Provo City Center Temple

Temple #64

Provo City Center, Utah

May 27, 2016

     Ivy and I were now back in Utah, happy to be home and excited for more adventures! While we were gone the Provo City Center temple was built and dedicated and we couldn't wait to go to it. We were busy so much trying to catch up with all we had missed in the past eight months that it took us over a month to get to the Provo City Center temple. We had driven by it while it was being rebuilt before we left to Texas, and then drove by it after we got home, but it wasn't until later that we finally got to it. 

     It sits right on University Avenue in Provo and can be seen clearly as you drive either North or South down the road. The temple is a beautiful building that stands out amongst the surrounding buildings. It's unique compared to so many other temples for a few different ways. When reading the history of the temple and what it used to be it's interesting and great what history it has. 

     For a quick history; it was once a tabernacle, the first one built by the pioneers in 1861, but then burnt down in 2010. The Church didn't want to tear down the historic building and so they kept the outer brick structure that had stayed intact during the fire. It was amazing to watch as the ground below the tabernacle was removed and the temple was slowly built. It was unbelievable what the construction crews did and the building now has the original old red brick walls. 

     The temple has five steeples with the largest in the center, which only the Sacramento and Cochabamba temples are that way. It's built to look like the old tabernacle with old looking stained glass and brick on the outside. 

     It was wonderful walking through the front two doors. Immediately we noticed the beauty and magnificence of the building as we looked around. The woodwork is gorgeous in every room and hallway. There is a large staircase in the temple with a wooden railing, and all throughout the temple there is wonderful carpentry. Much of the woodwork was copied from materials saved from the fire. We could feel the spirit of the pioneers as we walked through the temple. 

      In the endowment rooms there were gorgeous murals with scenery that seemed to depict the surrounding mountains. There was even a horse in the mural which was unique. 

     The Provo City Center temple is one of a kind and an amazing temple and is even one of our favorites. It's also one of the closer temples to us and makes it easy to go and visit. We’ve gone there a few times and also done baptisms for the dead with our niece Kaylee. She was the first of our nieces or nephews to turn twelve and go to the temple. She had turned twelve while we were in China and so we were so happy to finally go with her a few months later. The baptistery is just as beautiful as the rest of the temple and it was a great experience. 

     We hope that all who can will go to the Provo City Center temple and experience the beauty and the spirituality of it. It is a wonderful temple of God and a beautiful building.