I love to see the temple(s)

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the song "I Love to see the Temple". I longed to one day go into the temple. As I walked into the temple on my wedding day for the first time, I was sobbing. I mean really sobbing. I was finally there.

I love that I love the temple.(s) I love that I'm crying my eyes out right now even thinking about it.

On our way to Yellowstone National Park, our family (minus the girls) saw many temples. It was so neat! We were able to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I loved seeing my boys in the temple. I loved that they loved it, and appreciated the beautiful building that it was. As we left the open house and went out to the parking lot, we could see the Draper and Jordan temples as well. Can you believe it? What a miraculous thing, to have three temples in sight.

As we were driving away, I asked my boys if after being inside the temple that day, did it make them want to return? They ALL agreed, yes. That was a good moment.

Sunday we spent the day at Temple Square. We enjoyed the flowers, statues, the conference center, the tabernacle, the Joseph Smith movie, and of course admiring the Salt Lake City temple.

Remember my favorite statue on Temple Square? I thought it would be fun to make our own statue. The big boys thought it was totally dumb and waaaaaaay toooooo embarrassing. It just made me enjoy the moment even more. (The statue in on the left. Note our feet up as well.)

We saw the Idaho Falls temple from the road and decided to go see it. They have a newly remodeled visitor's center there. The Christus statue there isn't raised. The kids were invited to touch the Savior. Each child instantly went for the marks in His hands. I was overcome with emotion as I saw my children standing with the Savior. We then had a family picture within His out stretched arms. Can you imagine the day when you get to see the Savior and feel his hands and his feet? I'll be back in a second after I get twelve boxes of tissues. I'm a mess.

After returning from Yellowstone we went and found the Rexburg temple. That made nine temples that we had seen in a week.

As we were trying to locate these temples without directions, the kids were kind of concerned. I told them that they would be easy to find in Utah. But as concerned as the kids were, it didn't last long because the kids would chime in together, "You're never lost when you can see the temple".

I'm so grateful for the temples. I'm so grateful for the peace I feel when I attend. I'm so grateful for the emotional feelings I get when a temple comes in sight. I'm grateful for the prayers that I've had answered at the temple. I'm grateful that my family will be together for time and all eternity. I'm grateful for all that the temples represent.

My neighbors asked me a couple of questions about the temple tonight. I answered their questions. That's all. If I have such a love for the temple, why didn't I share more about it? I'm going to. I will regret it for the rest of my life if I don't.

I love to see the temple, I'm going there this week!