The Conference Center or is it Centre?

There was so much to see here and this was probably my favorite thing we did. The Conference Center is really a great piece of work. It's truly amazing all the details and the art is really beautiful. You could easily spend a couple hours in here but the tour is about 40 minutes. We got there first thing at 9am and so we got a tour on our own because there was no one else there at that time waiting for the tour. It was like our own private tour and it was so great.

Lynn, yes, I have noticed the height of people are now taller too. The Daughter of Utah museum was closed for reno's but I've been in it before and yes I remember how teeny tiny the waists were on the petticoats and how small the shoes were.




Water seems to be a theme on this trip...lol. This was the waterfall in front of the Conference Center. It's really magnificent and starts at the top of the center.





Door 15 is where you go in to have the tour. It's at the front of the building.




Just a picture of Temple Square from above



On the top of the Conference Center, one side represents what the Pioneers first saw when they entered the valley (this side, bush and "prickly's") and the other represents the Mountains. It has lots of evergreens (you'll see a picture of it on Tuesday from way above).




Remember the semi-awkward picture of us in front of a fountain in the first post? This is Tanner in front of it.





Tanner, just hangin' out with President Hinckley. They have all the busts (I believe that's what they're called) of all the prophets. Joseph Smith's is made from his death mask and really shows his gentle, mild character.





Our tour guide said that this was the most recent picture of our dear, sweet prophet. She said it had just gone up that week (we were there on Wednesday...so obviously it's VERY new). I LOVE this picture.





Remember the glass fountain from my first post? This is what it looks like from above.






This is the oldest painting in the conference center. It's, if I remember correctly, 103 years old. Just really amazing to me.





I don't know why my camera didn't flash properly when I took this and another inside picture. But this was the "lighter" one of the two.





They have this hall where they have oil paintings of all the original apostles (the ones that served with Joseph Smith). The one on the bottom right is the Prophets brother, William. If you can click on it and zoom in a bit, you can really see the resemblance of the Smith brothers.


I highly recommend going to the Conference Center if you're ever in Salt Lake. I would love to go again and learn different things.

Pioneer Museum

A handcart that the Pioneers used to cross the plains.




The Wagons are quite large inside. They seem to be deceptively small on t.v.






This is what they used for the Sacrament. I'm glad we don't have to share cups now.





This is a chain that was used when building the Salt Lake Temple. Really amazing when you think of how old the Temple is and realizing that this chain is a hundred years old and the pioneers that we hear about actually touched this.






This use to be on the Cardston Temple. Now it's in the museum. I believe it was the original.





Upstairs they have these displays of all the prophets. This is Joseph Smiths display. It was really neat to be there and see the things that were displayed that he used and a page of the Book of Mormon that he translated. Really special.






This was the original lock and key on Joseph and Emma's Nauvoo Mansion house! Again, really special to see that.






This is Brigham Young's ring. If you can see, there's a beehive etched on it.






Tanner with Moroni...just hangin' out...lol. He was SOOOO excited to see this statue.






This pulpit is NOT made with President Hinckley's walnut tree (do you know the story?) but it IS made with a different walnut tree.




I LOVED this exhibit. It's called "I am a Child of God" exhibit. Lots of fun things to do and see. They even had a mini nursery. This was the "Lehi's Dream" part of the exhibit. Again, it was so much fun!




A different part of the exhibit.





THIS IS President Hinckley Walnut tree. They have the story book that he wrote about it right next to it. If you don't know the story or haven't read or got the book, I highly recommend it. It's a beautiful story and really shows just how much he was involved and had a hand in how the Conference Center turned out.





This was my favorite part. It's a 'Scripture Wall'. Behind each of those book pieces are questions and pictures about their respective book. It's a great teaching tool and really good for all ages. There's some harder questions for older kids on each piece and easier ones for little kids.





This is one of the last remaining ORIGINAL pioneer's home that has been preserved. It is really quite tiny and makes me so grateful that I have the home that I do. Pioneers lived in such small spaces and I think a lot of us have become comfortable with big houses and lots of space. This house had 2 beds in it and shared the same space as the kitchen. If you had to live like this, could you???? If you lived in a house this small with so little belongings, it wouldn't be too hard to pack up your wagon and leave. Now a days, it takes days to pack up our houses.




We then headed over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for the movie "Joseph Smith:Prophet of the restoration". I believe that's what it's called. That's what the movie is about. It was truly inspirational and really something I will never forget the feeling I left with. It helped my appreciation for Joseph Smith grow even stronger. My testimony of the Prophet has never waivered but it has helped me appreciate what he did even more than before.





