Saturday was a special day. The big field directly behind our house was dedicated for the building of a beautiful temple.
Elder Oaks presided over the groundbreaking ceremony, and we were among the many families who took a turn loosening the soil with a golden (or in Spencer's case, garden) shovel.
It was serious work. They were building a temple. Lucy wrote in her journal on Sunday, "Yesterday I was digging a hole for the Payson temple...and I dug and dug until my hands hurt." 
You've never seen such diligent little diggers.
"What do you think, Bill?"
"A few more feet to go, Tom."
Cold hands finally drove us to the car. As we covered the distance across that newly dedicated ground,
I thought of the other sacred spot we often visit,
and the groundbreaking we participated in not long ago,
I hope that, in time, Lucy and Spencer will understand the tie between those two different days of digging. I hope they'll understand what President Monson meant when he said, "[temples are] an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth." (April 2011)
We're so excited to watch the progress of the temple! I'm going to try to occasionally update our construction blog with pictures. Seems fitting to document those two most important houses together!
17 comments:
so glad you are updating! i love every.single.post you do. you are amazing, lori!! how fun to have a new temple right in your back yard!!
Been thinking about you! Wonderful.
This is SO exciting! A temple in own your backyard! What sacred digging (both of them). And what a gift for Lucy (and Spencer) to look back and read her journal, read these words on the blog and see those tender pictures. You and Wes have laid such a firm foundation of testimony. Thank you again for your examples!
So excited for you to have a temple literally in your backyard. And so glad you were able to go and participate in the ceremony!
I saw a sneak peak of this on your other blog and hoped you would blog about this soon. What a blessing to have a temple in your backyard. And what an amazing experience for Lucy and Spencer (and you!)
ps. You've inspired me to have the boys write in their journals more often. We started them a while back and I've been too lazy to have them write often (if at all).
How amazing and special to have the temple right by your home!
Thank you Lori! I am a wee bit jealous that you will have a temple in your "backyard" and the artists rendition is beautiful. Thank you for your words of inspiration and tieing (?) things together for all of us.
love this. wish we were there too. glad grandma was and SO glad grandpa's coming!
"angels will guard the construction of this temple. . ." dedicatory prayer, Elder Oakes.
Some on this side of the veil like you, some on the other, Wes.
love you
How exciting this is going to be!! Loved your post, always beautiful words:) glad grandma lu was there to share! Love you all so much
I completely concur with Grandma Lu.
What an EXCITING thing to happen in your back yard. You get Heavenly Father as a neighbor. I could think of no better place than to picture your precious family nestled next to the temple.
1. I like Shauna's comment. Your family does belong next to a temple. :) 2. I thought of you as I learned of the groundbreaking and am glad you were able to attend, turn the earth and be such part of something so magnificent.
So beautiful! A temple in your backyard?! That's magnificent. God bless you Lori.
Looks like a great day. Wish we could have been there.
I LOVE that you and the kids were able to be there and to have this incredible experience of “helping to building the temple”. It is something that they will remember each and every time they go outside to play. You’ve recorded a historic event and thanks for sharing another precious memory with all of us. I miss you friend. You’re in my thoughts and prayers and you continue to be an example of a “strong pioneer”!
Being a part of the groundbreaking, open house, and dedication of the STL temple were some of the top moments of my life. I'm thrilled Lucy and Spencer get to have that too. Can't wait to be up there again and see the construction in progress. Love you!
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