Salt Lake City Utah Temple

I imagine this temple needs no introduction, 

but I'll tell you anyway. 

This is the historic Salt Lake City Utah Temple, 

the one it took the pioneers forty years to build. 

I am so excited to have a chance to visit this temple!

It is kind of mind boggling that the pioneers were

 able to build this temple. 

It is made out of granite that was hauled down 

from the mountains. More on that later.

When a temple is dedicated, the people shout for joy.

 I know how they feel.

This is a statue of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, 

in the building across from Temple Square 

called The Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

I wish I truly could have sat at the Prophet Joseph's feet.

And here I am between the feet of Joseph 

and his brother, Hyrum.

Hyrum Smith stood beside his brother Joseph in life and death.

I posed with a couple of sister missionaries. 

They were so friendly. 

They said that someone else is supposed to be in the picture with them. 

I hope I count, because I don't want to get anybody in trouble.

This display showed how they brought the granite 

down from the mountains to build the temple.

It was very interesting to read about how it was done.

All of the exhibits in the visitors' center were very interesting. I'm glad I

didn't have to go through some of the hardships the pioneers endured.

This is a yoke they used for a pair of oxen.

Here are some more sister missionaries.

 I tried not to flirt with them, 

because I know that is against the rules. 

They all wanted to have their pictures taken with me,

 though, so I don't take all the blame.

This is a model of the temple that shows what is inside. It was very

interesting to see all the different rooms.

I am glad I got to see this. 

I've been inside a temple, 

but mostly all I saw was

a hallway and the inside of a locker.

Here are a couple more sisters. 

You can tell what country they come from because

the flag of that country is shown on their name tags.

This is my owner and some more sister missionaries.

 She didn't want them to get in trouble for having 

their pictures taken with me, so she stepped in.

This is a statue of the handcart pioneers. 

My owner wrote a book that has this picture on the front.

 

You can read a little bit more about 

what they went through here.

This is the Seagull Monument. 

Because when the crickets were eating their crops, 

the pioneers prayed and then swarms of seagulls 

came and ate the crickets.

 That is why the seagull is the Utah state bird.

It was spring when I visited temple square, 

and the grounds crew was hard at work putting down new sod.

Here is my owner with some more friendly sisters.

This is a monument commemorating when 

the Melchizadek Priesthood was restored.

I know it is hard for some people to 

believe these stories about angelic visits,

 but if you talk to most people, 

they will tell you they believe in angels.

The sun was even shining on this statue 

as if an angel was visiting.

This statue commemorates the 

Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Temple Square is full of beautiful flowers,

 but these really caught my eye.

I made a visit to the tabernacle, 

but I forgot to bring a pin to drop.

I enjoyed seeing this relief map of ancient Israel. 

I am hoping that if my owners

ever go there again, they will let me tag along.

I wish I'd had time to hear the 

Tabernacle Choir practice.

This statue of Christ is in the visitors' center. 

I was close enough that I could see the nail prints in his feet.

 I know I look angelic, but I don't always make good choices. 

I am going to try to be a little better because of the things 

He taught and because of His example.



I made a little after-hours visit later at Christmas.

These twins took me for a stroll to see the lights!

Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

Here I am at the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. My owner, Susan, was born in Idaho Falls. In fact, the hospital she was born in was right next to the temple. She is pretty old now, and they tore down that hospital a long time ago, but the temple is still there.

I don't know if you can see me sitting there shivering in the snow. I didn't hang around at this temple too long, you know, because it was winter and I am a Hawaii Tigger at heart.

 

My next visit is to the temple in Boston Massachusetts. I hope it is a little warmer there. 

TTFN!

  

Boston Massachusetts Temple

This is the Boston Massachusetts Temple. 

It reminds me a lot of the Houston Temple. 

Can you see me? I didn't think so. 

Maybe you are wondering if I really visited this temple.

Let's get a little closer. Still can't see me? 

Some people think God doesn't exist because they can't see 

Him or can't see His hand in their lives. 

Sometimes the secret is just to look a little bit harder.

Do you see me now? 

I just sort of blended in with the flowers,

 but like God, I've been there all along.

Sometimes you just have to believe. 

That's called "having faith." 

You had faith that I was there somewhere, didn't you?

And now you know for sure. 

Unless I was Photoshopped. But I wasn't. 

You can tell because I have a shadow. 

If I was Photoshopped, I wouldn't have a shadow. 

Unless they Photoshopped my shadow. 

I was there! I give you my word of honor! 

And that's my real waist.

 

I am headed next to a temple that's still under construction. 

Actually, it is under reconstruction.

We're off to visit the Provo City Center Temple next!

 

Provo City Center Temple

 

The Provo City Center Temple is a very special temple.
It used to be a tabernacle, but it caught fire.
Instead of tearing it down,
they decided to preserve the building,
and turn it into a temple.

I first visited this temple when it was under
construction. After the fire, they kept only the outside 
of the temple and changed almost everything
that was inside to make it into a temple.

Sometimes we need to change lots of things
in our lives to be the kind of people we
know we should be. We might not believe there is anything
worth keeping, but if we work hard, we can turn
an almost-destroyed tabernacle into a beautiful temple.

I hope I get another chance to visit this temple after it is finished.

Now I've got to climb down off this fence and get ready

for a visit to the west coast and the Portland Oregon Temple.

And here I am back at the finished temple!

That went by fast, huh?
Well, for me anyway. It actually took years
of hard work to turn the tabernacle into a temple.

There is a beautiful gazebo waiting
 area surrounded by spring flowers.

Temple flowers are the best!

 

This statue reminds us that families are what it is all about.

The grounds are beautiful, even if I did have to
wait a day or two for it to stop raining
 so I could get some good pictures.

This happy bride and groom posed
for me on their special day!

This is a busy temple.
It took a long time for me to get a picture
without anybody in it but me.
(I'm kind of vain that way.)