The Draper Temple was dedicated yesterday, and I was able to watch the final session through broadcast yesterday. The last temple dedication I went to was the Columbus temple, and I couldn't help compare experiences.
Temples are amazing. The work, the ordinances, the covenants...The very fact that the temple is the house of the Lord, is incredible. One of the speakers quoted a prominent leader of another faith that went through the open house and said, "Being in the Celestial room is like sitting in God's living room." I wonder if he realized how true that statement is.
When I went to the Columbus temple, I was maybe 14. I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive one of the few tickets that were given to our ward in order to go inside the temple for the dedication. We were directed to a sealing room, where we sat quietly looking at the small television screen that would broadcast the session from the Celestial room when an usher came up to the four of us and asked us to follow him. I was afraid that we had done something wrong and were maybe going to have to leave the temple altogether. But the usher instead took us to the Celestial room, where President Hinckley would be to do the dedication. We were seated at the very back row - but the Columbus temple is one of the smaller temples and even at the back row, we could see the Prophet and those that accompanied him to the dedication. The choir was amazing, and I remember that there were people from not only my home stake, but my home ward and I was so proud to see that. As a ward, we had helped harvest the lilies that were planted in front of the temple. There was so much work and so much pride and enthusiasm for having a temple built in Ohio. To this day, the Columbus temple is my very favorite. I love it, and I think particularly it is because I witnessed it being dedicated to the Lord. I was there as it transformed from a beautiful building to a place where sacred covenants were made and ordinances performed.
I have only seen the Draper temple from a distance, as I drive on I-15 and pass by. Like the Columbus temple, it is a beautiful building. But more than that - it is a building where saving ordinances will be done, where people will be married. My friend Katy, in fact, has chosen Draper (last I heard) as the temple where she and her affianced will be sealed for time and eternity. The dedication was beautiful. We sat in the Marriott Center with hundreds of people and were told that the Marriott Center was to be treated as though it were an extension of the temple. Immediately, the place - filled - was near to silent. The reverence exuded from the place, and the spirit of peace flowed throughout. It's hard to describe the thrill that goes through you as you watch hundreds of white handkerchiefs float through the air during the Hosanna shout, and then knowing that people were doing the same thing throughout the state of Utah at the same time the Prophet and other apostles were as well.
It was magnificent. We are so lucky to live in this day and age where there are 129 operating temples around the world and 146 total (currently under construction and announced included). For more stats go here.
You're awesome Shelli. Thanks for your post in helping me remember what's so important in life. Being at David and Leticia's sealing on the day of mine and Joshua's anniversary of five years will be an experience I'll not soon forget. I'm so grateful for the Columbus Ohio temple too, and I need to go there more often. In fact, I think I'll call there right now to set up an apt.
ReplyDeleteI remember the dedication too...I believe we were sitting right next to one another, and I'll always remember that sacred moment when we realized where we were. Awesome..that's what it was. Love you cousin!