Draper Temple Open House

A few weeks ago we were able to take a tour of the newest temple in Utah before its dedication. I was excited to show the boys what the inside of a temple looks like, especially since they are always so excited to point out the temples they see on the drive to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

A shot before the temple...a rare glimpse of McKenna in a headband. She pulled it off about two minutes into our drive to Draper.

The tour started at a chapel where the missionaries showed us a brief video about temples. After the film we loaded into a chartered bus and it took us up to the temple. The boys were extremely excited to take a bus ride.

And like all temples, everything about it was gorgeous. They give you a brochure that explains the temple and contains pictures of certain rooms. Derek carried that pamphlet and used it like a map. He got excited when he found a room that matched one of the pictures. I had to remind him to stop worrying about the "map" and look at the temple. The boys asked questions about what certain things were for, but it cracked me up when Derek pointed to a crystal vase on a random table, in a random hallway and asked "What is that for?". We took a minute and sat in the Celestial Room and looked around. As we were leaving McKenna pointed up at the chandelier and said "ooh, ooh, ooh" several times. It was sweet... and reverent (don't worry). After the tour we walked down a long covered path to a church across the street. The gym was decorated with displays of other temples and a table full of cookies and water.

Inside the chapel's cultural hall.

It was cold and windy outside and it was hard getting the kids to smile. Here's the best shot we could get.

During the bus ride back to the church, I asked the boys what part of the tour was their favorite. Taylor said "I like the place with all the bull things. The baptism." Derek said "when we got to see the part where people get married in there, and the cookie place, and the baptismal font". Apparently he thinks that the temple passes out cookies. :) It was a neat experience to share with my little family. I am curious to see how much they will remember. I can't wait for the day, many years from now, when we can all enter a (dedicated) temple together.