Manhattan New York Temple

Temple #53

Manhattan, New York

January 9, 2016

Manhattan, New York Temple 

     New York! What a magnificent and wild city. We had made it to Pennsylvania, and had lived with Ivy's cousin for a few weeks until we found our own place. We were planning on only staying there a few months, and so finding a place to rent for four months was a little difficult. We eventually did, and it was not the best apartment we ever had, but it worked for us. It smelled of smoke and the walls were covered in grime and nicotine, so we painted the place and made it a little more homey. It turned out to be alright, and even our air mattress for a bed wasn't too bad. 

      On one weekend we decided to go to New York, hoping the Christmas lights were still on, and hoping to do the temple. We drove into Newark, parked our car, and then took the train into New York. This definitely was the easiest and cheapest way to do New York City, and we didn't have to deal with any traffic. 

      Ivy had been to New York City before, but this was my first time. When first walking out of the subway and into the streets right under the Empire State Building, my mind was blown away. Never had I seen so many big buildings and such a crazy, lively city. 

     We began walking the streets, taking pictures, and enjoying the views. Walking around Times Square, Central Park, and throughout many shops, was a blast. The Christmas lights were beautiful, and the tree in front of the Rockefeller building was still up. We also had some $1 slices of New York Pizza, which were delicious! We had some nearly every time we went. 

      There is something quite different about New York City that most other cities don't have, which draws millions of people to it, including us. While living back East we went to New York City about five or six times, just because it was so fun. 

     When Vera, Heidi and Trevor came and visited us we went, and that was one of the most fun times. We went to the coffee shop from Seinfeld, went to the Lion King on Broadway, saw the World Trade Center Memorial, and took a ferry passed the Statue of Liberty. We had a wonderful time! And each time we went we were able to do it for really cheap, usually doing the trip in one day, or one time staying in a fairly cheap hotel in Newark. 

     New York City is fun, but here is one thing that completes a trip there; the temple. It was nice that it was walking distance from Times Square, and didn't take us long to get there. We nearly missed as we were looking for it though, because it looks like just another tall building amongst hundreds. The only difference is the spire with an Angel Moroni on top. 

     One neat thing about New York for me is that it is where my dad served his mission. He remembers also when where the temple is was just church offices and he stayed near it in another building. In a way it was neat to go where my dad had served his mission. 

     We walked inside and instantly noticed how different of a temple it is. It's one of the most unique temples. The main floor is the baptistery, but the second floor is offices and a distribution center. The third floor is a church chapel, and the rest of the temple is on the other top three floors of the building. The only other temple like this in the world is the Hong Kong temple. 

     It's amazing as we went into the temple all sounds and aspects of Manhattan disappeared, and all we could hear was ourselves walking on the soft carpet. 

     It was beautiful in the Manhatten New York temple in every way. There are small details throughout it that a just stunning. The door handles are made to look like the Statue of Liberty torch. The beehive symbol of Utah was also in the temple, along with many other symbols. 

     We did a session, where we were the witness couple, and we loved it. Beautiful murals covered the walls in the front room, with spectacular woodwork framing the room. All of it was magnificent and was the prettiest building we had seen in all of New York City. 

     It felt like a dream after leaving the temple back into the noisy streets of Manhattan. Going from the pure, silent and clean rooms of the temple to the dirty, worldly streets of Manhattan New York was quite the contrast, and one of the biggest of any city. We enjoyed it though, loved our experience, and loved New York City. It is now a great memory we like to look back on, of fulfilling our dreams and going to New York City and the Manhattan temple. Please, if ever in the concrete jungle of New York City, do not miss the opportunity of going to this temple, one of the most unique temples in the world, and one of the most unique buildings in New York.