Before we saw the movie, we had some time to kill so we ate at "The Nauvoo Cafe". It was really good food. I had a blackened chicken ceasar salad, Matt had a roast beef sandwich and Tanner had a quesidilla. It was really good food and the price was very reasonable.

The fun stuff

WELCOME TO UTAH!

I'm going to break the trip up into sections for you. It's kind of an overload to put all the pictures up in 1-2 posts. So this is Monday at Temple Square and Tuesday morning in Bountiful. Tomorrow will be The Church History and Art Museum and the Joseph Smith Memorial building.




"Life Elevated"...so true in so many ways.





The Visitor Center was a short visit. Tanner wasn't too interested in looking at the art work. He did really enjoy the Statue here. Luckily Matt and I had been to the visitor center (although it has been quite a few years) so we didn't feel like we totally missed out. We would rather Tanner be happy than force him to stand there and look at art and paintings. They also had a large tour getting ready to listen to the presentation so we didn't want to stand in front of the statue for too long.






They have these really fun exhibits that are kid friendly on the bottom floor of the visitors center. Tanner really enjoyed them and there was lots to see and do.





We then headed over to the Tabernacle. AMAZING!!! It was so cool to be in there. They did an acoustic demonstration. It was awesome. Such a neat building.






After the Tabernacle we headed over to the other visitors center. This one was really cool. Tanner LOVES angel Moroni and every day he would tell us that Moroni was on top of the Temple. So this was a really fun chance to take a picture of him by a small scale version of the angel Moroni.








This is a small replica of the Salt Lake Temple. This has only been in the visitors center for about a month. It is exactly how the inside of the temple looks...paintings and lights and all. It is beautiful and amazing. The tiny room to the left of the Celestial Room (the white/gold one) is the room where the Prophet and 12 Apostles meet each week. I'm not entirely sure what the assembly hall on the top floor is used for. My Aunt has a book that tells what it's for but I can't remember. I think this is a wonderful thing, as it really opens up the opportunity for non-members to see the inside of the temple (in a small scale) and opens up the door of conversation about the Temples of our church. If you can, I would suggest you click on the photo to enlarge and you can zoom in to get a better look at the rooms.







The Lion House Pantry. Holy food straight from heaven! This food is so yummy and something I feel everyone must experience. The buns come with honey butter and they are seriously to die for! I bought a box of buns. I haven't made them yet. I'm waiting for next weekend when Megan and Dean are here, but they are the best buns in all the world. It's a little bit pricey to eat there but if you're ever there, you really should take the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the deliciousness of this astounding tasting food!







Just Tanner, making his own butter...lol







Aunty Holly took us up just a little ways from the Bountiful Temple to take these family pictures. I guess a lot of couples go up there to get there engagement photos there....








...which is why this picture is kind of funny to me because it sort of looks like an engagement picture...lol.

Just the beginning

The night before we left, we met up with Megan and Dean for dinner. Dean chose Montana's (totally appropriate and we love it there too) and Tanner put on these fun deer horns.




The beginning of the trip. Me, kind of tired but excited!





Matt. The most amazing husband ever! He drove 3/4 of the way there and back too. So awesome!




My totally cool sister Amy, lent her DS to Tanner for only him to play in the car. He loved it and it was a wonderful treat.







We watched movies (in case you can't tell, I'm watching High School Musical ; )






We did lots of snacking on the way. Tanner is showing us how yummy his beef jerky is...mmmmm...love beef jerky.




Welcome to Idaho!!! Land of many potatoes...lol





The Visitor's Center is really amazing. It was so peaceful and tranquil. It really makes you realize how small we are and how much we depend on the Lord. It was truly a wonderful experience being there.





The little man with the Christus Statue in the Idaho Falls visitor center




We visited the Idaho Falls Temple. I've never been inside but now I can say that I've been on the grounds. Next time we stop, we'll go to a session. I've never stopped in Idaho Falls and we were thankful that we did. It's so beautiful there.




Just me and my little man in front of the Temple.







The Gardens at the Idaho Falls Temple are beautiful and far nicer than the Cardston ones. The Cardston Temple doesn't really have gardens. They have lots of lawn and trees but not like garden areas.




We stayed in the Super 8 in Idaho Falls. We weren't sure how Tanner would handle the long trip so we played it safe and stayed overnight. He is the worlds best traveller but this is the longest trip he's been on ever! He did awesome as usual.


We also ate at Chuck arama's and hung out at the motel. Thanks for the memories Idaho Falls!