Phoenix Temple Dedication

Phoenix Arizona Temple

We attended the Phoenix Temple Dedication today as a family.  We went to our stake center which was an extension of the temple.  It was a sweet experience, especially going as a family.  

The speakers talked about the importance of going to the temple.  When we are young, we can walk the grounds of the temples.  When we turn 12, we have the opportunity to go inside and do temple work for the dead.  As adults, we can go to the temple to receive our own endowments and help our ancestors receive theirs.  They talked about making the temple a priority, going once a month or even once a week.  Temple pictures should be displayed in our homes, especially pictures of us standing near the temple. It was a great reminder of the importance of temples.

President Uctdorf said the dedicatory prayer for the second session.  Before the prayer, he said a few words.  He lived in Phoenix for a while and received his endowments in the Mesa Temple.  He even went to visit the Mesa Temple with his wife.  I loved his words and how he tied the Mesa Temple into the dedication.  We live in the Mesa Temple district and it was great reminder that even though the Mesa Temple is not new, it's a beautiful temple and a House of the Lord.

Throughout the dedication, the Jordan River Temple, Mesa Temple, Phoenix Temple, and Salt Lake Temple were mentioned.  These temples have a special meaning to me and it made this dedication more meaningful to me.  I sat in the temple at the Jordan River Temple dedication as a 13 year old and sitting in the chapel for the Phoenix Temple, reminded me of how fortune I am to be here at this dedication.