There are 3 amazing buildings in Provo: the temple, the library, and the tabernacle, and I have a slew of memories in each of them. I went into the temple for the first time on my 12th birthday with Lucy and Anny and my mom and dad. Since then, I’ve had times that I went every week, times times that I went with groups of friends or by myself, times I was constantly looking at my watch and timing each baptism to figure out how much longer I’d have to wait, and times I was able to listen to the Spirit and have some of the greatest experiences of my life.
However, one thing that stayed the same every time was the exceptionally long wait. I love being in the temple! I love the organ music that plays as I watch those sacred ordinances taking place, I love seeing a full (yes, FULL) room of kids dressed in white who are worthy to enter the temple of the Lord and do His work, and I love the Spirit that is there in His house. I don’t love waiting, though.
This morning when President Monson announced our new temple, I gasped in surprise and excitement and joy, along with the audience in the Conference Center. We’re getting a new temple in Provo! I then proceeded to cry for somewhat inexplicable reasons for the next 5 minutes or so. We’re getting a new temple in Provo! We’re getting a new temple in Provo!
The library is amazing. Remember the old library with all the stairs in front? I have memories of reading Junie B. Jones and Boxcar Children books on the floor while waiting for my mom. And then it closed, we were transferred to Orem for a while, and then our new and beautiful library opened. I’ve been to many receptions there, I played for Syd’s wedding there, I watched the Timpview promenade, I’ve had study groups and personal homework parties, and many relaxing reading sessions. I love our beautiful library.
Memories of the Tabernacle abound as well. Years of Stake Conferences, for one thing. Back when Stake Conferences were long and boring and hard to listen to (we all know how wildly entertaining they are now…) I had been sitting for AGES, and had become restless and maybe not as quiet, if you know what I mean. If I’m remembering right, my mom asked me why I had been so noisy, and I responded, “If you knew how much I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs ‘I AM SO BORED!!!’, you would be proud.” Oh, and the benches aren’t exactly sofas either. But the stained glass is beautiful! I sang the Mozart Requium with Mac Wilberg, I watched Lauren solo with the Utah Symphony, I sat through several (very long) concerts, and I even heard President Monson speak there. This is a very special building, and it was heart-breaking when it burned down. The apprehension and speculation of what would happen were great, and this announcement is the absolute best-case scenario. We’re getting a new temple in Provo!
Although I don’t live in Provo anymore, it will always be my home. And now we’re getting a new temple! I can’t wait!
I will have you know that I read this WHOLE blog (every word) and loved it! I am super excited for the new temple, too and I think tons more people will go if it means not waiting for 3 hours! Wow! And to have such a historic building, too! Did you know Rachmaninoff AND Ashkinazi played in there? Now the temple! That will really change downtown Provo, I suppose, eh?