Las Vegas Nevada Temple

The Las Vegas Temple is one of the most beautiful temples that I have seen.  The word that came to my mind when I first saw the temple was "oasis".  In the midst of a vast desert, the landscape of the temple has a beautiful fountain, green grass and beautiful foliage.  The inside is equally as beautiful.  There is a beautiful sun symbol that is featured throughout the inside.  The celestial room has two beautiful chandeliers and is one of the bigger celestial rooms I've seen.

As I sat through the session I realized that the temple truly is an oasis.  Beyond it's physical landscaping and water feature, it is a spiritual oasis.  In a city that is known for gambling, alcohol and lewd behavior, there is an oasis where one can go to find peace and commune with God.  It truly is an oasis of truth in a desert filled with error, of light in a sea of darkness.  This beautiful temple is one that I will visit again.

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Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple

The Winter Quarters Temple was a particularly fun one to visit.  It's a fairly small temple but it has some very unique characteristics that made it special.  It sits right next to the cemetery where many early saints who passed away at Winter Quarters are buried.  It also has incredible stained glass all throughout the inside that portrays scenes related to the exodus of the early saints.

While inside this temple I was able to contemplate the sacrifices that the early saints made.  After leaving Nauvoo, many of them didn't have a real home to live in for several years.  Winter Quarters was a particularly difficult place, many died from disease and exposure as they passed through this area.  I was very touched by their sacrifices.  Their suffering allowed the church to survive and eventually thrive.

This temple stands as a monument to their sacrifice.  I was very moved by its beauty.

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