Atlanta Temple

The Atlanta Temple has been closed for two years for renovation. It's being rededicated on May 1st and George, Cambrie and I get to be in the temple for the dedication. The Open House started last week so we had the opportunity of being ushers yesterday. I've never had this experience before and it's something I'll never forget.

When we got to the temple yesterday, there were members of the church buzzing around everywhere. It was exciting, and a bit surreal. I kept thinking of the church produced movies about the building of various temples, specifically about the Salt Lake and Nauvoo temples. You know the movies, when the saints are anxiously serving in any capacity they can and they bear testimony to everyone they see because they simply cannot keep it to themselves. That's what it was like. The members here haven't had a temple for over two years and it was so exciting being there together. I can't tell you how many touching stories I've heard already, peoples lives are being transformed right before our eyes.

There was a lady there with a group yesterday who left the reception tent, and then came back in all by herself. She picked up a comment card, wrote something on it, and then left. One of the lead ushers picked it up and she had written, "How do I become a member of your church? I love the feeling I felt while in the Celestial Room." There have been reporters who have had to stop interviews because they've been overcome with emotion, many people on the VIP tours (mostly famous, big politicians, or religious leaders) were emotional in the Celestial Room. People are walking out of the temple with mouths open, completely shocked by the beauty and surprised because it was unlike anything they ever expected.

We are going as a family to the open house this Saturday, and we're taking a professor from Emory and his family with us. We are so excited to share this with them, and have threatened our children with their lives :) We are also going with a couple less active families next week, and have invited another non-member family to go with us next weekend. I can't get enough, my testimony has grown so much by seeing the Lord's hand in his work...it's miraculous.

By the way, I LOVE Elder Holland. In the movie guests see before the tour starts, he bears powerful testimony of eternal families. If you have ever seen an open house movie, it's the same clip they use in all of them. There's a reason they use it. I watched the movie about 15 times while volunteering yesterday, and I got teary eyed each time he spoke. It's genuine, and you can't deny the spirit testifying to you as he bears witness of eternal families and temple work.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church upon the earth today.

There is no doubt about it in my mind.

None.