Reflections of the Temple

The other day I was driving by the Boise temple.  I always like to look and see what kind of progress they are making on the renovation.  It got me thinking about the different temples I've been to in my life and the impact they have had on me.  The temple is a special place where my spirit feels at home. When I think of it I have feelings of peace and a desire to go there.  I have taken for granted that we live so close to a temple.  Now that it is unavailable to us for a while I find myself missing the opportunity to go.  I look forward to it's completion so we can go to the open house and dedication with our kids and also so I can start going on a regular basis. I love the feelings I have when I am there.  I feel closer to the Lord and I feel a peace and rest from the burdens that can come from this mortal life.  I am reminded of my purpose on this earth and what the Lord expects of me and the blessing that can be mine as I keep my covenants.

Below I have a picture of all the temples that I have been to that are special to me in some way. They are listed in no particular order or preference.

Boise Temple- This is the most frequented temple for me.  We moved to Boise in 2002, a year after we were married.  It has been our temple for almost 10 years.  It is where I have experienced the the temple the most and for that reason it is special to me.

This is the Fresno, California temple.  It shares a parking lot with the stake center of the stake I grew up in.  It was built while I was away at college.  Even though it was built after I was gone from home I still have special feelings for it.  I was excited for all those members in the valley that used to have to travel several hours to get to the temple. ( I know that a few hours in nothing in comparison to members in other parts of the world.)  The summer after my first year of college was a challenging one for me, one of the hardest times in my life.  Towards the end of that summer I was able to go to the Fresno Temple to do baptisms with other single adults from my home ward.  I remember feeling the peace that I was needing during that difficult time in my life.  

The Oakland, California temple is one of my favorites.  Before the Fresno Temple was built this was the closest temple to us.  I remember my parents taking day trips there.  It is my first experience with the temple and that is why it is one of my favorites.   All through my time in YW's we would do our youth baptisms there.  I remember feelings of reverence not only in the temple but in the visitors center and walking around the grounds.  I knew the temple was special, sacred and important because of how I felt while I was there.    

The San Diego Temple is where Tyson and I were married on August 15, 2001.  We chose this temple because it was close to my parents who had moved to southern California while I was at school.  The day was a whirlwind of activity and emotion.  Honestly I can't remember much of what was said but I do remember how I felt.  As I've continued to go to the temple I understand and remember more about the covenants we made.  I love participating in sealings and being able to attend temple weddings because they remind me of the promises I made the day I was sealed to Tyson for time and all eternity.  I am able to listen without the nervous feelings of my wedding day that made it sort of a blur to me.  Since our wedding day, regularly going and having that repetition gives me more understanding each time I attend the temple.    

The Spokane Temple is a place of significance to Tyson and I.  He proposed to me on the lawn behind it.  I choose this picture because it taken during the evening which is the time Tyson proposed.  He drove me there blindfolded so I didn't know where we were.  He then led me out to the grass where he had prepared a place for me to sit.  After I sat down and he sang me a song on his guitar (while still blindfolded because he was a little nervous and embarrased.) he took off my blindfold and the first thing I see is the lights of the Spokane Temple.  It was a special night that started our journey to the temple together.  We attended the Spokane Temple the first year of our marriage so it is special to us in many ways.  

I've always known the temple was important and I am so grateful to have experiences at all these different temples.  I know the temple is a place where I can feel the spirit strengthening me and it can help me see things through my spiritual eyes, helping me keep an eternal perspective during my journey here in mortality.