I left at about 7:40 in the morning with a Styrofoam cooler that had Popsicles in the bottom with dry ice on top, with wet ice on that, and some ham, yogurt cups, and mayonnaise. Also took a loaf of my favorite Sara Lee Wheat Bread. I drove Hwy 24 to CO 9 to I-70. Gorgeous! Buena Vista and the mountains in that area are absolutely breathtaking, I highly recommend it. Sadly my camera was in my backpack still, so no pictures of it. From there I drove toward Grand Junction and stopped at my first stop...some no name place...
I continued my journey through Price and to Provo where I bought my Temple Clothes and then headed up to Salt Lake City. I arrived there about 7:30 and I spent the little time I had organizing the car. I then called a few people to get the right address, because my memory is flawed...and went to meet Briana.
I texted her, as per our 'plan' and let her know I was able to 'chat'. At the same time I knocked on her door. The expression on her face was surprised (because she thought I was in Colorado), and I won't try to describe it, but it was a good time as one could imagine. We had a surreal Hollywood moment, probably the first in my life, in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It started by us walking to 'get something to eat' but with no decisions made we walked toward Temple Square and then to the JSMB so she could show me where she works. We went to the 10th floor and she walked us through a nearly abandoned kitchen (because the night was nigh closed down by then...) into one of the banquet rooms. It over looked the East Wall of the Salt Lake Temple and had the perfect ambiance of a place to sit and talk. Very picturesque. We talked for hours before leaving, what a cool place really!
I continued my task to visit the Temples in the area. That night I slept in my car in a Wal-Mart parking lot; that was cool. Showered and got ready at the Jardine home (missionary companion's family) and did a session at the Bountiful Temple after spending a lot of money at Deseret Book (we won't talk about how much, that's embarrassing).
From there had fun with Briana. That night I stayed with Max Harris, my training companion, (after an unplanned game of volleyball with the people at the church across the street, that lasted until midnight) and caught up with him a bit. Left at 7 the next morning and did Initiatories at Mt. Timpanogos.
I then left there to get to the Salt Lake Temple. That's an awesome experience, that everyone needs to do!
I then had more fun with Briana going to the Carl Bloch display at BYU in Provo. It was very good, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Stayed at the Jardine home and in the morning went to do sessions at the Jordan River Temple
followed by the Oquirrh Mountain
and the Draper Temple (where I was able to do some Sealings for the first time, sweet experience!).
After that day of Temple hopping Briana and I attended the wedding reception of KC Nate and his new bride. (Elder Nate took me out on my first night in the mission field). This picture is with Shayne and Kortneigh, his wife. Shayne was one of my Zone Leaders and Assistant to the President with whom I was able to work quite closely for a while, awesome fella!
Stayed again with the Jardine family and woke up in the morning and did Temple Baptisms in the Salt Lake
Temple and left for my adventure to St. George around 1:30.
It was drizzling most of the way there, which made rainbows, only enhancing the scenery native to Utah!
I arrived in St. George, ate at the 'oh-so-raved-about' In-N-Out Burger. It was good, but I can't hardly say it was THAT good...sheesh! Some people apparently don't know how to tell a story without exaggeration! (I'd recommend it to others though.) I made it to the Temple at 7:30 and attended the 8pm session at the St. George Temple. Cool historical feel there, definitely a good choice to visit the extra 6 hour drive there!
Stayed the night at a missionary friend's place. Attended a YSA ward on Sunday, first one ever, which was a little different, but not a whole lot.The day was Easter and I visited Rachel and her husband Erick. It was excellent to see them doing well, and odd at the same time to see her 6 months pregnant...the mission bubble is a strange thing!
Also attended a Fireside presentation of Rob Gardner's presentation of Joseph Smith the Prophet, which was very good. I invite all who haven't heard it to seek it out and enjoy it for yourself!
After that I watched my first movie after my mission; Yes Man, which was too lewd, crude, and crass for me, so I haven't watched a movie since; they really are as bad as I remembered--some things never change!
I left St. George in the morning and returned home 11 hours later or so, and attended a YSA FHE before arriving at home. (It's not like I had anything else to do...)
These are some pictures from that gorgeous drive! This concludes this travel log. (Which is much longer than most posts will be!)
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