I wish I could put into words what a wonderful experience we had yesterday at the site of the future Gilbert Arizona temple. We drive by this spot (less than 5 miles from our home) weekly. It's en route to Costco, the mall, the freeway, JoAnn's, Old Navy, In-n-Out....basically all our favorite places. The boys know the massive field of dirt as "the temple" and look for the big trucks and construction workers each time we pass. As we walked onto the site yesterday it had been transformed with 5,000 chairs, a stage with a beautiful choir, a cute old man playing the organ under a rainbow colored umbrella, lawn chairs and blankets and thousands and thousands of people. I was simply overcome with the spirit. At one point I bent down next to the boys who were happily playing in the dirt and explained to them that on the exact dirt we were standing and playing, there was going to be built a house of the Lord. I hope they know how truly special that is. Throughout the services as the speakers spoke at various moments Wyatt would look up with excitement in his eyes and repeat words he had heard over the speakers. "Temple!" he'd exclaim. "Book of Mormon!" "Faith!" "President Monson!" Each time he would grow more and more excited. I was so touched that he could feel the Spirit and was recognizing the words being said. He was so adequately expressing the joy I was feeling listening to the speakers and wonderful authorities who were there to preside at the meeting. As we were packing up to leave I could tell he was thinking about something. He looked around at all the people in the field of dirt and then at me and asked, "we build a temple?" I had to chuckle. "No" I said, and explained that we didn't build a temple right then, but they were going to start. That fills my heart with so much happiness. I am so grateful we have this rare opportunity to see that field of dirt transpire into a sacred holy temple.I love how the umbrella is duct taped to the side of the bench. I think it was a little warmer then expected! 
Multi-Stake Choir 
There were at least 30 "gold" shovels each with a picture of the Gilbert Temple on the shovel and each was engraved on the handle that read "Gilbert Arizona Groundbreaking November 13, 2010" 
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Margareth 
My sisters, Nicole and Jennifer
Gilbert Arizona Temple
8 comments:
My heart aches so much knowing that we dont live there anymore and dont get to experience the blessing of having a temple so close by and to watch it being built!! I am so glad that you got to experience that and your boys as well! It will be something that you can look back on and remember with them!Oh how I miss AZ and how I miss you!!!
Soooo good to talk to you the other day! I sure LOVE and Miss you!!
What a great post Bryn! It truly is amazing that we are going to be able to watch the progression of this temple with our kids! And pretty much watch it from a booth at In and Out! Loved the picture of the rainbow umbrella and duct tape...might have just laughed out loud.
p.s. loved seeing pics of you. youre so stinkin cute.
I love that your little one was so sad he didn't get to help build the temple. Maybe someday buddy! I hate that I'm not there to see it be built but I hope and pray for the day I can live in AZ again. I'm so excited for all my family that is right there so close to it. You have to be so close to where they all are because I know right where the shopping place you're talking about is. :D
What a neat thing you got to go to and for your boys to be there also. Brian and I hope to come out when they have the open house for it. The Gilbert temple is going to be his sister's new temple also.
It really is so great that you will get to watch the temple be built from beginning to end with your boys and have those teaching moments with them throughout. Don't stop taking pictures of the building process. I fear I will never have the opportunity to see something like that, so I'll need you to be my on site photo journalist. I love you!
This is so awesome! This day seemed so far away, it is hard to believe the ground breaking has happened! I can't believe you guys made it with the kiddos with all the thousands of people! I miss you too! I think about you all the time too, and no excuses, life just gets in the way! I would love to see you when we come. I will text/call you with the details. Love, your kindred spirit :)
That cute little Wyatt:) Its so amazing what little kids learn and the spirit they can feel at such a young age!! What a great thing to do as a family and something that will always be remembered. Have a Happy Thanksgiving we love ya!!
Bryn, That actually brought tears to my eyes...just thinking about how Wyatt was ready to get to work and build the temple of the Lord. I love it!
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