The Provo City Center Temple

Yesterday I took my little family to the open house for the Provo City Center Temple.

It was BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING and such a GREAT experience!

If you live within driving distance of this new temple, I really suggest you take the opportunity to go!

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I have felt a tie to this temple since the night that, as a tabernacle, it caught on fire.

We were living in Salt Lake City at the time (2010) but went to Provo for a family wedding.

Driving down University Avenue we saw the smoke, flames, firetrucks, and the chaos of the burning building.  We could tell it was the tabernacle, but did not find out until later the details of what had happened.

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A year later we moved near Provo and for the next three years were able to see the amazing construction process of this temple. From gutting it, to putting it up on stilts, and just the sheer awe of seeing a building being put back together from just it's bare exterior walls.

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We moved from the area in 2014 and it was so neat to go back and see the final, finished building.

The design was gorgeous, taking you back to the 1800's with gothic windows, stained glass, and bronze fixtures. I felt like I was walking through a pioneer structure minus the creaks in the floor and that "old" smell that accompanies such buildings. 

One of the my favorite rooms to see was the celestial room and not because of it's timeless beauty, but because of the amazing feeling that was here. I felt the love of God within these walls and it was such a special moment to hug my family close and know that we were close to heaven.

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So if you can, go see the temple and feel the wonderful spirit that is there. You can get tickets here and you can learn more about this temple's history with this great timeline from the church. 

Have a wonderful Friday!