Draper temple: 'Pledging to return'
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The line to get on a shuttle bus for the Draper Utah Temple open house stretched all the way around the meetinghouse where my family had parked. We had been excited to spend our Friday evening at the temple, but now wondered if we should have found tickets for a different time.
"Do we really want to stay?" my husband asked.
I looked at the daunting crowd — and then at our three daughters, ages 4, 7, and 9 — and said nothing.
We found the end of the line.
While we waited I thought about other temples I had seen as a Church News reporter. In every instance, I arrived in the area to cover a temple dedication, having missed the open house. Still, everyone wanted to talk about their temple's open house. I realized I had never heard anyone mention shuttle buses or long lines. Instead, themes had emerged from the temple open house experiences of members.
For example, Church members in Edmonton, Alberta, had talked about the great blessing of unseasonably warm weather before the December dedication. Vinyl tents and enclosed walkways to the new temple protected open house visitors from outside temperatures, which traditionally drop each December to minus 30 or 40 degrees Celsius. However, the milder temperatures, hovering around zero degree Celsius, prompted numerous local Latter-day Saints to declare the winter they were experiencing as "temple weather."
In Newport Beach, Calif., members recounted how impressed visitors were with the volunteer efforts of local Church members in connection with the temple open house. The story was told about a partner in a law firm who invited his colleagues to see the temple. When they arrived for the open house, they found the man who had extended the invitation directing traffic in the parking lot. Knowing the man's hourly wage, the visitors teased, "This temple must have a substantial budget."
Then there was the good will fostered by the three-week temple open house in Nuku'alofa, Tonga — held a year after rioters destroyed dozens of buildings in the heart of the city. Tonga's king, His Majesty George Tupou V, personally launched the open house, saying, "We are gathered here today to celebrate the completion of this magnificent temple which is a tribute to the Glory of God."
And then there were members of the Manihi Branch, Takaroa Tuamotu District, who began saving for the Papeete Tahiti Temple open house and rededication as soon as they learned of it. When the time came to leave, six members had enough money. The 520 kilometer trip by boat, from their island to Papeete, cost 6,000 French Polynesia francs, or about 60 US dollars. But when the group arrived in Papeete, the passengers were blessed for their sacrifice. The boat captain reduced their fare from 6,000 francs to 2,000. The group then attended the temple open house, waiting in line and touring the building four times in three days.
As I entered the Draper Utah Temple, I wondered what themes would emerge from my experience.
As a family, we were impressed with the baptistry, the beautiful murals and, of course, the Celestial Room. We marveled at the wood and art work. We enjoyed thoughtful comments from an usher on the importance of temples.
But the most memorable moment in the temple came with a simple question. As we left a sealing room, my 9-year-old daughter lagged behind. "Will I ever come in this room again before I am married here?" she asked.
I am not sure she understood the significance of the question. But I did.
Suddenly temple open houses weren't just about blessings, or volunteer efforts or good will or sacrifice. They were also about a little girl innocently pledging to return to the temple.
The shuttle bus ride from the temple to our car was dark and quiet.
We had promised our children ice cream, but the late hour now made that impossible. Cleaning crews were busy working inside the meetinghouse.
"The temple is pretty," my 4-year-old daughter said.
"I hope you will go back some day," I replied.
