Vernal, located in eastern Utah, is a small town. But, a unique temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located there. We decided to drive the three hours to see it this week.
Originally built from 1898-1907, and known as the Uintah Stake Tabernacle, the building was used for worship services and large community events. After decades, the tabernacle became obsolete as the town grew. In 1994, Church leaders announced that the historic building would be converted into a temple for use by Church members in eastern Utah.
We enjoyed very much the spirit we felt inside the Vernal Temple.
We went to the temple to perform proxy sealings for five couples, ancestors of Scott, who didn't have the opportunity to have their marriages sealed for eternity during their lifetime. What exactly does an eternal marriage sealing mean? This three-minute video clip taken in the Rome, Italy Temple tells more about this special gift from God.
Click onto the above arrow to watch the video.
Elder William Walker says this about the sealing ceremony:
"The sealing room in our temples is a very wonderful and special place. It's a wonderful and a remarkable thing to look into the eyes of a man and a woman who are about to be married. They love each other with all their hearts. When two people are getting married, they can't imagine the idea that this beautiful, loving relationship would ever end.
So it's an important part of the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that it doesn't need to end at death. This marriage can go on into the eternities, and a loving God intended it to be that way. So He gave us this power and authority.
It's actually what Jesus was giving the Apostles in Matthew 16:18-19, when Jesus put His hands on Peter and the other Apostles and conferred upon them the authority to have bound on earth and have it be bound in heaven. That's what was happening there. Jesus was giving the sealing authority to His Apostles. And that's utilized in the temple, in the house of the Lord, where a man and a woman can be sealed together for eternity."
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Vernal is also known as dinosaur country, home to the Dinosaur National Monument located a half-hour east of town. Over 1,500 dinosaur bones have been discovered in the rocks and hills. Unfortunately for us, due to the federal shutdown going on, the visitors center of the National Monument was closed.
Still, we enjoyed reading the outdoor explanations of this unique part of the world where dinosaurs once roamed.
A park ranger explains what Dinosaur National Monument is all about:
You can also see this video posted on Youtube by clicking here
Farewell, Vernal. From the prehistoric to the eternal, you have it all!
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