A Brigham Young Christmas

Last year we started a tradition of learning about how a past prophet spent Christmas.  We learned about Joseph Smith suffering at Liberty Jail on Christmas and being without blankets.  We stitched a quilt and donated it.  This year we read about Brigham Young.
The stories of President Young focused on two things - dancing and the temple.  Since I was convinced I wouldn't be getting my boys dancing, we went with the temple.

"Early Christmas morning 1845 found Brigham and his brethren in the (Nauvoo) temple in intense effort.  They were there the whole day, from morning until night.  There was no Christmas celebration with gifts, a dinner, or a social.  Brigham received word early i the day that U.S. marshals were in Nauvoo stirring up trouble and trying to make arrests.  But, the brethren carried on.
By 6:00 pm all the Twelve met in the temple.  The talked and prayed about their desperate situation and the move from Nauvoo they would soon be forced to make.  After the meeting was over they all went back to work, performing ordinances for the people until finally, at 10:20 pm, nearing exhaustion, they stopped.
By then Christmas Day was over.  Brigham had helped on hundred and seven people receive their ordinances.  It was the best Christmas present he could have given to any of them.  Most of the people went home after that to get some rest and start again early the next morning.  But Brigham and another Apostle, Heber C. Kimball, remained in the temple all that night to continue working.  Brigham knew that the best way to remember and honor the Savior any time--especially on Christmas--was to do His work before all else."--Laura F. Willes (Chrismtas with the Prophets)

Greg and I have been thinking for some time about how to make the Temple real and important to our kids - especially the younger ones since they can't attend like Gavin can (Gavin and Greg go once a month to do baptisms).  We found a perfect opportunity.
We were up early today, the kids dressed in their Sunday clothes (without whining!) and we drove to the Temple at 7am.  When we got there, we told the kids we were going inside.  Enoch couldn't believe it.  He kept telling us he couldn't go inside.  But, you can, we said.  We walked through the front doors and sat in the lobby.  The kids sat quietly, looked around, read the scriptures.  The were so reverent - I know they were feeling the Spirit of the Temple.  We decided not to press our luck and overstay, so we quietly gathered our family and went outside.

It was a very special morning and I am so happy we made the effort to go.  I hope the kids will always remember this.
After we left the Temple, we went out to breakfast.  Kate said, "This was the best morning ever!"