Last week, we had the opportunity to tour the Provo City Center Temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did an amazing job restoring and transforming this old building.
Back in 2010, this building, which was then a tabernacle (in fact we use to attend Stake Conference there, and I have a funny story about that HERE.), caught fire and was damaged severely.
In the October 2011 General Conference, we were so happy when President Monson announced:
"Late last year the Provo Tabernacle in Utah County was seriously damaged by a terrible fire. This wonderful building, much beloved by generations of Latter-day Saints, was left with only the exterior walls standing. After careful study, we have decided to rebuild it with full preservation and restoration of the exterior, to become the second temple of the Church in the city of Provo."
The inside of this temple truly looks and feels like you've been transported back in time to the days of the pioneers. The hinges look old, the benches and chairs look antique, there's even handcrafted carpet, similar to what the pioneers would have made, even the exit signs were designed to look old-fashioned. It is truly beautiful.
"In the temple, through the power of the Holy Spirit, knowledge is transformed into virtues. A person who attends the temple regularly grows more patient, more long-suffering, and charitable. He becomes more diligent, more committed, and more dedicated. He develops a greater capacity to love his wife and children and to respect the good qualities and the rights of others. He develops a greater sense of values, becoming more honorable and upright in his dealings and less critical of others. In the temple knowledge is transformed into feelings of the heart, resulting in actions that build character. Thus, the family is strengthened and the community is uplifted to the extent of his influence"
(Royden G. Derrick, Temple in the Last Days, p. 53)