Spokane Washington Temple

Temple #31

May 13, 2015 

Spokane, Washington 

Temple

 

     Washington State has been one of our favorite states in America. Not only are there some fun cities, but it has some beautiful scenery incomparable to much of the world. The greenery exceeds most places, and the mountains are as breathtaking as anywhere else along the Rocky Mountains.

     After our fun few days in Vancouver Canada, we drove towards Spokane Washington to do the temple there. It was clear across the state, hours away, yet was a marvelous drive. 

     Just as we had done in Arizona with Ivy's parents, we listened to audiobooks to help the time pass by. It was fun doing so, but during much of our drive to Spokane we paused the CD and enjoyed the scenery. 

     We first started off by driving through Cascades National Park. Massive mountains rose high around us, which cradled bright blue lakes and rivers. It was a wonderful drive, and a beautiful park. 

 

     We continued on, thinking we had left the beauty of the park, but were wrong. The drive to Spokane was marvelous. We drove over mountains and hills, passed valleys and rivers. Along all the hills were acres and miles of fields and orchards. The area is known for their orchards of all different types of fruits, including apples, pears, peaches, nectarines and plums. The endless rows of trees stretching over every mountain and hill was quite the sight. It was wonderful. 

     After the hills and mountains the view turned to small rolling hills covered in fields of barley, hay and other grains. This too was scenic, and lasted nearly until Spokane. 

     Spokane was different than all else we had seen. It seemed more dry and less green, and flat. The highlight of the area was definitely the temple. When we first arrived to Spokane we ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory, where we laughed and enjoyed a delicious meal, and Ivy had one of her favorite meals; a cilantro lemon shrimp salad. We then went to our hotel, and slept well. 

      The next day we woke up early and did sealings. It's always refreshing to wake up early and do one of the first sessions or sealings. It's the best way to start off the day. Sealings is always one of our favorite things to do, because it always reminds us of our wedding day. Looking across the altar at each other and smiling often brings tears as memories flow back to our minds. It's also neat to see our parents do the same thing as we do sealings with them, as if we had been to their wedding.

     The Spokane Washington Temple was a small temple, with the same design as all the other small temples built around 1999-2001. 

     One thing unique about this temple though is that the Angel Moroni was at one point replaced, and fixed to face west, just as the temple itself was. Most temples have the Angel Moroni facing East, to welcome the Savior at his second coming, yet there are few that do face west or another direction. This is because it fits better with the the temple lot and the direction the temple itself faces. 

     The temple was spiritual and great. We still love the smaller temples, although they are all the same, it's always peaceful and comforting to go to the temple. And although Vera and Darcy had already gone to the Spokane Temple, they were kind enough to go again, and knew they would also benefit from it. 

     We then left Spokane, and headed to the next temple in Washington. So far it had been an amazing trip, and we only expected it to continue to be amazing.