Temple

A post especially for my family...

The first LDS (Mormon) Temple has been built in BC and is located ten minutes from my home. A couple of months ago my church received an invitation to attend the open house and specifically the faith leaders gathering. In talking with my colleague we decided to totally promote this open house to our entire congregation as a way of reaching out and exploring another place of worship and another faith community. There has been some really great press coverage on this temple with beautiful photos and articles making the front page of the Vancouver Sun, Langley Times and Surrey Now.

As someone who has grown up alongside a large LDS Family I feel pretty proud to be able to promote this special opportunity and to know a little bit more than the average visitor. The temple is open for a few more days and then will close forever on Saturday evening (April 24) at 8pm to the public. I've visited three times so far and expect to return one more time this week. So far 75 people from my congregation have visited with another large group going soon.

As I have only ever spent time in the waiting room of the temple it was honouring to finally see the rest of the building. It's only taken 33 years! I will especially appreciate the visual memory of the Creation Room (Instruction Room #1) and the Celestial Room (Prayer/Quiet Room).

On my first visit I connected with two missionaries; Sister L from Sandy, Utah and Sister Pung from San Diego, California. Sister "L" is short for a really long name and she said that it was easier to go with "L". They are serving Vancouver Island but are helping with the Open House for two weeks. They were really neat young women and each time I brought a group I would go and find them and they would be present to answer questions and wonderings. On Saturday they gave me a great big hug to say thank you. I think its because they had had a particularly challenging day with visitors.

Outside the temple many protesters carrying signs of all kinds have been present each day.

Conversations through my church building over the last week have been amazing! Many people talking about their experience of the temple. Ironically on tv, KCTS Channel 9 out of Seattle, has been presenting documentaries about the Mormon Church each evening over the week. What timing!