In some areas of Utah, such as where I live, a person can drive to 5 temples within 30 minutes. In other Places, a temple journey can take days. When I was younger, our stake chartered 12 hour bus trips to go to the Washington, DC Temple. What are your memories of temple trips?
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Wheat & Tares 
When I was a youth I went to three High Schools. One in Pennsylvania, one in Texas, and one in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania we went to the dedication of the Washington, D.C. temple. I remember thinking the hosanna shout was weird and one of the boys fell asleep. A soprano soloist sang a loud note and he jolted out of his seat about three feet. It was hilarious. I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. When we got out to the parking lot I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and nearly got run over by President Kimball’s Limo. Every eye was on me. I was so embarrassed. President Kimball rolled down his window stuck his head out and waved to me. That temple has always had a very special place in my heart. Maybe because it was the first one I was ever inside, and it is simply gorgeous, but it is the temple I received my endowments so I think that more than anything is the reason I feel such a connection to it.
In Texas our temple was the Mesa Arizona temple. We charted a bus as a stake youth group. It took forever to get to Arizona. I was first intoduced to church musicals and church pop songs on that trip. I had no idea those things even existed since my parents were converts. We stayed over night in the chapel across the street from the temple which was set up to accommodate over night guests in bunk beds. That experience really changed my life for the better.
In New Jersey, we attended a small branch near the beach. It was struggling to stay afloat and membership was sparce. We didn’t go on any trips to the temple. I suspect none of the youth were worthy of temple recommends and sadly, I was the only one of the girls to graduate from High School without getting pregnant. I was also the only one to attend seminary all four years.
This may not be the kind of experiences you are looking for, but perhaps it may be some sort of comedic relief.
There are 3 stakes in our city, but we live 2 hours from the nearest temple. It is an early morning, late night, or most of the day trip to go. The youth go ~4 times per year and I go less often. I make up for that by attending once or twice a year while on business trips to cities that have a temple.
Not often Enough. And my temple (Sacramento) is just ten minutes away, down where Winding Way lives up to its name (past old town Fair Oaks), across the American on Hazel, and turn left at Folsom Blvd. Visible from ’50’ (it’s a freeway in town), so you can’t miss it.
I live 2 hours from the DC temple and have two small children. Haven’t even bothered to renew my recommend in 4 years, but once the philly temple is done I’m hopeful that I’ll make use of it.
When I went to college in New England, I once went on a bus trip to the Washington, D.C. Temple. (Back when that was the only east coast temple north of Atlanta.) That trip is a cherished memory.
People are actually going almost weekly?
alice–yes, I do, and so do others I know here in Sandy Utah. My kids are all in school, so it’s a good time of life for me to do so–I’m busy with grad school, volunteering, and home projects, but temple worship is on my weekly schedule.
I live 6 hours from the Regina Saskatchewan Temple. So, it’s an overnight trip. I try to go at least once yearly, if not twice. Our ward has 4 trips a year give or take.
2-3 hours from the London, England temple. That makes it a day trip. Probably up to 3 times a year. The last few trips I’ve been involved with the youth baptisms, so I have yet to see any of the new films.
Back when I was a youth, before the M25 motorway circling London was built, it was necessary to drive through London, which made for a very long trip, with a coach leaving at 2 or 3am. I believe there was only one large endowment room at the time as well, so the aim was to make it to the temple in time for the first session. Now that the temple has been remodeled with several smaller endowment rooms, and staggered sessions, that’s not quite such a pressing issue.
I used to attend the temple weekly. Then they once again changed the ceremonies which Brigham Young said would never be changed until the coming of the Son of Man. Through the miracle of cognitive dissonance reductionism, I still attended weekly. Then they entirely gutted the initiatory washing and anointing, and I gave up on ever doing proxy initiators, but still attended frequently for endowments and sealings. Within two years, I gave up on the whole works and resigned my membership, determining that if it was ever true to begin with, it had been messed with to the point of being unrecognizeable, so why bother?
#10 – b/c you failed to understand that the endowment ceremony and associated ordinances were never intended to be VERBATIM. I’ve experienced both pre and post 1990 versions and though I felt the prior one was ‘richer’, there was nothing ‘essential’ missing when it was revised. Likely to translate better into other cultures. As for dear Brother Brigham – he was perfectly entitled to voice his OPINION at the time. Just as David O McKay, at the dedication of the Oakland temple (which I have been through numerous times prior to the dedication of the Fresno and Sacramento temples, respectively), when queried about blacks and the PH, opined to the questioning reporter: “Not in my lifetime, sonny, nor yours”. Pres. McKay was correct about the former (he passed away in Jan 1970, eight years and five months prior to the PH revelation public announcement), but certainly not the LATTER (pun intended), as the reporter was alive in June 1978, and, AFAIK, is still with us today. A Prophet can voice an opinion or observation, be wrong, and it not impact on his office.
