After the Graduation Party Kefford and I took the kids to Temple Square to go on a special tour. My kids really wanted their cousins to come too and so after getting permission from their parents Ben and Isabelle came with us. Bob Wood is a friend of the Peterson Family who I think is distantly related somehow and he works at the Conference Center on Temple Square. He was willing to take us on a special behind the scenes tour that most people do not get to take.
When we first stepped into the Tabernacle I was a little bit in awe. It was so cool looking and so big, it is able to seat 21,000 people. This was my first time seeing it in person and it is a different feeling then seeing it on TV.
After letting us look around a little he took us underground through a trapdoor in the floor.
Bob had the kids run through this side to count how many Air conditioning vents there were.
When they got back and reported he then had them run around the other side to see if it was the same. This really wore them out;)
We got to see the Pulpit in its lowered position which was cool.
A picture of the organ pipes from down below
We went onto the stage which was in the process of being taken down from the last general conference. They take the pulpit and all the chairs and risers down each conference and then the are is used for performances and other things.
Back underneath everything we saw this line of water fountains which were enough for everyone to use at the same time.
Interpreters come from all over the world to help carry the message out in their own language and in many foreign countries ice is not traditionally used in their drinks. So to accommodate everyones preferred taste they had a chilled drinking fountain and a room temperature drinking fountain. Genius! I tried both and definitely prefer chilled, I do wonder which one would have the longest line during conference.
Cubicles for the different language interpreters. I think their were over 100 different languages represented. Most I didn't even recognize.
We went into various control rooms where the kids pretended to be official.
Those who are lucky enough to be in the Tabernacle watching General Conference need to watch out with their texting and playing on their cell phones. These cameras can zoom right up to any cell phone and the worker can , have and will read what is being written. All of the kids had fun creeping on people touring and working in the Tabernacle.
Peeking underneath at all of the cables and wires
This was a little staging area that is used for interviews or messages being broadcasted.
And this side was the side used to record the Stake Conference messages that come from church headquarters.
After our tour was done we wanted to go over to the visitors center but were hesitant because it was raining pretty hard. So Bob took us down through the tunnels to avoid the rain and when we opened the door at the end of our walk we were right in the middle of the Visitors Center. I could get used to this VIP treatment!
It had stopped raining by the time we were done and we were able to walk around outside a little bit.
Of course we had to take a picture of our favorite 8 year old with the number 8
We stopped in at the Family Search area and got our picture taken. That was a fun thing to do and for them to provide. They set you up, take the picture and then if you like it, type in your email address and it is sent to you free!
Kefford and I were very happy to be able to take our kids around Temple Square. All 6 kiddos kept saying how cool everything was and were so excited to have had this opportunity.