And angels are coming to visit the earth . . .

Sunday morning Karl and Willie and I went to the seventh session of the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was very good . . .

• I have watched the building of this particular temple since the announcement by President Hinckley in General Conference, October 2005, that it would be built to its dedication this monring.
  
• This is a special temple because it is named after the mountains of the west side of Salt Lake County -- our mountains. I grew up in the Magna area at the foothills of the Oquirrhs and lived in what was called the Oquirrh Stake (later named Magna Utah Stake).
  
• My oldest daughter and her family live in Day Break, the Kennecott Land Development in South Jordan (Kennecott Land donated the gound for the temple). We can see the temple from her home and as we drive to and from her neighborhood.
  
• Our family participated in the temple open house on the last Saturday of June. I was inspired and impressed by the decor -- especially its collection of art that celebrated Utah artists and annonymous pieces done just for the temple.
  
• I drove by the temple at least once a month (if not once a week) during its construction. I can't find words to describe my feelings each time it came into view -- just a beautiful monument to behold.
  
• With Shavy Jones in operation this summer and so close to the temple, I saw a glimpse of the ongoing parade of families and others going the temple and the countless volunteers who directed the whole open house operation. It's amazing to me that things of that magnitude actually come to pass.
  

At the dedication session Sunday morning, I was pretty content to sit with my eyes closed as speakers and choir numbers followed a well-outlined script. But, as the dedication concluded and the choir and congregation began to sing "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning," I felt a certain sureness that what we had just experienced was from God. When the words of the song moved to " . . . the visions and blessings of old are returning, and angels are coming to visit the earth," my eyes welled up and the spirit of the Lord was in my heart, and it felt good.

I hope the angels in heaven will be with me and my family -- when they come to visit the earth.