The real thing is always better than the TV attempt to duplicate it.

I much rather celebrate the opening of a center for abused children, or women, or a trainning center for unemployed people or.....some other work that will show our realy love and desire to honor God.....by loving our fellowmen, you know?

Just a question: When was the last time you actually donated your time, money or even showed your love to those last fortunate? "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone".

To I beg to differ, you just don't get it. While what you said about programs to help others is very important so is obeying the word of God, part of obeying is temples, and the work that is done there is in keeping with God's will. You need to get a copy of the Book of Moses and in there it talks more about temples and the divine purpose that God has commanded. The Book of Moses was found with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Bible talks about Temples and there purpose. So deal with it, we are keeping the commandments of God by building Temples and conducting the work of God. You and others like you may not believe it now, however, when the time comes and God calls you and others home you will find out how right we are.

I've been to 5 other Temple open houses in recent years and for the Draper Temple they tried out something new "a self guided tour" where you stand in a continuous line and walk through all of the rooms with no explanation (other than small displays that many people didn't take the time to read).

Talk about a good way to kill the presence of the spirit. I sure hope they don't choose the self guided tour format for future Temples. Imagine standing in line to go on a ride at Disneyland. That is exactly how the tour went. People were talking at normal levels, kids were screaming, everyone was packed in. Even the celestial room was like this.

The only place where there was a small chance of feeling the spirit was in the sealing room (which is noted in the article), at which point a limited number of people went in, they closed the doors, it was quiet, and the hosts explained the purpose of the room. The old format was to have hosts take a small group and explain each room just as was done here in the sealing room.

Isn't it sad? There is always someone who surfs the paper just looking for a chance to be mean and nasty. These people are to be pitied. These people live on such a level that they can't understand anything higher.

The blessings of the Temple are wonderful and eternal. One day all people will be so grateful for those blessings.

To Dennis, SFC RET & RE: Beg To Differ-
Many of us would concur with the principles you're presenting in your comments. However, rather than pointing out that someone simply doesn't get it, could you have chosen more loving and respectful words for someone who doesn't yet understand the purposes of the Lord's temples? Perhaps this person could have been open to learning more if he or she had been regarded with courtesy. Are the comments in your emails aligned with how the Savior treated those skeptical of His Gospel?

To Dennis, SFC RET--You are not helping build the LDS image for being tolerant and appreciative of others' beliefs.

We were grateful for the opportunity to take our extended family (25 of us) through the Draper Temple Open House. We felt it was very well organized to handle the amount of people who came.

The film and the bus ride was an enjoyable experience. It was a rare privilege for our little ones to be there...One little grandson made the comment in the celestial room.."This is just like heaven."

They were awed by the baptismal font with the 12 oxen underneath...watching the steam rise...they all wanted to come back when it opened.

The large variety of paintings were gorgeous, the workers gracious, the beautiful painted forests on the walls, discovering in them, little animals.

Then at the end...seeing all our little grandsons eyes sparkling, their hands filled with all the cookies they could hold, and being told they could have 'all they wanted'..and a refreshing cool bottle of water...was a very pleasant experience, and remembrance.

Our "Thanks" to the LDS Church for sharing their most sacred edifice with the world. Inviting all to come to the temple, removing the mystery.

Of course, after being dedicated, it will 'feel' different.