I said at the last post that I didn't have a good video of the internal part of tabernacle turned temple in Provo. I found it this week. It is amazing. I can't wait to see it in person. I know some articles I've read have compared it to famous architecture in Europe, one particular article compared it to a castle in Germany, though I don't remember the name of it at the moment. The open house began yesterday and I think some of the weather (being cold and a little snowy) may have deterred a few, but I expect the numbers will go up soon, particularly during the weekends.
The rooms in the temple have particular purposes that may not be understood by those not familiar with the Mormon religion. I can explain a few rooms in the video that may seem strange to others. The Celestial room is used for prayer, personal reflection, and spiritual strengthening for the attendees. The endowment room is an instruction room, basically a type of classroom. The baptistry is where baptisms are performed for the deceased--members believe that when people die, it is not the end...and thus they still have a chance for salvation. The sealing room is where marriage ceremonies occur as well as families (husbands, wives, and their children) are bound together for eternity. The family is most important and because of the belief that life extends beyond this earth life, all of these ceremonies are performed in behalf those who are deceased as well.
I have a former neighbor that found this picture of the choir I was in while I was younger--this picture actually has the four main choirs combined. This is not all one chorus. It was taken during the time I was in it, so I'm positive I'm in there. It was taken in the Provo Tabernacle during a concert. This is one of the many reasons this building means so much to the community here. Many choirs sang there for concerts and other performances. I still remember the polished wood banisters against my hands as I walked up and down the stairs.
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| Photo taken by Chris Herbert |
