I recently moved to Salt Lake City, UT from the Atlanta, GA area. Before I moved, the church had started to renovate the LDS temple. It was closed for a long period of time, but is finally finished. Right now, they are allowing the public to tour the temple before it is rededicated. I’m sorry that I cannot be there to see that happen. It is such a great missionary opportunity! May 1st the temple will be rededicated and no longer open to the public.
So many times, people think that the things that Mormons do in the temple are secretive. When, in reality, they are not. They are simply something sacred and precious that is not discussed in detail outside of the temple. To non-members, this can seem strange, so inviting a friend to a temple open house can be a great way for non-members to have their pre-conceived notions melt away, and see that it is a beautiful, holy place where we simply take seriously the covenants that we make there.
I have never been to an open house like this before, but I have had the opportunity to enter many holy temples. I have been in the Atlanta temple numerous times. I can only imagine that while the temple is not yet dedicated, there will be a special spirit there to witness to both less actives, and non-members that what is done in the temple is beautiful, and special.
It is also a great experience for children to see what temples are all about and get excited about the prospect of going into one someday. I know that I would love to take my children in and show them how beautiful and precious the temples are so that I can emphasize how important it is to make it a goal to enter into a temple one day.
If you live anywhere close to the Atlanta area, you should definitely stop in and check it out. It would be worth the time! For more information about this particular temple open house, go here.
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