Volume 47 Issue 05 - [9/21/21] The Bengal Newspaper

Page 1

Inside this Issue

Remembering 9/11 - Page 3

Exploring Hobbies at ISU - Page 5

Women’s Tennis Battle Hard - Page 8

The Bengal.

isubengal.com 21 September 2021

Volume 47

Issue 5

The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910

Touring the Pocatello, Idaho Temple Joanna Orban Copy Editor For the past two years, work has steadily continued on the Pocatello temple, despite global pandemic restrictions and a struggling economy. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples are a sacred space where special religious ceremonies are performed and members of the church go to feel at peace. Access to these spaces is usually limited to members of the church who have ecclesiastical approval (also known as a recommend) to go inside. The ecclesiastical approval is given after an interview with members’ bishops or other local church leaders. However, for the next month, anyone and everyone is able to go inside and tour the temple. At a special media event hosted by the church on Sept. 13, Elder Gary E. Stevenson opened the temple to the media for a special tour of the building. Stevenson is a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a governing body within the church. As a member of that organization, Stevenson was chosen to open the media meeting as an assignment from the prophet of the church. According to Stevenson, there are currently 170 temples operating around the world. The Pocatello Temple is the sixth temple in Idaho. Others are located in Boise, Meridian, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Rexburg. A temple to be built in Burley, Idaho was recently announced. As with other temples in Idaho, the Pocatello temple has many accents that pay homage both to its location in Pocatello and the greater Idaho era. “Both the interior and exterior and other art glass and other design elements of the temple include botanical elements and environmental elements from the temple district,” said Stevenson. Idaho’s state flower, the syringa can be seen throughout the temple both in small design details and in flowers. Also present in the temple are original and commissioned works of art by local artists, including one painting of the local Haystack mountain. Following his opening remarks, Stevenson escorted members of the media through the temple, stopping in each room to allow for questions and greater examination of the details found inside. The tour began in the bride’s room. As the name suggests the bride’s room is reserved for a bride and usually a few close people to her to get ready for the marriage ceremony. According to Stevenson’s wife, Lesa Stevenson, “It really is a treat to be in the bride’s room.” The bride’s room shared a similar color pallet with other rooms in the temple. It was decorated in corals and greens with gold accents. Also on the same floor as the bride’s room was the chapel. According to Stevenson, this is where temple patrons gather before their different ceremonies, also called “temple sessions”. One point that Stevenson made clear Continued on Page 2

Photo Courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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