From my point of view:
Yesterday was the groundbreaking. My dad and mom had been invited a few weeks ago by their stake president. For the past month, in our Sacrament meetings they've read a letter asking us to attend at our stake center, where it would be broadcast via satellite. They said there are currently 12 stakes in our temple district, (and predicted that number may increase by the time it is built). That would be too many to attend, so it was made available by satellite for the majority. FYI, the temple district spans Northern Colorado , Southeast WY, and SW Nebraska, from Boulder to the Southwest, and Casper, WY, to the Northwest, my hometown.
At 8:30 am yesterday, our home teacher, who is a member of our stake presidency called.
I answered.
"How would you like to go to the temple site this morning for the groundbreaking?" he asked.
I began crying and said that we'd love to.
Several families we know received phone calls like this. Initially the plan was to keep the numbers lower, but in the 12 hours preceding the event, Elder George F. Rhodes, who is an Area Authority Seventy, asked that a few more families be invited to attend.
We arrived around 9:30 am, with the program scheduled to begin at 10.
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| The scene as we approached. |
There were many seats, but they were filled, we stood at the back, on the right.
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| From my point of view. Our church building is north of the site, across the street. |
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| The program |
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| Ronald. A Rasband speaking. Later, he dedicated the land for temple construction. |
I did not record the ceremony, or even take notes, but
Elder Rasband did read this quote,
“Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple
completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy
Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the
power of God and Godliness.”
—President George Q. Cannon (from lds.org).
This temple is a unique design, and will be equal in size to the Denver Temple. It is in line to be the 155th operating temple, but that is subject to change based on how quickly the construction on it and others progresses. It is expected to be complete in 2015 or 2016. (As of the groundbreaking date, there are 141 in operation worldwide).
He offered a prayer of dedication--dedicating the land for building. What impressed me about it was that it included praying for the safety of those who would work there.
This video (20 seconds long), is the closing hymn.
After the closing prayer, which was given by the stake president, Millard Smathers, from Casper, WY (my hometown), many groups were invited to come dig into the soil. The Coloradoan published a great photo of civic and community leaders on their website, listed below. They also interviewed Nathan as we were getting ready to leave. It is not a long story, but he did get his name in the Coloradoan article mentioned below.
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| My parents, who in 1968 drove from Washington, D.C. to Logan UT, to be married in the temple. |
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| Our family |
It is hard to describe the emotions I felt, but here's my attempt.
I felt grateful to be invited.
I wished that more of my close friends could see it in person, yet I understand the reasoning behind keeping it small.
I feel happy that the temple will be so close, and excited that we will be able to share it with members of the community when it is completed and open during the open house.
I feel enthusiasm that my children will be able to see it built from the ground up.
I feel proud to be an American, where religious freedom allows us to worship in the temple.
Here are some relevant links:
Official Site: Fort Collins Colorado Temple
Coloradoan article on the Groundbreaking
More information from LDS church about temples
You Tube video with a 3D view of Fort Collins, CO Temple design
(Over the next two years as the building progresses, I will continue to post updates. If you want to see all of them, click on "a temple in our city" in the label cloud at the right).
