Time for a Temple

 Area youth in front of the new Meridian Temple.

For weeks Seth and Angelica have been attending practices for the youth Cultural Celebration for the upcoming Meridian Temple dedication.  The time for it has finally arrived.  The kids spent the day at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise yesterday practicing and performing in celebration of the new temple.  The whole event centered around the history and description of this Treasure Valley area.  Youth from many stakes nearby performed all sorts of dances and singing that lasted about an hour and a half.  President Uckhdorf and Elder Christofferson were our GA presence.  We saw it all on satellite.  We had the chance to see it in the flesh with two tickets awarded us, but, with Allegra, we were three. So Layne turned it down.  Perhaps we had a better view from the stake center anyhow.  But not good enough to spot either kid in the crowd of youth on stage for each performance. 

Seth sang with the choir in the bleachers.  He's somewhere in here, dressed in white shirt and blue tie.

Angelica danced with this group, depicting water and its blessing.  She's among the girls dressed in blue.  Somewhere.

Allegra and I made her dress...and four others.

President Uchtdorf and Elder Christofferson were our visiting authorities.  I think they loved the whole celebration.

I think the kids loved the experience too, once the practicing was over!  There is a special spirit that accompanies performance and I think they caught it.

Today was the temple dedication.  President Uchtdorf gave the dedication.  We saw it on satellite again.  It gave us a close view.  There was a marvelous spirit that we could feel even in our stake center.  I'm excited to have this new temple.  Imagine being just minutes away from a temple!  I've never been this close.  This is one more thing to be very grateful for.