Ogden Temple Open House

Back in August we had a chance to go to the Ogden temple open house.  I'm so glad we went.  We haven't been to an open house since Brigham City and that visit was so hot and crowded that our memories aren't entirely pleasant.  So, I wanted to create new positive memories of a temple open house.  We went earlier in the day in the middle of the week so that it wouldn't be too busy.  We started at the newly remodeled tabernacle and pretty much went right into the temple after that.  We stopped a few times during the tour but at least we were inside and cool.

It was so beautiful inside.  I loved the glass and the wood work.  I loved the dome in the celestial room and the neat lights that look like street lights on the floor.  I saw an amazing painting on our way upstairs.  Everyone I talked to noticed it.  It was a black woman in white kneeling in prayer.  It was so striking and beautiful.  I loved it.  I didn't even have to ask which painting my mom was talking about when she mentioned that she saw a beautiful painting.  I wish I could post a picture of it here but I couldn't find it online.

The tour was wonderful and we stopped outside by the fountain when it was over.  A volunteer was nice enough to take some pictures for me.

 One with the temple in the background...

 And one close up.  Brigham wore his headphones so that he wouldn't have to cover his ears.  It was a lot easier to hold his hand instead of holding his elbow.

 It was a beautiful day.  Slightly overcast and not too hot.

 They enjoyed looking at the fountain for a while.

After the fountain we went in the little information tent and looked around.  There was a status of Jesus inside.  I wish I had taken a picture.  It was a nice visit and the boys were good.

After that we went to lunch at Wendy's in Ogden.  When we were done I tried to get back on the freeway but apparently that's impossible.  After taking a few unfortunate detours made all the more confusing because of construction, I finally just drove down a main road until I got to another, less confusing, on ramp.  It lengthened our drive time by a half an hour or so.  I was getting frustrated and Nathaniel was worried that it had ruined our wonderful trip to the temple.  I had to laugh, it was frustrating, but honestly I had forgotten it until now.  The trip was great overall.

We took our trip while Jaaromy was in New York for a week starting his new job.  He was nice enough to travel all the way to the Manhattan temple for me and took these awesome pictures.

 He tried a couple of selfies but I made him keep trying until he got this one right.

I love it that there is a temple in New York.  Such a contrast.

I love temples, they are such a blessing.  I have craved the peace I get when I go.  This has been a hard year for me and going to the temple as often as I can has really helped me feel peace.  I can tell when it's been too long and I need to go again.  I do my best to make time because I can't do it without the blessings of the temple.