This is the Temple at sunset.
This is the Temple entrance waiting room.
The temple was a great experience. We were in the celestial room. The dedication session was supposed to start at 9:00, but for some unknown reason it didn't start until 9:30. When the prophet and two apostles and a seventy and their wives walked into the room we could feel the spirit enter! After the choir sang the opening song, Pres. Monson spoke first about the role of laying the corner stone and how now it is just a symbolic tradition. He said some items were placed in a box in the corner stone already and now they were going to go down and place the mortar in it. We watched that ceremony done on TV. He and the apostles and their wives each had a turn. When he came to (I believe his name is Elder Carlos, the Seventy) he said "Now lets see you do it in Spanish". Which caused a chuckle from everyone. (Because there is no talking involved, just putting mortar in the crack) He let about 6-7 children have a try at it. He was then reminded that we need to keep on schedule, so he had to quit letting children come up. When they got back to the Celestial room the choir sang again. They were so good! There were only about 10-12 of them, but you would have thought they were the Tabernacle choir they sang so good and with great volume! The songs added to the feeling of the spirit. Elder Bednar and Elder Nelson spoke, then Pres. Monson gave the dedicatory prayer. After which Elder Bednar led us in the Hosanna shout. Then the choir sang the Hosanna shout and led us into singing "The spirit of God like a fire is burning". I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. We were trying to sing in between tears! It was just so over whelming! Christina (who rarely shows emotion) couldn’t stop weeping! It is a good thing the choir must have been trained well, because they just kept on singing so beautifully with such enthusiasm. It was just awe inspiring! After the closing prayer we all stood when the Prophet and others stood to leave. After they left the room it was like no one wanted to move. We just stood there, soaking in what we had just witnessed. It was really hard for Christina to leave, because she knew she wouldn't be able to feel of the spirit of the Temple for many years. She has enjoyed doing baptisms for the dead, but she was greatly touched by the spirit then. Everyone slowly started to leave and even in the quiet reverence of watching others leave the temple, you could still feel the magnitude of the special event we had just had the privilege of being a part of! Pres. Monson had mentioned at the beginning that this is his first official act as Prophet of the church. He also mentioned that Pres. Eyering wasn't there because he had broken his ankle earlier in the week and was told by his doctor to stay off of it. Also, that Sister Faust had died that morning or late Saturday night. We went to Brenda's for dinner in the evening after they had returned from their session of the dedication. She mentioned that Pres. Monson wasn't there. Elder Nelson read the prayer for him. We don't know why he wasn't there for that or the other sessions! We had a nice evening visiting with them and looking at their pictures from Hawaii. We were invited to go see Donny's new house. It is very nice.
On Monday, we relaxed until it was time to go to the Temple for the Endowment session. We got there at 11:30 in the morning. When we walked into the Temple there was a buzz of excitement as the officiators were busy trying to take care of the wedding/sealings that were going on. We saw two couples getting their wedding pictures taken as we were walking into the Temple. It was exhilarating to sit in the chapel and just look at the beautiful craftsmanship that has gone into making this Temple a house of the Lord. There was an added feeling of reverence (for me) during this session. The whole experience from start to finish was something I will always be grateful I was able to experience! Christina waited for us in the waiting room at the entrance of the Temple. Even the weather was perfect! (Can you imagine that in Rexburg!
:) ) It was foggy when we first arrived on Sunday, but by the time they were doing the corner stone the fog was already starting to lift. As the day wore on it was bright and sunny. A beautiful day all around. The temperature was even above freezing (in the high 30's or low 40's). Same with Monday, without the fog. The roads were great to travel on. So, all in all, it was a wonderful weekend. One we won't soon forget!
Great Grandma Brough with Olivia Elise.
Anthony, Olivia, Christina, and Savannah. Such family togetherness!
Savannah loves her baby sister Olivia! Look how cute she is with her eyes open!
Look at this proud Grandpa!
Of course a proud Grandma!
This is the Temple at sunset.
This is the Temple entrance waiting room.
The temple was a great experience. We were in the celestial room. The dedication session was supposed to start at 9:00, but for some unknown reason it didn't start until 9:30. When the prophet and two apostles and a seventy and their wives walked into the room we could feel the spirit enter! After the choir sang the opening song, Pres. Monson spoke first about the role of laying the corner stone and how now it is just a symbolic tradition. He said some items were placed in a box in the corner stone already and now they were going to go down and place the mortar in it. We watched that ceremony done on TV. He and the apostles and their wives each had a turn. When he came to (I believe his name is Elder Carlos, the Seventy) he said "Now lets see you do it in Spanish". Which caused a chuckle from everyone. (Because there is no talking involved, just putting mortar in the crack) He let about 6-7 children have a try at it. He was then reminded that we need to keep on schedule, so he had to quit letting children come up. When they got back to the Celestial room the choir sang again. They were so good! There were only about 10-12 of them, but you would have thought they were the Tabernacle choir they sang so good and with great volume! The songs added to the feeling of the spirit. Elder Bednar and Elder Nelson spoke, then Pres. Monson gave the dedicatory prayer. After which Elder Bednar led us in the Hosanna shout. Then the choir sang the Hosanna shout and led us into singing "The spirit of God like a fire is burning". I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. We were trying to sing in between tears! It was just so over whelming! Christina (who rarely shows emotion) couldn’t stop weeping! It is a good thing the choir must have been trained well, because they just kept on singing so beautifully with such enthusiasm. It was just awe inspiring! After the closing prayer we all stood when the Prophet and others stood to leave. After they left the room it was like no one wanted to move. We just stood there, soaking in what we had just witnessed. It was really hard for Christina to leave, because she knew she wouldn't be able to feel of the spirit of the Temple for many years. She has enjoyed doing baptisms for the dead, but she was greatly touched by the spirit then. Everyone slowly started to leave and even in the quiet reverence of watching others leave the temple, you could still feel the magnitude of the special event we had just had the privilege of being a part of! Pres. Monson had mentioned at the beginning that this is his first official act as Prophet of the church. He also mentioned that Pres. Eyering wasn't there because he had broken his ankle earlier in the week and was told by his doctor to stay off of it. Also, that Sister Faust had died that morning or late Saturday night. We went to Brenda's for dinner in the evening after they had returned from their session of the dedication. She mentioned that Pres. Monson wasn't there. Elder Nelson read the prayer for him. We don't know why he wasn't there for that or the other sessions! We had a nice evening visiting with them and looking at their pictures from Hawaii. We were invited to go see Donny's new house. It is very nice.
On Monday, we relaxed until it was time to go to the Temple for the Endowment session. We got there at 11:30 in the morning. When we walked into the Temple there was a buzz of excitement as the officiators were busy trying to take care of the wedding/sealings that were going on. We saw two couples getting their wedding pictures taken as we were walking into the Temple. It was exhilarating to sit in the chapel and just look at the beautiful craftsmanship that has gone into making this Temple a house of the Lord. There was an added feeling of reverence (for me) during this session. The whole experience from start to finish was something I will always be grateful I was able to experience! Christina waited for us in the waiting room at the entrance of the Temple. Even the weather was perfect! (Can you imagine that in Rexburg! :) ) It was foggy when we first arrived on Sunday, but by the time they were doing the corner stone the fog was already starting to lift. As the day wore on it was bright and sunny. A beautiful day all around. The temperature was even above freezing (in the high 30's or low 40's). Same with Monday, without the fog. The roads were great to travel on. So, all in all, it was a wonderful weekend. One we won't soon forget!
