My Favorite Building

Can it be my favorite building, if I've never even been inside?


Last week I had to work up in the Church History Library at the request of my boss. After battling my way through the SNOW (the horror) early Monday morning, I found myself admiring the beauty of the Church buildings. I was done around 3:30 and thought to myself "Why not walk around Temple Square? It's been forever."


I've always loved Temple Square. For as long as I can remember, I thought of it as the most beautiful and majestic of our wonderful temples. It looks like a castle, and the Disney princess infatuation inside of me wakes up and swoons whenever I see it, even at age 20. The grounds are beautiful as well, obviously. But the building itself is absolutely captivating.

I walked around for 40-45 minutes, completely alone. I listened to songs that enhanced my experience, as I sat on the bench on the east side of the temple and just looked up toward the golden angel. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed the spiritual beauty of something so sacred. I should do it more.

I love doing things like this. I love experiencing things on my own, and making the decision to take advantage of small opportunities. While sitting on the bench, a sweet little old lady came up to talk to me. She said she'd be happy to accompany me if I was lonely. For me, there's no such thing. I'm not lonely. I'm just alone. And that's the way I like it. Especially when surrounded by such quiet splendor.

Age: The Universal Plague

It's just a number, right? Why should it matter all that much?

I've been thinking quite a bit about age lately. Turning 20 seemed like such a big deal. No longer was I a "teen." I liked being 20. It seemed so much older than 19. But suddenly, age seems somewhat scary. My sister is graduating and turning 18 in the next couple months. I'm going to be spending time alone in foreign countries this summer. I'll be finishing my last two semesters in the next year, and then I'll actually be teaching in a school. Isn't that strange?

Last night, I was carded twice. TWICE! Could I really still pass for 17? I was distressed by that. I really hate feeling young, generally. I hang out and date guys that are usually 3+ years older than me, and saying I'm 20 while in the company of 27 year olds tends to make everyone a little uncomfortable.

Oddly, everyone who I talk with on a regular basis overestimates my age by at least 2 years. My coworkers, roommates and guys I date before my age comes up have assumed that I was 22, 23. I have mixed feelings about this, too. I like that I can mentally and socially pass for 22, and keep up with an older crowd. But as I slowly creep closer to being an "adult," I feel that I'm winding up towards some sort of a time-window during which I must make all progress and serious decisions.

It's a sort of sprint that I welcome, but I'd rather not be training for right now.