Mesa Temple Lights - in pictures



 

The section Justus and I decorated this year :)

 

 

Poor cell phone picture of my Young Women

 

Mesa Arizona Temple

 

 

Reflection

It was great to take the Young Women to see the temple lights this year!  I highly recommend going earlier in the holiday season.  We went the last Wednesday in November and loved being one of the few groups there. 

I ran into one of my co-workers who was taking his youth group to see the lights at the same time.  The following morning we discussed the purpose behind using the temple lights as a mutual activity.  It's a question we're often asked by our leaders, "What's the purpose behind this mutual?"  We joked that it's an easy activity to plan and execute, but ultimately discussed the importance of the temple.  I believe it's important for everyone to have positive memories and experiences that surround the temple.  Even if it is just walking around with some friends to see beautiful lights, it's an experience on temple grounds.

P.S. Sorry Maggie for the cell phone pictures, hopefully on my third trip later this month, I'll get some better ones for you!

Mesa Temple Lighting Crew

One of my favorite Christmas movies is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  As we would hang lights at our home, my dad and I would jokingly quote the movie.  "You taught me all that I know about exterior illumination."  It's true, my dad taught me all that I know about exterior illumination.  Little things, like starting with the female end of the lights so that you end with the plug at the bottom.

On Monday night, Justus and I had the amazing opportunity to help string lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple.  I am an Arizona native and never had the chance to help hang lights.  I did not even know that they had volunteer labor to put up the lights.  I loved being a part of the "preview" to the Mesa Temple Lights.  Justus and I were mainly on ground cover duty, which required strategically placing purple "berry" lights along the mulch and between plants.  Sadly, I did not take pictures of our work, but the above picture came from our friend, Laura.  I wish I had taken pictures because in just a few days, this place with be crowded with people!

Gila Valley Temple Open House

Last Monday, Justus and I joined my family on a roadtrip to the Gila Valley Temple Open House. It was worth taking a day off from work and school to walk through the beautiful rooms of the temple and share such an experience with my family. One of my favorite parts is when Sarah (my 11 year-old little sister) asked me about when I got sealed to Justus in the temple. I got to bear my testimony about the sealing power and talk a little bit about the holy spirit of promise. It was such a wonderful experience to be able to share with Sarah those sweet and tender feelings I had nearly two years ago on May 17, 2008.


© 2010, David Palmer.

Screensavers are available for download at the church website (click here for link).