Bismarck North Dakota Temple

The Bismarck North Dakota Temple was the only temple within my mission boundaries. I served as a missionary in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission which covered the two Dakotas, as well as portions of Wyoming, Nebraska and Minnesota.  Even in all that land mass there was only this one temple.  The cities I served in for the first year of my mission were too far away from the temple to get a chance to visit.  So when I finally served close enough to the temple to get a chance to go it was a very exciting time.

Near the end of my mission I was serving as a zone leader in Grand Forks, ND.  (Each set of missionaries covers an area where they proselyte.  Every 2-3 areas is formed into a district with one missionary serving as a district leader.  3-4 districts form a zone with two missionaries as zone leaders over that zone.)  We had one month that everyone had worked particularly hard.  I called my Mission President to ask permission for our entire zone to caravan and make the 300 mile trip to the temple.  He agreed that a temple trip would be an excellent reward for everyone's hard work.

We spent the entire day in the temple.  We were able to perform all of the different ordinances.  I think missionaries need the piece that the temple brings just as much, if not more, than everyone else.  The spirit of the Lord is felt there even stronger than you can feel even as a hard working missionary.

It was such a blessing to be there with all the other missionaries.  I think we all grew closer that day.  The Bismarck temple will always have a special place in my heart as the only temple in my mission.  Though, I hope that more temples will be built in that area.  I'd love to see a temple in Wyoming as well as South Dakota.

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Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple

The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple was the first temple I ever was able to go inside. It is where I was originally endowed prior to my mission. It wouldn't be appropriate to write about my first endowment experience without showing a picture of the preciousness.

This is me with various members of my family on the steps of the Timpanogos Temple.  Looking back on it, I think I could have been more prepared.  I didn't have a full understanding of what an incredible blessing it is to be able to enter our Lord's house..  Luckily, I have been able to go back many times and gain greater clarity on what I was taught that day.  Since then I've begun to understand what we are taught in the temple.  I've developed a deep gratitude for the ordinances that we receive.

The Timpanogos temple will always be "my temple."  In addition to receiving my endowment there, I was married there as well.  I'll never forget the moment as I knelt across the altar from my lovely bride.  The sealer (my wife's grandfather) spoke to us about the eternal covenant we were making to each other and then he sealed us as husband and wife for time and all eternity.  I am so grateful that we have the blessing of eternal marriage.  I'm grateful that our Heavenly Father has allowed his authority and his "keys" to be given to those of us here on earth so that, as it says in (Matt. 16:19) whatever is bound on earth, shall be bound in Heaven.  Robyn and I were bound in marriage, and that binding will be valid in Heaven as well, allowing us to be husband and wife for all eternity.  What a miracle!

The rest of the pictures are of my wedding day.  If you can't handle the cuteness of the bride and groom, be not afraid; I was only married once so this is the only temple that will have my wedding pictures.

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