Deseret News | Reader comments: MormonTimes.com: Not all Utah temple trips can be considered simple

Reader comments
MormonTimes.com: Not all Utah temple trips can be considered simple

Ernest T. Bass | 7:57 a.m. June 25, 2008

What a worthwhile and tremendous sacrifice.

justme | 8:04 a.m. June 25, 2008

Even though I live half way between the Jordan River and Salt Lake temples it can take as long as 45 minutes to slightly over an hour to get to them. The reason - I rely on UTA to get me there. Jordan River did take only about 40-45 minutes to get to before the change from Rt. 17 to 217/218. Now it can take me and others who live in my area between 55 minutes to 75 minutes depending on which 217 you catch.

If I take Greyhound or Trailways to Ogden or Provo I can get there in about an hour (same as if I drove my self) but with UTA it can take either an hour and a half to almost 3 hours or more. Today we are going to Ogden using UTA service it will take almost 2 hours but to me it is worth it. Friday my husband and I will be attending the Provo Temple.

I would love to attend the Bountiful and Mt. Timpanogus temples but UTA doesn't go to them.

I am happy to be able to get to what temples I can by bus without having to rely on others.

Shauna | 8:21 a.m. June 25, 2008

These people know whats important. Good for them.

Comments continue below

Doug S | 8:50 a.m. June 25, 2008

It's *newsworthy* that some Mormons have to travel more than three hours to visit the temple?

Some Utahns need to get out of "Zion" a little more often and see how the bulk of their co-religionists live.

Simon Says | 9:03 a.m. June 25, 2008

I have lived in Utah for 1 year and am thrilled with the access that LDS have here to Temples, with 2 more nearing completion. My parents traveled from South Africa to London to attend the Temple, selling much to do so, including their car to pay for the flight over. Many other SA saints traveled to London, SLC, or Brazil to attend the Temple before a Temple was dedicated in SA in 1985. I personally lived 11 hours away from the Temple by car, and used to make the trip at least 4 times a year. 3-4 hours to a Temple is a dream. I know of LDS in Tanzania on the East Coast of Africa, who traveled 5 days in a cramped bus with no aircon in order to get to the Temple once in their lifetime. When my parents took us to the London Temple in 1972, they knew that the next time they attended one it would have to be in their own country. It was 13 years before that became possible. There are now 3 Temples in Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and SA. I applaud all those whom travel so far to the Lord's House.

Lucky me | 9:22 a.m. June 25, 2008

I found it interesting in a recent Church News article that mentioned why 3 new temples were announced in Arizona. One of the reasons was due to the hardship of people driving for 90 minutes to get to the Mesa Temple. I realize that there are quite a few members in AZ, but come on! Most of my life we've had to travel 4 to 8 hours one way to do temple work. Not living in Utah I am extremely lucky to live only 5 minutes from our temple. But sacrifice is what makes the entire temple experience worthwhile. In my opinion, I think less money should be spent on how the temples look and more on expanding the numbers of temples throughout the world. As one who knows first hand, there is sometimes a lot of wasted dollars just to keep up a nice image.

Rexburg | 10:01 a.m. June 25, 2008

I think the people in Rexburg had the right idea. They wanted a Temple, so they paid for it. I know that is out of reach for a lot of areas, but I think it shows that the more fortunate people of Rexburg would rather spend their money for righteous persuits rather than worldly posessions.

To Lucky me | 10:34 a.m. June 25, 2008

Unfortunately you assume the reason the temples were announced in Arizona was "due to the hardship of people driving for 90 minutes". If you had read the article when the temples were announced you would know that the Mesa temple is the busiest in the world outside of Utah. It is due to the demand not the drive. Obviously you have never been to the phoenix metro area (now the fifth largest city in the country nor do you understand the incredible population growth that has taken place here. Thanks for the comment about how temples look....I will let the First Presidency decide those issues.

not a utah mormon | 10:34 a.m. June 25, 2008

ya'll are a bunch of whiners. Practically everyone else in the rest of the country, let alone the world has to plan at LEAST a full day trip to visit the temple. For years I travelled 10 hrs one way and was thrilled when a temple was built "only" 4 hrs away. People in this state have no idea how good they have it. ya'll need to stop taking the gospel for granted and remember that there is a world outside of Utah. And *gasp* there are members of the church out there too.

