New Gilbert Temple

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014

New Gilbert Temple

Saturday, January 18, 2014

We were able to have the whole family, except for
Kayla, Jeremy, Recker, and Ezra.

We had the privilege to tour the new Gilbert Temple on the evening of the 1st day of public viewing before the Temple was closed to the public. The LDS community and those of other faiths have been patiently waiting for almost 4 years for this Temple to be finished and ready for viewing.
I thought every room was beautiful and loved how they themed it around the Agave plant. This is more than a beautiful building, and it is a sacred and Holy place for worthy LDS members to pray and get answers. I have always told my children there is no place more beautiful than the Temple to be married. We have been blessed to have all of our children make the choice to be sealed to their husbands and Blake to Chloe. Those weddings will always be in my heart; I will never forget seeing these cute couples enter the sealing rooms together as friends and leave as friends and now as husband and wife. When Haleigh and Scott were married, we were fortunate to have the entire family there to witness their beautiful eternal promises to each other.

Tears filled my eyes when we visited the baptismal font; oh are so many memories I have as a youth baptizing in proxy; with my ear issues, I was only ever allowed to do one or two names; fortunate for me, I have those names written in my journal, and I hope to meet those people one day when I leave this life--if they chose to accept the Gospel I know I will see them and search for them.

I personally have never visited another building that has brought more spiritual joy to my heart than the Temple of the Lord. Many of my answers to prayers have been in the Temples of the Lord. I'm grateful to have Gospel in my life, and I am living proof that miracles happen when we stay close to the Lord and do our best to live as he did. I have so much to learn, and I look forward to volunteering at this Temple. I wish I could have time to stand still so every one of my friends LDS or not, could come and feel the spirit in this beautiful Temple. Eric and I have had many opportunities to visit Temples around the world, but something special is happening here in Gilbert; this is the most beautiful of all the Temples I have ever had the opportunity to visit.