PHOTO ESSAY

I love to take my camera and flash drives and get up very early to see how the first light of morning begins to illuminate a new temple. I’ve done this many times and it thrills me no less with each new temple. When I came on this particular morning I could not help but think of the words from Joseph Townsend’s hymn: “The day dawn is breaking, the world is awaking, the clouds of night’s darkness are fleeing away.” There is nothing that brings so much light to the world as a new temple on a hill.

I love how the entire neighborhood by the Oquirrh Mountain Temple is designed around the temple as the streets lead gracefully and pointedly to this sacred edifice. How could a neighborhood possibly calculate the influence for good that a temple brings?

I still had the Joseph Townsend hymn going through my mind as I took these early-morning shots of the Temple. “The worldwide commotion, from ocean to ocean, Now heralds the time of the beautiful day.” No matter what happens in this complex and tumultuous world, we can refresh our spirits and rejuvenate our entire souls by going to the House of the Lord. How amazing is it that the Lord directs this work of temple building through His prophets and then, upon our worthiness, invites us to come and visit His House? I am overwhelmed and humbled at the very thought.

I love the way our modern temples are designed with a beautiful statue high atop the spire depicting the Angel Moroni having the trump of God, heralding “the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters” (Revelation 14: 6,7). Each temple itself, by the way it is placed is like a giant trump with this everlasting message.

I couldn’t help but keep watching the temple as I explored it from every angle and enjoyed the silhouette against the morning sky. There is such hope in seeing a new temple arise in the midst of a darkening world.

From the beginning of time the design for temples has been given from the heavens. The exact dimensions were given in the days of Solomon. The Kirtland Temple was shown to the Prophet Joseph and others in vision. The Salt Lake Temple was shown in vision. I believe that the design of each temple, though put down on paper by mortals, is given by inspiration and guidance from the heavens. You can feel it as you gaze upon such a magnificent edifice.

Every line and every stone, from the foundation to the top of the spire of the temple leads our gaze to the heavens. You know how it is when you go on a campout and there is that moment when you have your campfire just right and you just kind of relax and stare at the fire? I feel that same way about a temple—I can stare at it and be lost in my gaze of it for hours.

As we pull back just a little bit you can see that the Oquirrh Mountain Temple faces east and you can see one of the great mountains of the Salt Lake Valley in the distance, Lone Peak, majestic and beautiful at the south end of the valley. The Draper Utah Temple sits at the base of this mountain.

The colors of morning were changing rapidly at this point. The small clouds were dissipating and the sky was becoming bluer. I always marvel how the relatively small trees planted around the temples become such beautiful and powerful sentinels over time.

The open house of the temple has been very successful. People from not only Utah but from all over the country and many nations of the world have toured the temple. I wish every person who has ever spoken ill or though ill of the Church or who has been given false information or continues to be misinformed could just take and hour and go through the temple before it is dedicated. The experience tends to soften hearts, open minds and bless people’s lives in numerous ways. What a gift to the community to open the doors of the temple to all just before it becomes a dedicated and sanctified House of the Lord.

I have visited hundreds of fortresses in Europe and the Middle East—buildings erected for defense and protection of a people. There is something about each temple—and this temple specifically—that reminds me of a fortress of strength. It brings to mind the words of Martin Luther: “A mighty fortress is our God, A tower of strength ne’er failing. A helper mighty is our God, O’er ills of life prevailing.”

I couldn’t help hearing hymn after hymn come through my mind as I was taking these pictures. Parley Pratt’s words came sweetly into my mind here: “An angel from on high/The long, long silence broke/Descending from the sky/These gracious words he spoke/Lo! in Cumorah’s lonely hill/A sacred record lies concealed/Lo! in Cumorah’s lonely hill/A sacred record lies concealed.” The coming forth of The Book of Mormon is part of the restitution of all things, as spoken by the mouths of the prophets, just like the coming forth of temples in the last days.