It isn't everyday that a temple in the Salt Lake valley opens up, and we are fortunate to have two temples opening soon. Yesterday was the first day the Draper Temple was open to the public and my stake had the opportunity to volunteer and help with this wonderful occassion. I felt truly blessed that I was able to partake and help with this event as well, and on the official opening day. I got to be an usher inside the temple, and let me tell you that it is absolutely beautiful. They had a special training course for all members who were ushers or helping with other responsibilities (traffic, missionaries, food, etc). After the training was through everyone was bused over to the temple and shown their assigned posts. In my training everyone in the room was given an assignment at the end and I was confused as to if I was in the correct place as I did not have an assigment. I was and it ended up that I was a rover, which kind of made me sad, but then glad in the same moment as I got to thinking that I could see all parts of the temple and not just one. As everyone on my shift was new they really didn't need a rover at the moment so they told us that they would stick me and the other rover (the RS president from my ward) in the cafeteria until about 6:30ish. As we made our way to the cafeteria we found that help was needed in the baptistry so Jordan and I were put there for about a half hour before they moved us to a different location. For the rest of the evening (about 4 or so hours) we stood outside the Marriage Waiting Room while Jordan directed people towards the bride's room and kept them out of the chapel. We were not allowed to talk, just nod our heads and motion with our hands as to where people were to go. I got a job that I was able to talk to people (thank heaven...imagine me not talking for that long of a time). The Marriage Waiting Room is where those people who had disabilities were kept until their whole group was there then they were to take the elevator to each floor. I was in charge of calling the elevator and letting the person running the elevatorwhere that group was going. I was also in charge of directing people when they got off the elevator and asking if they were continuing the tour or finishing the tour and escorting/directing them as to where to go.
It was such a wonderful evening, even though I was standing for more than 5 hours, and it was completely worth everything. I am so glad that I was able to be apart of this moment as there are not too many temples in UT that are built. My stake has two more assignments and I will be helping with those as well. I will be playing the organ for four hours on the very last day of the open house as well as another day in February. I encourage all to go and see this beautiful house of the Lord. It is truly a great testimony builder!