41 | 10:37 a.m. June 25, 2008

Actually, it was the wonderful Sorensen family of SLC that provided the bulk of the resources to built the Rexburg Temple, only 25 minutes from the Idaho Falls Temple. Elder Nelson indirectly pointed that out by acknowledging Sis. Sorensen at one of the dedication sessions. I applaud the Rexburg Temple, though, especially for the many young couples attending BYI.

Gus | 10:38 a.m. June 25, 2008

to Doug S:

I found this story very interesting and newsworthy.

Whats up with Escalante? | 10:57 a.m. June 25, 2008

Did everyone know that Escalante (Boulder actually) happens to be the LAST destination in the United States that received mail by the pony express. Yep, those good folks out there must be tolerant individuals to always be picked last! Ouch! Hang in there my fellow brothers and sisters...your time will come, your time will come...

Re: To Lucky Me | 11:08 a.m. June 25, 2008

Relax, I just found the comment on the 90 minute drive very interesting when others go many hours. Those of us who live close by are spoiled and blessed at the same time. I do understand that the Mesa Temple is one of the busiest (notice I wrote "one of the reasons"), and I wasn't passing any judgment or second guessing the First Presidency at all. Luckily that's not my job. Since you're into judging, I just drove through Phoenix last week, so your assumption is wrong, I do know how fast it is growing, etc. I have many family and friends in the area as well. In my region, our temple was also supported in part by several wealthy families. Thanks to them we now live very close to our temple. Again, just relax.

az resident | 11:20 a.m. June 25, 2008

I live in arizona and drive 3 1/2 hours to the mesa temple, the snow flake temple is 8 hours away, and the new temples that will be built here will not help much with my drive, but I am grateful for a temple this close..even though it is 115 degrees in mesa in the summer, we try to go as often as we can.. i keep hoping that we will get a temple closer especially with the price of gas, but sacrifice teaches something..

Jordan River | 11:47 a.m. June 25, 2008

Someone mentioned in a post that the Mesa temple is the businest temple outside of Utah. I had heard that the Jordan River temple in South Jordan is the busiest temple in Utah in terms of number of ordiannces performed and attendance. That was part of the reason for the recent addition of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, also in South Jordan.
Can anyone verify that? Curious.

Ya' know | 12:08 p.m. June 25, 2008

I lived in Florida most of my life, and it used to take me four hours to get to the temple. And now that I live in Utah, I honestly kind of miss that.

When it takes all day to go to the temple, you treat it as the focus of the day. If you're lucky enough not to be driving, you can spend the trip down reading and pondering, focused for four hours on what is about to happen, then arrive in a better state of mind to participate, then participate, and, rather than jump immediately back to your home and work, have a chance to ponder on it all for the next four hours. Since it takes the whole day, it's much more special.

Although I do enjoy attending here, I miss the opportunity to just focus on it all day.

To Ya' know | 12:14 p.m. June 25, 2008

Take the extra eight hours you save in driving and focus on actual work. Do 4 or 5 more sessions. Count the blessings of being able to spend more time in the temple rather than driving to and fro.

Re: To Ya' know | 12:44 p.m. June 25, 2008

It's not just about saving the dead that's important, but perhaps ourselves as well. I think you missed the point. Going to the temple with the right frame of mind is equally important as doing sessions over and over without any thought. Too many people, myself included go without any thought just because we're told to. Who's plan does that sound like?

Jim in AZ | 1:03 p.m. June 25, 2008

The Mesa Temple is always full. We have had to wait two hours to get a session because of the line of people. It is also one of the bigger temples so you can imagine what I am talking about. There are about 400,000 Mormons in the phoenix area and I am not sure how many hold temple recommends but Even if there are 100,000 people that the temple serves plus Tucson who has 3 stakes, and most of southern AZ you can see why we need more temples. I for one am grateful that instead of driving 30 minutes I will only have to drive 20. :o)

Deseret Dawg | 1:06 p.m. June 25, 2008

Sorry, but it is extremely difficult to empathize with the Escalante LDS when so many other LDS worldwide must make MAJOR sacrifices to attend temple. The entire continent of Africa only has three temples - imagine the sacrifices African LDS must make.

By comparison, driving 3 1/2 hours in a motorized climate-controlled vehicle is hardly a sacrifice.

Huh? | 2:43 p.m. June 25, 2008

I'm sure the people in Escalante aren't looking for sympathy about their drive time to the temple, the writer is just stating facts about how close everyone that live in Utah is to a temple. So why does everyone start saying how they have to drive 8 and 11 hours like we are complaining over here? We know it is very convenient for us and less convenient for others in the world. No one is complaining about our drive time to temples here.

