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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Thousands Take Temple Tour
Albuquerque NM Journal 25Feb00 D1
By Louis Taylor: Journal Staff Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO -- Attendance at the Albuquerque Temple Open
House passed 47,000 people by Friday, in the week since the open
house started in February 17th. The crowds were generally thrilled to
see the building, which is scheduled to be dedicated March 5th. The
Open House ended Saturday.
Many LDS Church members brought friends and acquaintances to see the
new building, Non-Mormon George Koinis said he came because "I know
this is a significant event for the church." LDS Church member Lauren
Hatch, from Las Cruces New Mexico, brought her Albuquerque cousin,
Brittani Dion, to see it. "It feels very special to have this temple
here. Before, we had to travel to the temple in Mesa, Arizona, to do
the Lord's work," she said.
Some non-Mormons came to the open house simply out of curiosity, as a
way to get a 'cross-religious experience.' Guy Hobbs and his wife
Nina had seen LDS Temples from the outside before, but never seen the
inside, "We came to see what other religions have," said Hobbs.
"We're originally from Washington, D.C., where they have a beautiful
temple. We wanted to see the inside of this temple." His wife, Nina
agreed, "I have many Mormon students; they encouraged me to come."
And Ramona Hinshaw of Albuquerque told the Journal that "visiting the
temple gives you an understanding of the Mormon Church." She said she
even skipped her TV shows to come, "I even missed my novellas."
As the LDS Church always requires, visitors cover their shoes with
booties so that the carpets won't be soiled. The $14 million building
will be the 73rd LDS Temple in operation, and will serve 51,000
members in New Mexico and 10,000 in eastern Arizona and southern
Colorado.
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