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Fort Collins Temple

A few weeks ago Sammy and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Fort Collins Temple open house. We were ushers for the day, helping people navigate through the new temple during their tour. It was such an amazing experience that I will never forget. 
A long, long, time ago, when I decided that I wanted to marry Sammy, I always thought to myself how nice it would be to be one of the first couples sealed in the Fort Collins temple. I'd gone to the Denver Temple growing up, and while it is beautiful, it's very dated as well. However, construction times didn't allow for this, since it's just being finished and Sammy and I have already been sealed for over a year. But seeing the inside of the Fort Collins temple, I have to admit I'm feeling a little envious. It is so incredibly beautiful inside. The marble floors, the ornate carpets, the stained glass, the wall murals, the chandeliers. It's unlike anything I've seen before. You can see pictures of the inside here.
The actual ushering itself was, interesting. We were there the first week while they were still figuring out the best way to do this. Sammy and I were given our assignments on where to stand, and then ten minutes later I was told that I needed to move. Then an older man in charge came and told me to come with him. He took me to the food tent, told me to eat something, and then they'd find a new spot for me. When I was coming back Sammy saw me eating and was like, hey! You got food? To which I said, 'When an older man tells you to eat something, you eat something. 

In my new spot I was outside of the baptistry which was my first time seeing inside. I was amazed at the beauty of it! The font was made up of little individual tiles that made a flower design on the bottom. Everything was gold, and there was an amazing stained glass window. The ceilings are very high, making the place feel huge. 

While I was by the baptistry, a tour came in from the completely wrong direction, throwing off the order. If I was at work and something like this had happened, I probably would have been a little rude while telling the tour guide the correct way they were supposed to go. However, since we were in the temple, I was feeling peaceful and calm, and very nicely told the man that there was still a group in there, but if he wanted to take his group and sit for a moment, he could. I was told moments later that that man was from the Quorum of the Seventy. I was so grateful that I was so polite to him, but in reality it didn't matter who he was. We were all in the temple and it's an amazing place and we should be kind to everyone.

I was then moved about twenty minutes after being put in the baptistry, which I was not too happy about. But I was there to serve, so I went where I was told. I ended up outside by the exit, directing people on the best way to leave. I was a little sad until I realized Sammy was outside too, just around the corner. We kept visiting with each other during the slow times. 
Sammy was looking all professional with his Usher badge. 

After we were finished ushering, we went on a tour of the temple itself. We were tired and honestly wanted to go home, but I'm so glad that we went on the tour. That's when we both got to see the beauty of every room, and do it while holding hands with Sammy. We saw the brides room where brides get to get ready and Sammy was like I'm sorry you didn't get to get ready in there, but I told him how I did get to sit in the brides room for a bit with my mom, grandma, and aunt, and it was a special time with them. I loved just seeing the beauty of the temple and that special feeling of just being home that I feel whenever I'm there. Even though it's not dedicated yet, it was such a special feeling being inside. 
It was really cool to see the publics reactions to the temple as well. The day we were there was a VIP day, so local ministers, politicians, and business people were the majority of the people there. It was cool to hear their reactions as they walked by. I heard a group of women saying that they'd never felt so peaceful and close to heaven in the celestial room. I heard a priest asking very deep questions, and being satisfied with the answers. I saw little girls staring up at the chandeliers in awe. I saw families snuggling closer together as we talked about how families can be together forever. 
This is my favorite picture of the  two of us, even though my hair is in my face. 
And here's Sammy's. 

I can't wait until the Fort Collins temple opens so we can go there all the time :) 

Comments

  1. BaileySeptember 2, 2016 at 9:28 AM

    The Indy temple's architecture is absolutely stunning!!!

    ReplyDelete

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