Extra Crispy...and a side of good stuff.

I wanted to post a little bit about the weekend experience of the Youth Temple Celebration and the temple dedication.  While I realize that most of you who read this are not of my faith, I hope you can just get a feel for what an important  and historical moment it was for my family as well as for LDS people all over the southern part of Idaho. 
To us, temples are the most sacred places on earth.  We trace the building of them back the biblical times of Solomon's temple.  Temples aren't found in every city.  Until the temple was built here in town, DH and I had to drive a couple of hours to attend one.  Temples are different than regular Sunday meeting houses.  In them we receive instruction and make covenants or promises to the Lord to live good lives of service.  Often in the temple we feel closest to Him.  So there's a very brief LDS Temple 101. :) You can read more here, if you're so inclined.   So the building of a temple here was a big deal.  We were asked by church officials in connection with the completion of the temple to have a Youth Celebration that would bring kids from all over southern Idaho together to perform music and dance numbers that would chronicle the history of the area.  I've been working with a group of kids that were in the choir part of this extravaganza.  And it all came together last Saturday when 4000 kids with their adult leaders converged on a local fairground for the day for a couple of final rehearsals and the performance that evening.  College Boy came to one of the dress rehearsals during the day and snapped a few pictures.
#1--DD is in there somewhere...look for big fly-eye sunglasses
#2--I was on the phone with College Boy, waving so he could see me.  I am very far away in this shot, but fortunately, he had the long lens on the camera.
#3--Preemie Boy and I, along with one of his friends in the choir.
#4--Random "whole cast" performance shot
#5--DH, who was along to wrangle kids during a break....note the reading material. *eyeroll*
#6--Yeeee-haaaaawwwww!  Us western folk shore do enjoy our square dances!
#7--My turn with the fly-eye sunglasses...and a child with a goofy face.

It was a really great day...a good experience for most of the kids (there are always a few you want to smack upside the head) and we were lucky enough to have the President of the church there from Salt Lake for the evening performance.
The next morning he dedicated the temple in a really wonderful service and we spent the rest of the day with our feet up. :) My feet are extra crispy.  I managed to get sun screen everywhere except there.

Comments

[Joyce]

Such a wonderful tradition to celebrate the history and then dedication of the temple! Looks like the weather was cooperatively wonderful! Sorry to hear about the crispy feet - ouch that hurts!

[Karen Helmka]

Ouch on the crispy feet!
Sounds like a wonderful day! Fun photos!
TFS!
Karen

[Pam]

I am sure it was a beautiful ceremony and a great day of celebration. What is the meaning of the blue scarfs? that everyone has?

[MaryRuth Francks]

Sooo cool!!! I love it!!! We've gotten to be part of a couple of different dedications (because we move so much)... always such a neat experience!!!

[JulieP]

It looks like a wonderful celebration. Everyone looks so crisp in the white shirts. And I noticed his reading material right away. LOL!

[JIll]

Thank you for the lesson. Ilove that your family is so faith based. I think it clearly shows in the love you have for each other. Beautiful traditions etc. Thanks for sharing.

[Anita Ford]

Wow! What a wonderful celebration full of meaning. It looks like a wonderful time, even if it did result in crispy feet!

[Melanie]

I appreciate the lesson. What a wonderful celebration!