Christmas Countdown Day 10

December 10th: Lights at Temple Square!


Since GiGi was visiting, we thought this would be a great weekend to head down to Salt Lake City and see the lights at Temple Square. It was cold, but not too bad, and we had such fun! I think we were definitely warmer than the bride you can see in the background here in this one! Brrrr!:
In the picture above, the children are in front of the white statue of Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the manger on the reflecting pool. It is incredibly beauitful! Click here to see a better picture of the scene. It is positively breathtaking with all the floating candles around.


Here we are with the Salt Lake Temple in the background!

We made our way over to the Nativity scene. Here they have a scene set up (just statue/mannequin type things) with Christmas Music from teh Mormon Tabernacle choir playing in the background. If you wait, you can hear the entire story read straight from the Bible.

The kids were really excited to see this replica of the Salt Lake temple, so we walked through the South Visitor's center so they could see what the rooms inside the temple look like:

Daphne also desperately wanted to go see the Christus statue. If I'm being completely honest, this statue kind of weirded me out a little when I first joined the Church. Having come from a background where we used only crosses to serve as emblems of the Savior, the idea of a statue seemed, well, Catholic to me. Or something. I don't really know what. But paintings of the Savior are peaceful to me now... reminding me of the promise of eternal life that He brings to us. I'm still not a huge fan of the statues, but I understand the appeal a little better now:

On our way back, Tori got to where she was too tired to walk, so I carried her back!

We had so much fun!! I think we may have frozen my poor Mom, but I think she had a good time all in all. I LOVE to go to temple square!

Our scripture for tonight was Matthew 2:9-10:

"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."