Gilbert Arizona Temple Open House

 We attended the Open House

for the 

Gilbert Arizona Temple 

yesterday

As members of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

we are so excited to live within a few miles

of this beautiful temple!

Construction began in 2010

and every time we have driven by the building site, 

we anticipated and looked forward to this day.

"At 85,000 square feet, the Gilbert Temple 
is the largest temple

the church has constructed in 17 years.

The temple's spire reaches 195 feet, 

making it the tallest building in Gilbert."
Temple Worship Focuses our Lives 
On Jesus Christ

The Open House runs through February 15th

Everyone is invited to attend

Each day about 20,000 people stand in line to view the interior.

The lines move fast, and were so well organized that we 

were only there

from beginning to end

 about an hour and a half.

Within the 5 week Open House event

they anticipate nearly half a million people will 

view this Temple.

 Camera's were not allowed inside, but

I was able to take a few exterior shots before entering.

Magnificent !

is the best word to describe.

Every inch was designed with great detail!

The Temple is the most sacred place 
on Earth

for members of our church

 The Angel Moroni sits on top of many of our temples.

What we learn in the temple gives

meaning and direction in our lives.

 The motif of the Agave plant,

native to Arizona

is used through out the temple

 "The Agave signifies the influence of one generation on another.

The agave's lower, older leaves create impressions on the upper leaves,

just as ancestors' legacies leave an impression on

the generation that follows."

We invited our friends The Hollands

to attend with us.

The weather was a perfect 75 degrees

with the Arizona sun shining brightly

in the midst of azure blue skies.

A very special day.