, I didn't take any of the Temples. Yet, another project I would like to get done.
