backward post

Today we went to the newest Latter Day Saint temple here in Utah. It hasn't officially opened yet, therefore there is an open house & tours. Brett got tickets a month ago. I didn't put it on the calendar (way back in 08) so I had totally forgotten about it. It was a scramble getting out the door & in the dreariest of rain & fog, but I am really glad we did.

Last week Megan emailed me about this place

in Salt Lake City called Pats BBQ. She & Tony were watching a show on the food network where it was featured. She was wishing she could try it & thought we would want to- she was right & on our way home we stopped for an early dinner.
It was definitely a dive (not too bad)- and really great BBQ.
Hailey is not too thrilled here listening to the interesting characters at the next table...
talking LOUdly about their recent trip to New Orleans-
especially after our beautiful trip to the temple.
I guess we should have picked a more appropriate time to go to a new place,
especially one rated as a "great dive?"

We were obviously over dressed- oh well-

the chicken was seriously melt in your mouth good.

I'm not really a meat eater-but the boys loved it-

except trent who wanted to go back to the car to get some wipes to wipe his hands.

Messy eating is not his thing.

We ordered a 1/2 slab of ribs, 1/2 chicken & a pulled pork sandwich to share.
Everything is smoked out in a smoker behind the place.
We had some cole slaw, red beans & rice with creole beans & rice on the side.
good stuff.
Just before going to the "dive" we came from the temple open house.
The open house runs for a couple of months. If you are in the area, seriously see if you can get tickets. It's a little crowded. It was a controlled & organized crowd though. We loved it. This is my third temple open house. I went to the Seattle open house when I was a kid, then we went to Mt. Timpanogas right after we moved to Utah & now Draper. Jack was 5, Hailey 2 1/2 & chloe just weeks from being born when we went to the Mt. Timpanogas open house. So this was a first for them. They were pretty excited, especially trent.

Brett took this picture of chloe & I just before we got back into the car.

AFter the tour everyone cycles through a meeting house next door to the temple. There was a light reception with cookies & bottles of water. All throughout the hall there were pictures of the temples throughout the world. We looked for a picture of the Santiago, Chile temple, but it wasn't one of the pictures up. There are over 100 temples all over the world.

Temples are where members of our faith make commitments to God,
to ourselves & each other.
We perform marriages for time & all eternity.
They are sacred & very special to us.
Brett & I were married in the Seattle temple.

We don't take photos inside temples, even during open houses.
Not that they are not allowed.
You can see pictures here. It's in keeping with the reverent atmosphere.
This painting was one that I loved inside the temple.
Another copy of is was in the reception area,
I was so glad so I could snap a photo of it there!

This is the plaque right above the front door.
For touring purposes we went in through a side door then out through the front door.

Because of the weather- there were tents set up all along the outside to walk through to go in. I was really glad since it was raining & cold. The tents were lighted, had windows & there were heaters throughout- nice.

This is our view from the shuttle bus ride that took us up the mountain.

Draper, Utah is a city up against the Rocky Mountains.

The temple is up so that it looks out over the valley.

The tours start in meeting houses down below where you watched a short movie on temples, then got on a shuttle bus that took you straight to the temple & back to the building where your car is parked when you are done. They do this to help with traffic & congestion. This temple is built in a neighborhood & this really helps to keep the temple grounds reverent & not so crazy with hundreds of people.

15 different shuttle buses were running-
Of course, we were here on a Saturday,

but I wonder how many people are touring during the week?

riding the shuttle

Trent loves a good bus ride.

On our way into the church building.

What a great day for us.

It was a wonderful opportunity to go to a temple open house!

*have you ever been to an LDS temple open house before?

*can you believe the rain? We never get rain like this, it's supposed to snow tomorrow.

*do you watch diners, drive in's & dives on the food network?