Reno Nevada Temple

Temple #76

Reno Nevada

July 28, 2017

     Our adventures in Europe were over, yet we still had many close temples we had to do and adventure to. This is where starts another fun trip, and a fun trip with our friends Brad and Erin Johnson. Brad has every other Friday off from work and so wanted to do a trip with us. We wanted to go to the Oakland California Temple soon because it was closing for over a year in February and we hadn't done it yet. So we talked and we made plans to go to San Francisco together!

     We started on Thursday and both got off work early to drive to Holden. This was halfway for both of us and is also where Heidi and Trevor live, and so made for a good meeting point. We climbed into Brad and Erin's car and began heading West on the loneliest highway. It literally has the nickname “the loneliest highway,” and for good reason. It passes only a few small towns and the roads are endlessly straight and deserted.

     We drove straight to Reno, starting at about 5:30, and getting there at midnight. We spent the night at the Nugget, a cheap and really nice casino hotel, but of course we didn't do any gambling. 

     In the morning we drove through downtown Reno and to the edge of Reno where the temple was. It sits upon a desert hill that overlooks the city and so we could see it from Reno as we drove West. 

     It definitely sticks out amongst the sagebrush and dead grass as we drove to it. It's surrounded by beautiful, well done landscaping and trees. We got there and first walked around it, admiring the stained glass and the polished granite. It's another cookie cutter temple, yet we didn't mind, we were glad to not be driving and to be at the temple. 

     We went in and did sealings which was fun. It's always fun to have friends you can go to the temple with, especially for us on trips because we don't like doing a trip without going to the temple. After the temple Brad and Erin both commented on how nice it was to just take a break from traveling and go relax and remember the Lord within His house. It helps get rid of the bit of stress that can occur through traveling. This is entirely true and part of why we love and long going to the temple while we travel. 

     Afterwards we took some fun pictures, then we ate some snacks in the parking lot. It was a blast, but our day wasn't over, it had only just begun! We left Reno and headed more West towards Lake Tahoe first, where we made a stop and took a swim and played some frisbee. Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous lake surrounded by snow capped mountains even though it was the end of July. The water was warm, clear and refreshing as well. 

     This was just the beginning of our trip and we couldn't wait to continue on and do more temples and see more of Northern California! We were so glad also that we had friends who also loved the temple and loved to travel. It's the best way to travel, to travel with friends, and one of the best activities to do is go to the temple!