Conference for Kindle - Oct 2011

The 181st Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concluded yesterday. The text of the conference is usually available on the Thursday afterwards. I'm planning to format the texts for Kindle again this conference, so watch this space for a note (and a link).

Speaking of conference, it was a thrilling one in a couple of respects. The announcement that the Provo Tabernacle will be restored as a temple was great news. The other temples to be built gave me a thrill as well-- particularly the ones in Africa (the second temple in South Africa, and the CONGO!!), and the one in Star Valley.

My parents both grew up in Star Valley and I've spent many happy summers and holidays there. I know many of the saints in the valley, and I have many family members who live there. I can imagine how thrilling it was for them to hear the news that their little piece of heaven will have a temple. My aunt posted a telling note on facebook. She wrote, "So amazed and humbled that Star Valley will have a temple. I can't stop crying." I've felt the same way. I still get emotional as I think about it now. 

Whose temple is it?

This image is the wallpaper for my computer desktop right now. I like this picture because it represents something that I didn't even realize I was feeling until I took the picture.

The closest you could get to the temple during its construction was to drive by on Eastland Drive or to stand outside the fence. That's understandable, of course. The contractors don't need a bunch of silly, curious civilians mucking up the site. The net effect, however, has been to leave me (at least) feeling like the temple wasn't yet mine.

When I stood on the spot where I took that photograph I realized that I was taking ownership of the temple. It was becoming my temple-- the one where I will worship and draw close to God. Standing on that spot, where I couldn't stand before, looking at the beautiful landscaping and the inspiring architecture, I realized how much I am looking forward to using this temple as I have never quite used a temple before--regularly, often, with devotion and dedication.

Now it remains for me to live up to that idea.

Twin Falls Temple - Open House underway

The temple open house began last Friday. It is, like all temples, an exceptionally beautiful building. There several, places, online to see pictures, but above is one I took last night as we strolled around the temple grounds with our friends Jay and Gina Sneddon.

I, for one, am looking forward to regular temple time. Boise isn't so far away, really, but the quickest you can do a session is about 6 hours (and that is pushing it). Say 7+ hours is more reasonable. Not many babysitters will take 5 kids for that long. And if they do, it runs in to big $$. Anyway, the Twin Falls temple is like 3 minutes away from our house. I can run up in the morning to do a session before work. Keri can squeeze one in on a Saturday morning. We can go together for a date night. That'll be nice.