On Wednesday, I was one of two people from our ward that were able to go clean the Ogden Temple in preparation for the open house that will begin next week. As soon as I walked into the temple, I knew I had to share this experience with my family, my whole family. I know that I will not be able to convey through words the exact feelings and experiences that happened that day, but I wanted to do my best to express to my family my newly strengthened testimony of temples. I also wanted to invite anyone to come see this particular temple's open house, August 1-September 6. It is so beautiful and stands as a light to the world. We would love to have anyone stay in our home so as to allow you to come see this temple.
So, here is my story.
This was the first and probably only time that I will go throughout the entire temple in my street clothes. They told us to not wear dresses because we would be working and doing things that we would need good tennis shoes and pants for. They did however have us put booties over our shoes. The cleaning crew for that morning consisted of around 20 people. In the lobby, we put on booties and were told to wait until they came to get us for our assignment. I was just fascinated by everything around me. As my husband can attest to, I love watching people and knowing their stories. I'm intrigued by their hobbies and talents. So, as I stood there in the lobby, I was itching with questions as people buzzed around. Who were the ladies that were trying to decide what color lamp shades looked best? How do you get that job? Why was the gentleman sanding down the front desk? Who were the men walking around in suits? And why were they taking pictures? The man with the blue prints... was he the architect? How do you get THAT job? (I actually was REALLY wanting to know who he was, so I DID ask him if he was the builder. He looked at me surprised and said, "Well, I'm the architect." I stood there with gaping mouth as if I'd just met a celebrity. Seriously! So cool!!!) Any way, my point with telling you all this is to paint a picture for you. The temple was still being worked on. Trim molding is being put up, pictures are being hung, light bulbs are being screwed in, seats are being drilled down, trim is being painted, doors are being hung....and I got to be A PART of it!!
A woman came to get us and lead us down the stairs to the baptistery. We opened with an opening prayer and then we set to work. She divided us up into teams. One was to clean the bathrooms. The other teams (which I was a part of), we told to follow her for our assignments. She then led us throughout the temple. We were in the basement and we climbed beautiful staircases until we reached the top floor. We led us into the Celestial Room, which as you know is the most sacred of the rooms in the temple. The spirit that I felt as I entered that room took my breath away. I knew that this was the Lord's house, that he was pleased with the work that was going on and that his spirit was with us. I also could feel so close to me my grandma's, Grandma Bennion and Cottrell. I had to smile because of course they would be there with me to clean the temple. They weren't going to miss a chance like this. Plus, they had to keep an eye on me. I almost feel my grandma's watching over my shoulder as I mop floors or peel potatoes, chuckling to themselves and thinking," That's not the way to do that, Erin." Haha
Anyway, the Celestial Room is breathtaking. The theme of this temple is roses, which again, how fitting for Grandma Bennion especially. Not only roses but PINK roses. The windows have pink roses up and down them and the carpets and carvings and even the door handles have roses on them. If you get a chance to come, (which I hope you will), look at the top of the door handles. Each has a rose no bigger than a small button on them. Incredible attention to detail! Another testament of how special these holy houses are to us. This Celestial Room does not have a large chandelier in the middle like most Celestial rooms do. Instead it has a huge dome that is overhead and bringing in the natural light of the sun. Amazing!
Everyone was given assignments. I was handed a vacuum and told to vacuum the hallway outside the Celestial Room and the endowment rooms. I was the only one doing this so I was blessed with being alone to think and ponder.
Best friends
