I'm telling you, we had our impromptu trip to Utah at just the right time. While we were there the open house for Utah's newest temple, the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (don't ask me how to pronounce it), was going on, and my parents just happened to be planning on going the last weekend we were there. Before a temple is dedicated they have open houses like this so that anyone can go inside and see what the new temple looks like. I was really excited for Preston to be able to go inside. His favorite song is "I Love to See the Temple," I have to sing it for him every night before he goes to bed. Just like I thought he loved seeing the temple, and even showed a pretty good amount of reverence (for a 2 year old) while walking through it.
Here is the temple as we saw it from the freeway, it was up on a big hill, hence the name.
Right before we got there we stopped to meet my cousin Megan on the side of the road, she had something for my mom to pick up from her. She was on her way to help someone paint their house. I wish I looked that cute when I was going to be painting all day!
Once we got there we parked in a gravel lot a little ways away from the temple. Here's everyone waiting to get picked up by a little golf cart.
Preston was glad to have Grandpa there with him, and I was glad to have him there to help carry him.
My dad pointed the temple out to him in the distance.
We had a pretty good view from the parking lot.
After walking through the temple we went to a tent outside that had cookies and water bottles for everyone (it was really hot!), Preston really liked that part.
Then we got out and he got to see how big the temple was up close.
After walking around the grounds a little bit we decided to head back and had to spend a little bit more time waiting for a golf cart. We could have walked, but I'm not sure I would have made it after walking up and down all those stairs in the temple. Hey, I did just have a baby three weeks before this.
Bryant enjoyed waiting for the golf cart too. He didn't want to look at the camera because candids make for a more interesting picture according to him... I think I agree. :)
The inside of the temple was absolutely beautiful of course. I always love looking at the different artwork they have hanging on the walls and how they set things up. I hope that one day I'll be able to go back there, with Gabe maybe. :)
So, I grew up basically across the street from there. Oquirrh is pronounced oak-er, and it is named after the Oquirrh mountains, which is the small range on the west side of the valley, behind the temple if you looking "uphill." The greatest part about the location is that it is the highest part of the valley in that neighborhood, so you are able to see all four temples from most of the valley. I am not aware of whether the actual hill is named or not. Hopefully that helps. Wish I could have gone with you!
ReplyDeleteCool that you guys got to go there! I keep meaning to leave comments, But I always have to go when I read your blog!
ReplyDeleteSara, I didn't realize that was where you grew up, very cool! Thanks for clearing everything up for me.
ReplyDeleteTearese, I know exactly what you mean. I'm always reading blogs while I nurse, so I can't exactly type comments.