Manti Temple Open House

We were so excited for the Manti Temple Open House! Because the temple has been closed for renovation, our kids have never been to the temple Dad grew up with. So, we made a reservation for Monday after school.

On the Saturday before, we heard lines wrapped all the way from the north entrance down the hill to the west and all the way around the temple grounds to the southeast gate. People with reservations were waiting 4.5 hours! We weren't sure what we were in for. When we arrived at 5pm, we got in line and the people around us told us it would be about 90 minutes from the west gate by the cemetery. We were just above that, so we settled in for a long night.

Luckily, Mom noticed the Lewis children playing on the hill above us. After a few texts, we moved forward about an hour in line, which wasn't really fair, but it sure helped! Soon, we were headed through the doors. 

Can you see the moon?

21.5 years ago we were sealed at this temple.

The day was perfect, and the temple looked really clean and white in the late afternoon sun, but it was even more beautiful inside. The halls were narrow, and the route snaked all through the interior, which led to the long wait times, but it was worth it. We went up the hanging spiral staircase. We walked through the Assembly Hall with podiums at both ends. We walked through all of the ordinance rooms with their amazing paintings and high ceilings. Mom even found our sealing room slightly off the beaten path. We asked if we could peek inside and they told us if we were sealed there, we could have a look. It was much smaller than we remembered, and tucked back in the corner of the first floor, because Grandma Ockey couldn't do stairs. We loved being able to stand in the sealing room with our boys and tell them this is where it all began!

It was wonderful to be in the temple as a family. We talked a little about progression in the temple and how our family had been sealed. Mostly, we just enjoyed the beautiful building. Then we took a few pictures outside and headed to Ephraim for pizza and pasta!

We made it through the long line.

Such a handsome boy!

We love this temple!

And we love Roy's, too!