Celestial and Terrestial

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, and then to the Hogle Zoo. We had such a fun time!

Celestial: Oquirrh Mountain Temple




Since we've moved to Utah, we've been able to visit two temple open houses: this, and the Draper Temple. Both visits were so beautiful. Even with the crowds, you sense the peacefulness of the buildings. I'm so glad we dedicate our very finest craftsmanship and resources to these places of worship. I'm so glad we believe in having holy places on earth.

It was a beautiful, sunshiny day!

David loves temples. He recognizes them (though anything with a really tall spire -- even a very tall rock formation -- may be called a temple by him). A wonderful blessing of adoption is that we will continue to go to the temple to be sealed to future children we adopt, and David will hopefully remember some of these visits as he grows older.

Excited to visit the Temple

He was pretty good throughout the tour, though he was mad when we walked away from the baptismal font (pictured below. Note that cameras were not allowed inside, but I got these photos off of a Church media website.)




The next two photographs come from the celestial room, which is to help us envision being in heaven, in the presence of God Himself. Of course it's just symbolic, but I love the beauty of every temple's celestial room.






Below is a photograph of a sealing room. Taylor and I were married in such a room, holding hands across the altar. On the other most beautiful day of our lives, we were able to take David to the temple 14 months ago to be sealed to him.




While we walked through the Bride's Room of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, Taylor told me that men don't have a similar, beautiful room off of their dressing rooms. They should!




Terrestrial:

Then we drove to the Hogle Zoo. I hadn't thought about it being a crowded holiday, but we finally found parking in a nearby parking lot for the Emigration Canyon Memorial.

David and I went to the zoo a year ago with Anna, her boys, and my high school friend Kelly Davis Garrett. It was fun to go back with David again, now that he's so very verbal.

Taylor bought matching baseball caps to keep off the sun.

Notice that the giraffe is resting its head on its haunches! Made me laugh!

I think Taylor's favorite part was the jumping monkeys -- other rather, the fact that he caught their jumping on film!