Probably not your typical temple open house post, but here I go

[Backroads]

I don't think I'm ever going to go to another temple open house again without a child or investigator in tow.

Last night the husband and I went to the Brigham City temple open house.

Positives:

1. The temple was beautiful.

2. I'm glad I got to see it and feel peaceful.

Negatives:

1. I didn't see anything I couldn't have seen during a couple of sessions after the temple was dedicated

2. The crowds were ridiculous.

3. People kept talking.

4. Waiting in line took forever.

5. I felt similar to a participant in a cattle drive.

6. There was a group of hormonal make-outy young adults on some creepy triple date right in front of us.

I know, I know, I know I"m supposed to appreciate the opportunity to see a temple, but I'm left thinking about why I bothered to go. I mean nothing against our sacred temples, but really, why did I do this to myself?

Edited September 11, 2012 by Backroads

[NeuroTypical]

There is certainly a difference between a beautiful fancy structure built by humans, and a house dedicated to the Lord, isn't there.

[estradling75]

Backroads.... uhhmmm you do realize you are not really the target audience for a temple open house right? While its in nice and great to be excited about a new temple. Open houses are targeted for those who will most likely never have another chance to see the inside.

[applepansy]

We took our grandson (age 4). He was quiet or whispered the whole way through. We went early on a Friday morning and the crowd wasn't bad. There wasn't a lot of talking even from the children behind us.

Yes there is a big difference between a pretty building and one dedicated to the Lord. But I guess we had a different experience than you.

Is it because there is a different Spirit with us when we take someone with us?

[Finrock]

Hi Backroads! I hope you are doing better today. :)

In my opinion, this sounds like one of those situations where your experience was primarily controlled by your attitude.

Regards,

Finrock

[Backroads]

Backroads.... uhhmmm you do realize you are not really the target audience for a temple open house right? While its in nice and great to be excited about a new temple. Open houses are targeted for those who will most likely never have another chance to see the inside.

I realize that. Which is another reason I was wondering why I went. Hence the "without a child or investigator". Those are the people I should be bringing.

I always "knew" who the open houses are for, but I don't think it really hit me until last night.

The fact is, the last open house I attended was the Bountiful temple when I was a kid.

I get nervous in big crowds, and as an endowed member living near Brigham City I can see this temple anytime I want. Perhaps I'm just not meant to appreciate an open house.

[Backroads]

Is it because there is a different Spirit with us when we take someone with us?

I think I would have had a better time if I could have "watched" another person experience the temple for the first time.

[Guest]

Sounds like a case of misanthropy more than anything, which I can sympathize with sometimes.

[Vort]

I sympathize with you.

[rameumptom]

Perhaps if you lived further away from temples, it would have meant more to you. Our groundbreaking for the Indianapolis temple is at the end of the month, and we'll have 18 months or so until our open house. Having the nearest temples several hours away, makes this a choice experience, not a drudgery.

[annewandering]

Interesting point. I never thought about it before but if the Salt Lake Temple was ever open for the public to view I dont think I would want to go. It has too much personal meaning for me and it would be like viewing the joists instead of the spirit.

[Backroads]

I actually was very excited to go to this open house. But while the temple was indeed beautiful and seeing it was nice, it was very different than what I feel when I am attending a temple to do a session or whatnot. At those times I feel at peace, I feel the spirit--at a much higher level than I

This was just walking through a nice building with young adults making out in front of me and people chattering loudly. I didn't expect to feel what I felt at all.

Husband and I discussed "temple tourism"... in which one either goes out of the way to visit a temple or visits a temple when already vacationing in the area anyway--as one probably won't have another chance to visit that temple.

Yes, perhaps I would have made myself enjoy it more had this temple been something other than what I can visit anytime.

[john doe]

I think I know how you felt. In fact, I felt somewhat similarly when I attended that particular open house. It seemed to me that the people in charge were wholely unprepared for the number of people attending, and had no idea how to deal with the crowds in such a way as to make everyone's experiences positive. Which is quite odd, given that previous open houses in the nearby Salt Lake Valley area seemed to be much better organized, and presumably the same people should have been running the event. The Draper and Oquirrh Mountain temple open houses were certainly more enjoyable and spiritually uplifting events to me and my family.

I left trying to figure out why I went away feeling so uninspired by what I had seen and heard there. Maybe it was me, I just don't know for sure.

[bytebear]

I think Utah temples just have larger crowds than other areas. The Oquirre Mountain temple wasn't that busy, but of course we were in the tent when it was struck by lightening in a heavy thunderstorm.

It's funny you mention visiting other temples. My mom as a child wanted to visit every temple of the church. Of course, then there were only 8 temples to go to back then.