Burley Temple Groundbreaking

 Today is easy. I am so grateful that I got tickets to the groundbreaking today. I wanted good seats and I thought people would be lining up at 9:00. Soooo, we pulled in the parking lot at 8:52. We talked to the first sister and she told us we were on the front row in assigned seats. I started crying. 

We made our way to the front and we’re able to watch a lot of the behind the scenes action. They leveled the pulpit. Did mic checks. Anchored the picture easel and the musicians’ music stands. Checked the camera. 

I’m trying to remember all the phrases I wanted to remember from the talks. President Nielsen said he and his wife had “a name and a standing” in the Twin Falls temple because they attended the temple every Tuesday at 5:30. I want to have a weekly appointment when the Burley temple is finished. 

I have thought for a long time that a ground breaking was the first dirt scooped from the area. Today I learned that during the groundbreaking, the dirt is turned symbolically. It symbolizes planting a seed. That fits with all the other symbolism in the temple. I am grateful to learn that.

President Nielsen, his wife, Mike and Sheri, Malia Manning, the little girl that bore her testimony, and several others were in the first rotation to turn dirt.  There were three more planned rotations. After the four rotations of dirt President Nielsen brought his kids and grandkids up to turn a shovel full of dirt. 

When they were done it was announced to line up on the east end to turn a shovel full of dirt if the participants wanted to. Mike asks us if we wanted to and with an affirmative answer, he ushers Klay, Andra, Kelly and myself up there first. 

It was a wonderful day. I hope at some point I can remember the other things taught today.

I am so excited for a temple so close. I saw gas at $4.99 a gallon today. I can only imagine what it will be in 2-3 years when this temple is done. 

I just remembered another thing. The word expedited was used in the dedicatory prayer. The construction was blessed to have the materials it needed when needed. Also, that there would be few if any obstacles in this construction. I’m hoping for closer to two years.