Twin Falls Temple

Brad and I had the amazing opportunity to tour the Twin Falls Temple on Sunday afternoon. We were called (along with about 700 other people in the Magic Valley area) to be tour guides during the temple open house starting in about a week. As part of our training we were taken on a tour of the temple. We will mostly be leading Spanish speaking tours, so Brad will be doing the bulk of the talking unless I suddenly receive the gift of tongues. :) However, the great thing about the spirit is that it speaks a language we can all understand. I'm looking forward to sharing my testimony and to just spending so much time inside the temple. It will be an amazing opportunity to share some of what we have with so many people. I know it will be an incredible missionary opportunity.

As to the temple itself, it is so beautiful. Idaho's state flower is the syringa, so it is displayed prominently in much of the detail and finish work. The stained glass and etched windows have many syringa flowers, as does the wallpaper, carpeting, and woodwork (all of which is absolutely exquisite). The wood itself is from Africa and the marble floor is from India. It's very unique and beautiful. Their is a mural in one of the ordinace rooms that features the Shoshone Falls that is absolutely breathtaking.

The layout of the temple is so simple. It reminds me of the plan of salvation: straightforward, clear, and leading straight to the celestial kingdom. The ordinance room floors each have a slight upward slope, taking you progressively higher until you finally reach the celestial room. It is really a beautiful room; simple, elegant, full of light. It faces west so in the afternoon and evening it is absolutely radiant. What an incredible gift Heavenly Father has blessed us with.

As we walked through the rooms and admired the workmanship and artwork I was so overcome with gratitude I could hardly keep from shouting with joy "We have a temple!!!" I just cried instead, and it felt almost as good. :)