Washington D.C. Temple

Temple #52

Washington D.C.

December 12, 2015

     After a fun week of traveling, we were near our destination of Pennsylvania, yet we still had one more temple we wanted to do; the Washington D.C. temple. After driving from Texas and across the country, this was our final destination. 

     Washington D.C. is a unique and fun city. We parked our car along the Potomac River near the Jefferson Memorial. We then walked from there, and explored the National Mall. We saw the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the White House, the Capitol, and roamed around a little. 

     Later on while living in Pennsylvania, we came back to D.C. and explored it more. It was around two hours or so away from where we lived, and so we went about four times, with the D.C. temple also being our temple. One of the prettiest times we went was when the cherry blossoms were blooming, which was beautiful. Pink flowers covered nearly every tree in the area, it was amazing. 

      Vera, Heidi and Trevor at one point even came and visited us back East. We made our first stop in D.C., where we enjoyed all the sights by renting bicycles, which was a blast! 

     While riding towards the Lincoln Memorial though, I came upon some missionaries, who I found out were serving in Virginia, and were about to go home. At this same time Lana, Ivy’s cousin, was serving her mission in Virginia, so I asked the Elders if they knew her. She was about to return home, and unfortunately we would miss her homecoming and wouldn't see her for a while since we were still living back East, which made Ivy fairly sad. 

     The missionaries, looking surprised, said they did know her, and in fact, was there in D.C. as well. They pointed behind us and said, “she's right over there.” Ivy was so excited that she jumped on her bike and rode away without saying goodbye. And just as the Elders had said, Lana, or Sister Litchfield, was just around the other side of the Lincoln Memorial. 

     Lana was sure surprised as her cousins and aunt came and gave her a hug. We all talked and found out that she was just leaving, and had just done the temple for her last day on her mission. It was neat how we were lucky enough to run into her, and knew we were guided to be there right at the right moment. If we had been anywhere else riding bikes we would have missed her. It was a tender mercy for sure, which made Ivy really happy. 

     On our first time to D.C., and every other time we went, we made sure to go to the temple. It is a magnificent, enormous temple. Other than the Salt Lake City Temple, the Washington D.C. Temple is the largest temple. Even when driving up to it it seems enormous. If you're headed to it on the freeway, as you turn a corner it rises above you and takes your eyes off the road for a moment. It's impossible to miss as you drive by it. 

     During the day as you walk to the temple, it is beautiful and a pretty walk up to it with a fountain at front, but at night it sometimes is more beautiful. There is stained glass on the corners that shine bright from the lights inside. While inside the massive temple during the day the stained glass is brilliant as the sun shines through. 

     It's an older temple, and you can kind of tell, but there is a great spirit there that fills the building. It's a large building and I always got turned around inside as we move between the floors. A set of spiral staircases are on each corner that connect all the floors. Each floor is gorgeous, and the rooms and Celestial room are large and very pretty. 

     The D.C. temple is one of our favorite temples, and for so many reasons. During the Christmas season it has some of the best Christmas light decorations. There is also a visitor center next to the temple which is fun to tour through. It's a great temple, has served thousands of people for a long time, and has blessed us as well. If ever in the Washington D.C. area, do not miss the opportunity to go to the temple, for it truly is one of the best!