Gila Valley Temple Spiritual Experience

At the end of April I was able to make the trip out to Pima, AZ to visit with my parents as well as go through the Gila Valley LDS Temple open house. This time I didn't have to drive across the desert alone. I took my roommate, CJ along with me so she too could enjoy the open house. Upon arrival, first things first, mom's birthday presents, then Wii. I gave her a bath rug that completed the bear decor of her bathroom, as well as Wii Play. If you want to have your laughing muscles truly worked out, you must watch my mom play the cow race off the Wii Play. She's simply entertaining, well worth purchasing the game. I only wish her sister could have been there too...I can be highly entertained for hours watching the two of them squealing and jumping around even though it's not as interactive as they make it out to be!

We all got in our sunday dress and went to join the many who came to participate in the open house. It's a rare opportunity for members and non-members of the LDS faith to walk through these buildings held so sacred to the LDS membership that once dedicated for worship and service, the general public is no longer allowed in without obtaining certain spiritual criteria. Since my dad has been the one organizing the open house, he was able to give us a private tour. He shared some great stories I'd like to share here...

Paintings: The painting in the chapel was presented to President Monson and he loved it so much he kept the original for his office in SLC and a copy now hangs in the Gila Valley Temple until President Monson releases the original to hang in the temple. The painting in the bride's room so impressed Sister Monson, she now has a copy for herself. The original hangs in the Gila Valley temple.

Adam at the temple: An autistic girl was given a special private tour along with her parents and care taker. They did not want to take away from the spirit of anyone else with her outbursts. As they approached the area to put on protective booties to place over street shoes, this young sister did not want to put them on! After some convincing, she finally put them on. As soon as they went through the front doors, she said, "Do you see Adam?". The tour guide looked at the parents and saw that they had tears in their eyes. Assuming that they had a deceased family member named Adam, the tour guide reverently went on with the tour, impressed by the thinness of the veil. As they entered the Celestial Room, in a very rare hushed voice, she said, "It's so beautiful." Once the moved onto the sealing room, this young sister sat with her parents not wanting to leave. It would be later that dad would learn that this family did not in fact have a deceased family member by the name of Adam and that when she asks "Do you see..." she actually means, "I see..." We can only assume that she saw Adam, our first father.

White roses: Years ago a gentleman sat at the side of his dying wife. They were long time residents of the Gila Valley. As she drew nearer to death, she was talking about how beautiful the white roses were. He asked her what she was talking about since there were no white roses in the room. She said, "The roses in our temple." He seemed stumped, "We don't have a temple, dear." She looked at him and responded, "That's right, you don't know about it yet." The conversation ended and she eventually passed on. Fast forward to present day, this gentleman took a tour like so many and as he entered the Celestial room, he was overcome with special emotion as his eyes fell upon the beautiful floral arrangement that sat in the middle of the room which had white roses in it.

These temples are dedicated as a House of the Lord. Only those who qualify spiritually are allowed to enter in and must remain worthy to continue to enter into these temples. There is a beautiful feeling there that does not even require the special dedication of it's purpose. The spirit of our Lord resides there and is there for ALL to feel and appreciate. It was a great boost to my spiritual being to hear and walk through this temple. If you do not get a chance to get to the open house, those who are temple worthy members, go after the dedication...it's a beautiful temple, one that Spencer W. Kimball knew would be built many, many years ago.