Memphis and Nashville Tennessee Temples

Temple's #45 & #46

Memphis & Nashville, Tennessee

November 24/25, 2015

 

     We just got back from the Dominican Republic, and it was thanksgiving week, and we had not a thing to do for thanksgiving. We were still staying at the nice old couple I lived with on my mission, the Blodgetts, but they were having family over for Thanksgiving and there wouldn't be room for us. So what did we do? We drove to Tennessee! Neither one of us had been there, and there were two temples there we needed to do. 

     We first started off our drive by going through Arkansas, which is a great state. We drove through Hot Springs National Park, which is a unique but fun National Park in a pretty area. There just happened to be some type of chili cook off there, and we paid a little and had a buffet of chili! It was fun, delicious and spicy. 

 

     We then drove to Memphis, and explored the city a little. We saw a giant fish and bass store, a statue of Elvis, and walked the streets that played the blues! It was fun and entertaining for sure. 

 

     We then went on to the temple, which was the reason we were there. The temple is a small one, which is simple and identicle to most temples built around the same time. We then parked our car at the temple, had a little picnic on a picnic table that was on the temple grounds, and then, because we’re cheap, we slept in our car. It wasn't too bad, and was fairly comfortable. We woke up early in the morning with the sun, and woke up to the view of the temple, which is gorgeous. We often have slept in our car, and find that either church or temple parking lots are the best, or at least feel the safest. 

     It was a beautiful temple, and the people of Memphis are very blessed to have it. We enjoyed are time there, but then moved on farther into Tennessee. We drove to Nashville, and went to the temple first thing. 

 

     The temple was just like the Memphis temple, being one of the smaller ones. We got our picture and went inside. It seemed like deja-vu almost doing the two temples which were nearly identicle. The only difference was the people in our session. 

     While going through the session, Ivy and I noticed someone who looked familiar. She bet it was someone famous, and I wasn't sure. We did the session, and I ended up going through with him, and then I went into the dressing room with him. I talked to him, and surely enough, it was David Archuleta, the American Idol kid from Utah. He was living in Nashville at the time for his music career, and went to the temple quite often. 

     It was fun to see him there, knowing he was still strong in his faith even while famous. It was a good session, and a memorable one. 

     After the temple we went into downtown Nashville and walked around. We heard music on the streets, and walked around the shops and museums of the city. Ivy got a delicious caramel apple, and I found a sign just for me. 

 

     We then went and saw the exact replica of the Parthenon of Athens Greece, which was on a pretty park as well. It was a fun city with a bit to do, and with much musical history. 

 

     We then stayed at a hotel near the temple, and the next day was Thanksgiving! We didn't have anything to do and so we went to a homeless shelter and tried to help volunteer there, but they were too packed with volunteers, and so we tried another one. That one too was too packed, and so they offered us a meal. We kindly refused and went on our way. I suppose it's true when they say Tennessee is the volunteer state. 

     We headed back towards Texas after that, and stopped at a Cracker Barrel to get or thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately for me, who loves pumpkin pie, they were out of pumpkin pie. But we had a good meal that evening and it was still enjoyable. 

     We stayed at another hotel and then headed back to the Blodgetts the next day, because the day after that we were picking up our friends Brad and Erin from the airport, to begin another fun trip! 

     We had done two new temples that week and had seen a lot. We had seen the city of the Blues, and city of Country. It was fun, it was spiritual, and a great experience. It was a more lonely Thanksgiving, yet Ivy and I had each other, and that is all we needed. Tennessee is a great state!