I am thankful to live in a time and place that allow me freedom to create. Creativity prospers when we put aside the routines and pressures of the day and instead allow our minds to go to new places and new ideas. Many hours were invested in capturing and processing a few images of the Milky Way taken from the Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas. But creativity is not accomplished through the rigid filters of efficiency and time constraints. Creativity requires time, even “down time”, to bring out the best in each of us.

I love to photograph the temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I had a recent opportunity to visit the Draper, Utah temple where a good friend and his fiancee were sealed together as husband and wife. Through a special marriage ordinance in the temple, they were married not only until death do they part, but their marriage will remain in force after death and into the eternities.

Draper, Utah Temple

Draper, Utah Temple

Yesterday, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang an amazing rendition of “Let Us All Press On,” a favorite among hymns in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This one really struck my heart and made me thankful for good music and the way it affects our souls. I hope you enjoy this masterpiece.

LDS temples now dot the world map with about 140 operating temples at this time. The temples have a special purpose in bringing families together after this mortal journey. Many go to the temple as a refuge from the storms of life. It is a wonderful place to be at peace with God and man. It is a place of personal inspiration where God speaks to the heart of the honest seeker. Personally I am inspired by the beautiful temple grounds that I have been privileged to visit. I am grateful to have recently spent an early-morning hour at the Mount Timpanogos temple grounds in American Fork, Utah.

LDS temples are beautiful buildings, in large part because of the carefully-crafted grounds that surround each temple. All, whether of the LDS faith or not, are invited to visit the temple grounds of any of the 142 operating temples world-wide. They provide a peaceful, serene setting that will refreshingly take you out of the flow of our hectic world. Recently I spent an hour or so at the Oakland California Temple. It was time well-spent.