We find that we continually are pinching ourselves because we work in such lovely surroundings.
The 30-odd acres of beautifully-landscaped land occupied by Temple Square and nearby buildings cover a network of underground tunnels that connect the buildings and multi-level parking garages. The design significantly reduces pedestrian and vehicular traffic and contributes to the peace and serenity that permeates the entire area.
After our two weeks in Family History, we started our official assignment in an office on the 2nd floor of the Church Office Building (called the COB) where the Interpretation Services Department of the Church is temporarily located. We will be moving to the 27th floor by the end of October. (Note the list on the board of responsibilities our trainers/managers are trying to cover with us.)
When we're working with our interpretation teams, we're in a special-access area of the Conference Center called "M1," This area contains more than sixty booths and training rooms where the interpreters, each equipped with a monitor and headphones, read already-translated text broadcast in 95 languages, hopefully in a way that mimics as closely the original speaker's intent.
Although not apparent from the outside, the auditorium inside and partially below ground, is large enough to hold two 747's side-by-side.
Each booth has to be readied for each event including having water, candy, pads of paper for notes, and pens and pencils. It requires a little bit of time performing this set up with every event.
The most-important building to us, both as a couple and as a Church, is the Temple of the Lord. This is where we and both of our parents were sealed as a couple in a marriage that will last for eternity.
There are now more than 150 other temples in many countries of the world. This one is special to us because here we received the promise that, if we are all faithful to the end, both we and our families can be together forever.
This reflecting pond is often a backdrop for wedding photos, and also features floating lamps like candles during the holidays. The surrounding trees are already being decorated for Christmas
Some old guy posing in front of the flowers that are blooming virtually everywhere
We often eat our lunch together outside, just a few feet from this gorgeous collection. And the gardens change by the seasons.
This is one of the smallest buildings of them all on the campus, the Church Administration Building. From here the First Presidency of the Church, the Twelve Apostles and other leading General Authorities direct the Church of now approximately 15 million members world wide.
The office of the Prophet and President of the Church, Thomas S. Monson, is on the first floor, lower left corner of this building.
So one of things that we wanted to do during our first September here in 46 years was to visit the fair. We have to say that we were both a little disappointed. The Horticultural building had a couple of displays, but there were mostly different vegetables displayed with the ribbons that they had won.
There were goats in one building and sheep in another. But we learned that they had to rotate the livestock in and out because there wasn't enough room to have them all there at the same time. We loved seeing this momma pig with all the babies..
But the most important reason that we went was to see the amazing quilt that Willi, my sister Joy's husband had done which won third prize. Willi is 82, so this was particularly a great honor. And then he gave it to us for Christmas! What a sweet, sweet gift that we will treasure.
