Not all temple trips simple

For most Utah members of the LDS Church, "traveling" for temple worship is not a lengthy task.Especially along the Wasatch Front, a 20-minute drive will get most

people to the nearest temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints. In some areas, if you're willing to drive 25 or 30

minutes, you could have the choice of two, or even three, temples to

attend.Even off the Wasatch Front, attending a temple session for a

Utahn usually doesn't require a full day. Of 522 stakes in Utah, 521

are within a two-hour drive of the nearest temple.The exception is Escalante."We look at it, at least I do, that in South America, in Mexico,

how far they have to travel, and people spend their life's savings to

go the temple," said Myron D. Cottam, president of the Escalante Utah

Stake. "Three or three-and-a-half hours is not very long when you

compare it to that."The Escalante stake comprises six wards — Boulder, Cannonville,

Escalante 1st, Escalante 2nd, Henrieville and Tropic — in central

Garfield County, bordered by Bryce Canyon National Park on the west,

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on the south, Capitol Reef

National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the east, and

the Boulder Mountains on the north.The area is scenic. Urban it is not.Almost 90 percent of Utah Mormons could drive to a temple,

participate in a temple-ordinance session and then drive home — in less

time than most Escalante Stake members can drive one way to a

temple.Escalante is officially in the St. George temple district; St.

George is 185 miles away. Manti is a little closer, at 164 miles, but

either will take about three-and-a-half hours one way, according to