To Ya Know: You can still take the time to prepare and reflect before you go to the temple. It doesn't require a 4 hour drive to make yourself mentally and spiritually prepared. Take 4 hours to read scriptures or whatever in your home before you go. If the close proximity makes it less special to you, thats your own fault because of lack of effort and preperation. If you think its more special to make the temple trip an all day event (whether its required by travel or not), then make it an all day event. I for one find it a very great blessing to have the convenience to go whenever I want.

non-story | 3:48 p.m. June 25, 2008

The people who live in escalante CHOOSE to live in Escalante. I'm sure they are well aware of their isolation and adjust their lives accordingly - regarding the temple along with everything else. Talk about a non-story here. You could make a similar argument about Winnemucca, Nevada being so far from a temple, but that doesn't necessarily mean the church can or will build a temple anywhere near Winnemucca.

offthebeatenpath | 3:52 p.m. June 25, 2008

The expansion of temples worldwide makes it possible for people in many areas of the world to attend at least once in their lives where previously that opportunity may not have existed.

To those who live in more heavily populated LDS areas, having a temple so close by can be a great strength and support . . . if you use it.

For those who use excuses as a barrier to their attendance, 10 minutes would be inconvenient if they don't want to be there.

But to those who go whenever circumstances allow in a worshipful spirit seeking to be edified and blessed, no distance is too great and no sacrifice impossible to obtain the blessing available in the temple of God.

If the saints in Escalante continue to make their sacrifices to attend, it will be recognized and they will be blessed by our Father in Heaven.

And that is the purpose of attending the temple to begin with - to receive the peace and blessings that only come in the House of the Lord.

Gary | 4:42 p.m. June 25, 2008

When I moved to Kansas in 1981 we were in the Manti temple district (c. 1300 miles). We shifted to Dallas when it was built, only 8 1/2 hours away. Now we have our temple in Winter Quarters (Omaha, Nebraska) which is only 3 1/2 hours away. My wife and I are priviledged to be workers there and go up every other week. It is the journey and the willingness to follow it, not the distance.

OC Surfer | 5:00 p.m. June 25, 2008

Locally in SoCal, Stakes from Bakersfield, more than a 2 hour drive to Los Angeles, attend the LA Temple more than the Santa Monica Stake which is 5 minutes away from the LA Temple.

Here in the OC, while Mesa is the "busiest" temple outside of Utah, the Newport Beach Temple is the "busiest" smaller temple of the Church. Over 1.1 million ordinances in less than 2 years. Typically it requires a week to 2 week reservation in advance to get into a session. And the Newport Beach Temple was the first temple to be entirely paid in full by local members in the temple district.

kathyn | 5:48 p.m. June 25, 2008

I am glad the temples are kept beautiful because these truly are the Lord's houses and they should have nice grounds reflective of our reverence for the temple and the Lord. It is not a waste of resources at all.
I gladly donate to the temple fund each month.

NYMom | 6:57 p.m. June 25, 2008

Boooo hooo. I grew up having to go 8 hours ONE WAY. OMHECK!!!! My parents have to drive 4 days.....
Whiners.
I would be interesting to see who has the higher attendence rate per capital

hmmm | 7:10 p.m. June 25, 2008

time to build another temple.

ken | 8:10 p.m. June 25, 2008

I recall the days when we were in the Salt Lake
City Temple District. It took 33 hours plus one way.
Now we have a temple in our city "back East" and we are just down the road about 20 minutes from our temple here. See what 50 years did. I have lived in Guatemala near the temple in that city and have heard the stories of people who can't eat after they sell all and travel to the temple because there was no money left for food.

Mary | 10:22 p.m. June 25, 2008

My husband and I have decided to visit (do sessions) in every Temple in the world, and have found that the drive to the Temple is more important than any "date night". When we drove from Lexington, KY to Nashville, TN and then on to Memphis, TN and then on to Birmingham, Alabama, we spent time together, talked to each other, etc. The trip is part of the spiritual journey. As we are approaching our 65th Temple when we head to Canada in the fall, we will again be blessed to spend time in the car, looking forward to the "far off" Temple, so we can perform the ordiances for our ancestors, who are also "far off".

Fredd | 2:07 p.m. June 28, 2008

Just think if the the time, effort, and money spent on baptizing dead people was spent housing the homeeless, feeding the hungry, or training the jobless. And don't tell me about all the money the church spends on humanitarian efforts. A poor man who gives a dollar is holier then a rich man who gives two.

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