Guest Blogger: Another Perspective

Guest Blogger:  Carol Popper (her first blog ever)

Disclaimer #1:   I am not a member of the Mormon Church, but I do manage to spend 95% of my holidays with some.  I have some very good friends that are Mormon.

Disclaimer #2:   My daughter, Valerie (a member of the church) takes most of the photos on this blog and we are very proud of her.

"Today, I got to take a private tour of the Kansas City Temple. 

It was not my first time to a “pre-dedicated” temple (the Anchorage Alaska one was my first) so I sort of knew what to expect.   I knew there would be very nice, elegant and beautiful rooms.   I am not sure what all the rooms were named or even what purpose they have but that was not important to me.

I will tell you that even among the cords, ladders, boxes (full and empty) it was very…. shall I say peaceful?  

It is a very comforting building. 

  

The floors, walls and furnishings are very nice.   Calm, muted shades of cream, greens and beige are everywhere.  

As you come into a room you notice lots of nice things but then your eyes are drawn upward, to the bright beautiful ceilings.  It is almost as if you are looking toward Heaven (hmmm could be a theme?)   The ceilings are white, with lots of delicate gold trim and in the corners of most rooms (Sealing, Brides room, Celestial) very intricate designs.  Needless to say the chandeliers are gorgeous, very bright and shiny with lots of crystals.   

I noticed the cream colored rugs have cut areas that match the intricate designs of the ceiling.  It is very cool.   As I entered the Celestial Room, the archway above the huge doors is all glass and it also matches the rug and ceiling design. Very, very cool.

I was told that the wood for the pulpit in the Chapel is from the “field with the really long name that I can’t say or spell” (I am sorry to my Mormon friends I have never been able to say it… I can drive to it but I can’t say it!)  [Adam Ondi Ahman].

The mural in the Ordinance Room is so much like the landscape here in Missouri with green rolling hills.

The attention to detail is so wonderful from the small lamps in the Bride Room to the curtains behind the Ordinance Room to the carpet details.   If you stand on the landing of the carpeted stairs look at the vines on the stair treads…. they match exactly.  It is like one long vine.

I think my favorite (or maybe second favorite part – next to the ceilings) are the floral arrangements.  I must say that the people that did them are awesome.  The flowers are not real but… they are very life-like.  They are set in clear vases with the acrylic water. I notice that some of the flower ends that would be in the water actually look like the real thing like  roots, vines,  with them in slightly colored water like they are really rooted.  I caught myself wanting to smell them.  They bring a very nice bright spot of color and comfort to a classy space.

I did tell my daughter tonight that I feel all Mormons should be very proud of this temple.   It is truly a beautiful place.   Even though I will probably never enter it after the dedication, I can see why it means so much to all of you.  The grounds are nice and I can see a walk there in the summer just to enjoy the quiet peacefulness that seems to live there.

Good job to all that were involved.  It was worth the wait."

Carol Popper was able to take a tour through the temple last month.  I loved reading about her experience.  If you would like to share yours, let us know.