A place of love and beauty

We've wanted to take a family trip to the temple for months now. During the last General Conference, Elder Gary E. Stevenson encouraged us to take our young children to visit the temple grounds and to let them touch the temple. Then teach them that the prophet has promised us that "as we touch the temple, the temple will touch us". Our children have been to the San Diego temple several times over the past few years for my cousins weddings, however, we haven't taken them to the Redlands temple since it's open house in 2003. We knew it would be a wonderful experience for them to visit our temple, and to see where Mommy and Daddy go every month. They were so excited to go to the temple! They looked out the windows of the car searching for the temple spire the whole way there. We spent about an hour walking around the temple, talking, singing primary songs about the temple and taking pictures. Later, we stopped at Pat & Oscars for dinner, which was a big treat! We rarely take the kids to a restaurant for dinner. As we were eating Trent said to Darin and I, "this is the best day ever!", and it was.

I love the temple. I know it is the house of the Lord. The covenants I've made there strengthen and sustain me and help me to keep an eternal perspective during life's challenges. I am thankful for the binding ordinances of the temple and for the knowledge that my family is forever.