Temple Square

On Saturday we took Sadie to Temple Square. She loved seeing the Salt Lake Temple. she was enthralled with all the fountains and water.

We went to both Visitor's Centers. She loved going to the South Visitor's Center where they have the large statue of Christ. She said that he was "beautiful". When we tried to take a picture of her in front of him, she freaked and didn't want to get too close. Aaron had to hold her, and even then, it's not the greatest picture since she's hiding her face in Aaron's shoulder.

We took many pictures around the temple and Sadie got very excited about seeing all the sister missionaries everywhere.

While we were in the visitor's center, Aaron started talking to one of the sister missionaries working in there. After talking to her and discussing where he had served, he found that there was a sister serving at the temple who he had known on his mission. She must have been about 10 or so when he knew her family in Reading England. Unfortunately, she was serving the latter leg of her mission in Maryland and was no longer at the temple.

We continued our day by taking a tour of the conference center. What an amazing building! There is no doubt that President Hinckley was truly inspired in his request to develop this building. Everything is so perfect down to the tiny details. I loved all the artwork throughout the center.

We loved the story of the podium and how it came from a tree that was dying in President Hinckley's yard. Who would have know when he planted that tree so many years before that it would serve a great purpose and become part of history.

The top of the conference center is also something to speak of. It's amazing all the plants and trees they have on the roof, yet no soil and no weeds. I was amazed at all the things we learned on the tour. Our tour group was very small. It was us, another couple and a single man. We came to find that other than the guide, we were the only members. It was exciting to see how interested these people were in the history of the church and the conference center.

At one point at the end of the tour, the guide was speaking about the death of Joseph Smith, how he was shot for not denying what he knew and believed to be true. One of the other people on the tour asked her to repeat what she had said. He could not believe that Joseph Smith had been killed for that. It was awesome to find someone with and open mind who found the prophet's martyrdom to be as ridiculous and sad as those of us who have a true love of Joseph Smith.

After the tour, Sadie was wiped and we decided to head home. We hadn't really stopped for lunch, so when we go to the car, we gave her some wheat thins. As you can see in the picture, she fell asleep eating them. Her hand was still in the bag.