When I lived in Utah and was newly married, I went often.
Now I live about two hours from the nearest temple (Spokane) and have four small kids. The RS apparently maintains a list of sisters willing to babysit for temple attenders, but with an estimated 7 hour round trip, I feel it’s too much of an imposition. When I visit family or friends in Idaho Falls or Utah County, I’ll catch an early morning session, leaving the kids with parents, cousins, or friends. By the time they wake up and have breakfast, I’m back.
It adds up to 2-3 sessions a year.
During the first 10 or so years of marriage, we lived 10 hours from the temple and managed to go once or twice a year where we would spend all day Saturday doing back to back sessions. We usually traded off baby sitting with another couple or sometimes we’d do sessions separately. Then we got a temple 8 hours a way and we managed to go 3 – 4 time a year, plus as chaperones for youth bus trips. Finally, with the advent of small temples, I now live 20 minutes from the temple. By the time it was dedicated, we had 5 children ranging in age from infant to 13, so we had built in babysitting. We committed to go twice a month, which we’ve pretty much been able to do the last 14 years. Me and my wife drove 36 hours to get sealed back in 1983. The way I saw those early days, driving 10 hours one way was a relief compared to that 36 hour one way trip. Though the kids are much older now (mostly gone)and we’re busy with life, it’s pretty hard to garner an excuse with the temple 20 minutes away. Plus, most of the workers I know on a first name basis because they’re from the local wards/stakes that supply the ordinance workers. It’s a bit like a reunion every time we go.
Our goal has always been once a month – whether in Vegas, Iowa (Nauvoo temple), Idaho (IF), or Virginia (DC). The longer the drive the harder it was to meet our goal. Living 5 hours from the DC temple meant going 3-4 x per year.
Our favorite temple is the Nauvoo. I remember once we attended the last session of the day and the temple was pretty empty, I was walking down the circular stairs all by myself and in the silence I was overcome with the presence of all those who had come before and given so much for that beautiful building.
I have some pretty good memories of doing baptisms as a youth driving from Pocatello to Idaho Falls. I’m looking forward to my daughter being 12 and getting her turn.
I can literally see 4 temples from my house (SLC, Draper, Jordan River, Oquirrh). I’ve always had a temple recommend. I go for weddings and such, and with the youth when I had callings that accompanied them. I used to go quite a bit, but have tapered off. There isn’t really a good reason, other than it’s been a letdown. I always expected something “special” to happen in the temple – some special feeling – something I couldn’t feel anywhere else – something “different” from the world. And each time I left not feeling that, I was a little more discouraged. It got to the point where I didn’t want to be disappointed, so I just don’t really go any more.
I do have very spiritual feelings at times. I feel them reading the BofM or the Bible. But I also feel them reading the Qu’ran or the Bhagavad Gita. I feel them appreciating the majesty of nature. I feel them when I pray. I feel them when I do loving-kindness meditations. I feel them cleaning the garage. I feel them helping other people.
Ironically, the place I don’t really feel peace is in the temple. Perhaps it’s all in my head – built up expectations or something – I’ll leave that to a psychologist to figure out. But it is what it is. So I go there for ceremony – but if I want to feel close to God, I find Him other places more readily.
We’re about 30 minutes from the Saint Paul Minnesota Temple, and we might attend once every other month – probably fairly typical, and the subject of some finger-shaking testimonies by Twin Cities-area stake leaders and temple workers. 🙂
I could do, and am doing, more family history to do my own names. I simply find the endowment boring – all the more so since the new, slower films came out. The temple visits I enjoy the most is when I volunteer to go with the youth, as I have a 16 year old priest and a 14 year old Mia Maid who attend youth baptismal sessions with our ward. Now that’s a good temple session.
I know temple ordinance workers (retired) who drive three and four hours round trip every week so they can work in the temple. Some work every two weeks and drive 8 hours round trip. One couple pays rent to keep a camper spot at a local RV park. Others spend the night with relatives, still others make the drive, work in the evening, and then drive home getting home around midnight. It is a huge sacrifice on their part, and I appreciate their faithfulness.
New Iconoclast – My wife and I are workers at the Saint Paaul Minnesots Temple about 2 hours away and work Tuesday night and Wednesday morning two times a month. We stay with a daughter and son in law. That way we can do the same work with two trips as we can with one Wednesday morning four times a month. I heard from another worker that there’s a nearby motel that has Mormon rates for $75 a night but we haven’t had to do that yet.
IDIAT – You’re singing my song.