A few months ago, the temple in Draper, Utah had an open house before it was dedicated. My husband and I have been to an open house before, so we decided we wouldn't go. Our kids are only 3 and 4 and we knew they'd be too young to understand or remember anything.
We we wrong. I've heard several stories of children younger than mine understanding that the temple is a special place. They can identify pictures of Christ. There is a different, sacred feel to the temple (even before it's dedicated) that children can feel, perhaps more acutely than adults. And it's not like they have to behave the way we do in a temple session.
After hearing different accounts of the great experiences people had with their children and grandchildren, I really regretted not going to the open house.
Then they annouced the Oquirrh Mountain temple open house just a month later!! I didn't realize the two were being built at the same time! So I have tickets. We're actually going when my family comes to visit us in a few weeks. I am so excited. I need to start preparing my children for it.
Today, I read D&C 97. The Lord is telling the people of Kirtland to build a temple. He tells them to do it quickly, so that "they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth," (v. 14).
I know that the temple in Kirtland housed the School of the Prophets, and this verse could quite possibly be referring to what would happen in Kirtland, specifically. But I think it pertains to all temples. The temple is where we learn the mysteries of God.
I'm excited to take my children there.
6 comments:
That's great! We ended up taking my not quite two year old daughter with us to the Draper open house. She wasn't perfectly reverent and quiet, but she could have been a lot worse. At least, when she was a bit too loud it was cute. She liked to point out things like the lights, the flowers and shapes she saw like squares. She also knows who Jesus is when we show her pictures. I am glad we went with my in-laws though because it was helpful to be able to let her grandpa or grandma take a turn holding when if she got tired of walking, or was trying to escape from us. Over all it was a really good experience. Plus, they had cookies and water in the church next door at the end. She really enjoyed that.
I think we'll take your older three kids to the open house. It's important for them to get an idea of the value and importance of the temple when they are young.
Great idea. I cannot wait until the Gilbert temple is built here. I can't wait to take my boys there.
Ok So we don't go to church ever. Only for weddings and things with free food. A few weeks ago we went to a wedding with FREE food and my son who was 20 months old was walking/running around the halls and pointed at a pic and said JESUS... kid you not and it was a pic of him.... I was like WHAT... my husband heard and was in denial... And we don't have any pics of Jesus in our home, it was his first time seeing that picture.... It was pretty neat.
Hey, chickee~
I want to follow along. Get back on here! Please?
I'm seconding Gigi's comment! Write more posts!
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