Idaho Falls Temple Celebration

Two years ago the Idaho Falls Temple closed for renovation.  After TWO very long years and several delays it was finally scheduled to reopen.  We were so excited and couldn't wait. As part of the renovation there was a re-dedication.  Our youth were invited to attend.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!

It was held in the Holt Arena in Pocatello and I got to be one of the leaders/parents that went with the youth.  It was SO HOT and the drive there and back was MISERABLE and a NIGHTMARE with the construction, but once we were there and watching 12,000 youth dance and sing the songs and dances they had prepared it was unreal! There is no way to even describe it.  ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

 Fun that our cousins got to attend too.  Oakley had to work and didn't get to participate, and JD was out-of-town, but our Jacobson and Hawkins cousins from Rigby got to be in it too.  

And one of the very coolest things was PRESIDENT EYRING! Our Ucon Stake got to be seated directly under where he sat and our Ucon youth got to dance directly infront of him. SOOO COOL!! It was such a neat thing to look up and see his smile as he watch our youth dance/sing praises of the temple. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Another awesome once in a lifetime opportunity was that Oakley was given tickets to be INSIDE the temple for the afternoon dedication.  She was asked by her YW leaders to give a talk to the young women about modesty not long before the temple celebration.  Our stake president was there at the meeting and afterward pulled her aside.  He told her that he recognized that took courage and that he was proud of her.  He then gave her his last 3 tickets for the temple dedication for her and her parents.  It was incredible to be INSIDE the temple during the dedication.  We weren't in the same room as President Eyring BUT when it was over as we were waiting to file out Pres. Eyring stuck his head in our room and gave us a big wave.  He brought the spirit with him! So neat! I was so grateful Oakley got to just see him for even just a second where she wasn't able to be at the temple celebration with him the night before. 

 We are so blessed to have a temple (two temples) so close to us.  I got to help with the temple open house and had to choke back the tears over and over again as I stood there for hours.  It was so good to be back in the walls of the temple.  It was so neat to be able to take our children through the open house and we look forward to the day that we will all be together inside the temple again!