Visiting the San Diego Temple

I can’t remember the year, but the first time I saw the San Diego Temple I was driving south on the I-5 and it was under construction.  The two large steeples were steel girders, devoid of the wonderful texture that now graces them.  I remember thinking even back at that time (1990 or 1991) that the design looked different than other temples I was familiar with.  The shortened story behind the design, from the way I have come to understand it, is that when the Church was ready to begin construction, the three head architects (two Catholics and a Mormon, interestingly enough) were initially asked to use the same basic design as the Boise, Idaho or Las Vegas, Nevada Temples.  But the property and the aesthetics of the area didn’t really lend itself to that particular design.  Realizing this, the three asked the leadership of the Church if they could be allowed to come up with their own design for the San Diego Temple and were given permission.  The result of their efforts was a temple with a very unique shape.  As with any other temple, however, the wonderful spirit attending the special work conducted inside for both the living and the dead is the greater draw.

Over the years, whenever we have traveled down to the San Diego area, we have almost always ended up visiting the San Diego Temple.  As I’ve looked through our digital pictures (and the photo albums Jen created for both Ben and Isaac when they were younger), I’ve found photos of us with some portion of the San Diego Temple in the background (here is one with Ben and Isaac and their Aunt Heather from a visit she made back in 2009 J).  Now that Ben has received his own endowments, Jennifer and I wanted to take him inside the local temples that we have visited outside for so many years.  San Diego took its turn today. J

I guess I shouldn’t have been, but I was amazed by the number of weddings taking place at the time we arrived!  It appears that San Diego, because of its unique architecture, is a desired location for many wanting to be married in the House of the Lord. J  We arrived at noon and were lucky to get a parking spot from someone who was leaving (she actually back out in such a way as to block anyone from trying to snag it from us).  Since we knew that sessions started every 30 minutes from 12:30 to 2:00, we decided to eat the lunch we had brought before leaving the car (which worked because the spot we had been able to procure was in shade).  Afterward, we walked the grounds for a few moments.  I guess we’ve usually come to the San Diego Temple at times when it has been less likely that a wedding would be held or on a day other than a Saturday.  I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many people milling about on the grounds either waiting for brides and grooms to exit the temple or to find out if they needed to be included in a picture.  After a few minutes, we decided to go inside.  With the time we had taken for lunch and the few minutes we had spent outside, we were set for the 1:00 session … and then found out that the principle language for that session would be Spanish.  We could have used headphones, but after discussing the situation we decided to wait for the 1:30 session.

We were told we could sit on a bench at the foot of a grand staircase as we waited for one of the temple workers to tell us when it would be time to gather in a small chapel for the next session.  As we quietly talked, we saw several more brides and grooms either being ushered toward a sealing room or toward a door leading outside where family and friends had gathered to wait for them (at one point, one of the newly married couples must have stepped exited the building for a loud cheer erupted that we could hear J).  Several minutes later, a sister directed us to an elevator in order for Ben to avoid the staircase.

After years of visiting the San Diego temple, walking the grounds and touching the exterior walls, it was fun to share the temple with Ben in a way he has never experienced before.  As he prepares to leave on his mission, attending the temple will help him gain greater spiritual strength.  He really enjoyed coming into the Celestial Room at the end of the session.  I found this picture and want to include it give an idea of the beautiful way these rooms represent coming into the presence of the Father.  The sweet, peaceful feeling that washed over us as we entered the room was wonderful.  We spent some time quietly talking and then left to return home.  Next week, we will take Ben to the Los Angeles Temple.