Ogden Temple

Participating in a Temple open house and celebration has always been one of my dreams.... On my bucket list you could say. I have always wanted to do something like this, to join in celebration for a temple. Now that the Ogden temple has been rebuilt and I have received the amazing experience of participating in this fun as well as spiritual event, my testimony has grown with each practice and my heart as been overflowing with joy. I have met new people and had experiences that can never be copied. A few weeks ago I went to volunteer at the temple. I had the chance to sit right outside the temple and put the little booties on to keep the temple clean. All different sorts of people came to go through the temple. The old and the young, the members and the non-members the missionaries and the other volunteers. So many people who were in awe of the temple and the spirit that was there.

 

There was one guy that came up to me and said "try getting one on THAT!" he was a size 16 with huge cowboy boots. It took forever, but I finally got it on... then I realized there was still one more foot..... The next guy that came along said "Are you sure you want to do this? I am a size 19." A size 19?! What?! At least he didn't have cowboy boots on. :)

 

A five hour shift with only a few short brakes between groups and tons of back-bending service but it was totally worth every minute of it. One non-member asked us how long our shift was, I explained that it was five hours. "Five hours?!" he said "Wow! How long are you breaks?" "We don't get any!" The girl next to me said cheerfully "No brakes? the man said, crossing his arms, "How much are they paying you?" "Nothing" I said "Its all a service" "Are you sure?!" the man said then his wife came and pushed him along saying "Its okay dear, let them do their job." :D

 

Since August we have been practicing for the Ogden temple cultural celebration. I am in the choir, consisting of over 2,000 youth from around the Ogden temple boundary. The music is so powerful and inspiring, the dancing is perfect and shows the Ogden community changing and growing. It is an amazing experience. During the ending finale we are singing a song about sharing the light, 700 youth come on the stage with puzzle pieces that they put together to create the old Ogden temple. At the climax of the song each of the youth flip their picture over to reveal the new Ogden temple. Every time I think about It I get emotional, this is going to be an amazing experience. I'm so glad to be in.