Visit to Temple Square

 The one thing my cousin Docia wanted to do upon arriving was to visit the Family History Center in Salt Lake City which is housed in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building formerly know as The Grand Utah Hotel. She desired to find the parents of our Great Great Grandparents. After spending about 2 hours there in that magnificent building and with help from a librarian, we came away without any new information, sigh. 

 But we were given the Grand Tour and saw many beautiful rooms, which I had never seen before!! This is the view of the chandelier from the mezzanine overlooking the beautiful lobby on the main floor. All of the frescoes, lights and stained glass ceilings are original to the building. We found out that the fruit which I thought were pomegranates are in fact pineapples which represent hospitality. Pays to have a guide show one around!

 We also l earned that the columns are not made of marble but a composite made to look like marble. Apparently this was a popular way to add beauty at a more reasonable price. The church had to do some refurbishing of some of these columns when they bought the building.

 We were allowed to take a self guided tour inside these spectacular doors! There was a piano and lavish furniture in each room around the mezzanine! In one room were portraits of each of the prophets from Joseph Smith to Pres. Monson.

 On the opposite side from these doors were other similar doors leading to a spectacular chapel which is actually used on Sundays! It even has a beautiful. Pipe organ!

 In the North Visitor's Center, we found the more than life sized stature of the Savior welcoming all to come to him. It always brings tears to my eyes to think of the suffering He endured or our sins. My sins...... May I learn to listen better each day to the Still Small Voice which guides me to do the right things. :)

 Docia was impressed by the size of this magnificent tabernacle,  home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!! The really amazing thing is that it was designed and built by people who know nothing about building such a structure and it has lasted all of these year. Recently it has had a face-lift to prepare it in case of an earthquake, which is LONG overdue in that area.

 The statue of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey receiving the Aaronic Priesthood from the hands of John the Baptist. We discussed the concept of baptism for the remission of sins by immersion by one having authority from God. Much like a Police Officer being the only person who can give us a speeding ticket which will hold up in court. 

Docia and I had several discussions about our beliefs and she was especially interested in the concept of Eternal Families and the work for the dead being done in the temples. So much so, that she gave me permission to do her family's work, so she and her husband can be together forever. As you can see, she still has some understanding to achieve. :)
When we got to this statue of Peter, James, and John giving Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey the Melchizedek Priesthood, which has the sealing power of God, she repeated her desire to be part of an eternal family.

This statue reminds me of the vacation we went to visit Aunt Kolleen and on the way we stopped and visited the Relief Society's Women's Garden at Nauvoo. In that garden there are statues for every stage of a woman's life from childhood to being an elderly woman in a rocking chair working on a quilt. This one reminds me of the joys of raising a son.

It was a wonderful afternoon!! Thank you Elaine for taking us there. Docia rewarded her and I by treating us to dinner atop the Joseph Smith Building overlooking the fabulous Salt Lake Temple!!! Thank you Docia!!