BY JACOB S. FULLMER Church Magazines Temples offer peace the world can’t provide. A recent open house gave these youth a deeper look inside.

hy prepare for the temple? Service Counts WAfter attending an open Looking at the exterior of a temple can house for the Draper often provide a feeling of peace. But many Utah Temple, some 60 teens from the of these youth, who have already partici- Bluffridge and Whisperwood Wards pated in baptisms for the dead in other of the Syracuse Utah South Stake have temples, know that one of the great things plenty of answers. that goes on inside is serving others. “I And they also have a one-word defi ni- know that I’m helping people who can’t be tion of their experience: “Cool.” baptized for themselves,” Ryan says. Yes, cool. And it’s not because they Tyson’s sister, McKenna, 16, remembers got to see the beautiful windows, carpets, feeling nervous her fi rst time doing bap- and paintings. It’s because they know tisms for the dead. But at the open house, the feeling of the temple comes from a when she saw the Draper temple font sup-

remarkably rare peace available inside. ported by 12 white oxen, it reminded her “You get the coolest feeling and know of the blessings of temple service. that it’s a holy place,” says Tyson Clark, 14. “Just entering the temple helps you DESERET NEWS The Syracuse youth laughed and feel a little calmer,” she says. “But as you talked together as they arrived. But noise do baptisms, the feeling gets even better. dropped to whispers as they entered the Leaving the baptistry, the Syracuse youth lower level of the temple itself, through walked up a wide staircase to the second polished brass-and-glass doors that lead fl oor. Their heads kept swiveling as their to the baptistry. Their eyes were as wide long line slowly progressed past images of as their smiles. the Savior and paintings of local landscapes. “When you come through the door, “It was nice looking around and everyone stops talking,” Tyson says. noticing things by yourself,” says Megan Ryan Tucker, 16, says, “I noticed the Skidmore, 15. “It’s nice to get away from peace and serenity the moment I walked the world. It helps me feel like I have in.” It helped him to leave worries of the someplace to go if I ever feel alone.” world behind. As they stepped into the celestial room, “I noticed the quiet awe replaced already softened whispers. They craned their necks just enough to take in the detailed glass peacethe and moment serenity chandelier hanging in midair, with a high, I walked in.” vaulted ceiling overhead. CALL AND AUGUST MILLER, © PHOTOGRAPHS BY JACOB FULLMER, EXCEPT AS NOTED; TEMPLE RAVELL

NEW ERA OCTOBER 2009 21 Refl ections on Eternity Stockton keeps it Their fi nal glimpse inside simple: “Keep being holy. the temple included a short Repent if you do some- stop in one of its fi ve sealing thing wrong. Just prepare “It’s important to rooms. This was the favorite to go to the temple.” room of recently ordained dea- “It’s defi nitely worth it to con Stockton Stoker, age 12. go to the temple. You just

stay “When you look at the mir- have to remember what so I can worthy be rors on either side of the altar, you’re on earth for,” says married in the refl ections just keep going,” he Tyson. “The temple is a place that says. “It represents that families can can help us learn where we’re at the temple. be together forever.” spiritually and how to be a better It’s what McKenna says, “It’s important to person.” I’ve wanted stay worthy so I can be married in In other words, by getting away to do the temple. It’s what I’ve wanted to from the world, we gain the per- my whole life.” do my whole life.” PREPARE spective we need to get along in Perhaps the most important “As temples are the world. And after all, isn’t that NE understanding the open house prepared for our what we’re really after in life? PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTINA SMITH; BACKGROUND CRAIG DIMOND TOP LEFT: reinforced, however, was that the members, our “Keep being holy. temple can already be a very real members need part of their lives. They each have to prepare for the Repent if you their own ways of keeping an eye temple.” do something wrong. on the temple. Megan and Ryan Elder Russell M. Just Nelson of the like keeping pictures of a temple Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, prepare on their walls because it helps them “Personal to the temple.” remember what it’s like when they Preparation for Temple Blessings,” to go are there. McKenna suggests setting Ensign, May 2001, 32. NEmore To see the video that was shown at the aside time to read the scriptures and Draper temple open house, follow our what they say about the temple. link at newera.lds.org .

Teens from the Syracuse Utah South Stake made an appointment to tour the Draper Utah Temple during its open house. (Far right) Artist’s rendering of the Helsinki Finland Temple and photos of the open house and spire of the completed Finland temple.

22 CELEBRATING THE TEMPLE and listened to the speakers, including IN FINLAND President Gordon B. Hinckley. He also partici- pated in the open house, and his mother sang BY ANNA CULP in a choir. “My best experience was to hear the he Helsinki Finland Temple was prophet and to see him with my own eyes. My Tdedicated on October 22, 2006. Janna testimony was strengthened,” Aleksi said. Koivu, 18, and Aleksi Kiikko, 17, were Janna describes her favorite experience of asked to share how they felt about the temple. the dedication: “I was grateful and very moved, Janna says, “When the temple was fi n- and also felt great peace. My eyes moistened ished and I went to the open house, I said it when I got to raise my hand and wave the small was the most beautiful building in Finland. white handkerchief three times in the air with I began to understand how very blessed we everyone else and with the prophet.” She keeps are to have our own temple.” the handkerchief as a reminder of that day. Aleksi notes that even during construction, Janna and Aleksi have strengthened their the workers (who are not always Latter-day testimonies through temple attendance. Janna Saints) honored the temple grounds by not says, “I believe temples are a small piece of cussing, not drinking, and not listening to heaven on earth. Temple attendance inspires inappropriate music. me to repent and live so that I can enter wor- Before the Helsinki temple was dedi- thily into the temple to perform baptisms for cated, members of the Church traveled to the the dead and, later in my life, other covenants.” Temple, which sometimes Aleksi says, “I believe temples are the Lord’s included a two-hour bus ride and an 11-hour house. I try to honor temples as well as I can overnight ship ride. Aleksi says that at fi rst, he and try to live so that every time I go to the was disappointed to lose the fun youth trips to bishop for a temple recommend, I can without Sweden, but after attending the Helsinki temple, a doubt say I am worthy to step in the house concludes that these temple trips are special in of the Lord.” NE their own way. “It is fun to see how other mem-

bers honor the same things I do,” he says. DESERET NEWS The day before the temple open house, many Saints participated in a cultural perfor- mance. Aleksi played guitar in the performance ABOVE: PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN LUKE; CHRISTINA © SMITH; AND SHAUN STAHLE,

NEW ERA OCTOBER 2009 23