I'll be honest to you-- I've been to a lot of places.  But I have to say that the Gilbert  LDS temple is one of the most breath-taking places I've ever been to.
It's been four years since my family gathered with thousands of other people to watch as the shovel first striked the ground, and even longer since the prophet left us all gaping when he announced that it was being built despite us having the Mesa temple less than thirty minutes away. This whole time, as our stake presidency repeated over and over again the theme "Pray, attend, study, serve," as we did numerous activities such as writing our own little messages on stones to be used in the construction and walking the whole distance as stake youth, I thought it would never actually be finished.  But now it is, and it's absolutely beautiful.
I've gone three times to see the inside of the temple as part of the open house, one time after volunteering for four hours putting little plastic booties on people's shoes so the new carpet wasn't ruined by thousands of visitors. And I thought the outside  was beautiful... but the inside was spectacular.  Adam and I couldn't help notice the intriquite detail put into everything.  How can I even describe it?  For one thing, because the agave plant is native to our desert home, it was a common theme in the archictecture-- appearing carved in the marble, flourishing the stained glass, woven in rugs, painted on light fixtures and even in the color scheme of bluish-green {along with creme and gold}.  It is a perfect symbol of the family, they told us, since the older leaves on the bottom help support the young leaves that spring on top.  Also, beautiful paintings decorate the walls, with some of my old friends lucky enough to be some of the models in one mural of Christ's baptism.  The baptismal font is patterned with glistening mosaic and sits symbolically open the backs of twelve gold oxen.  I was absolutely stunned when I saw the staircase, which looks like it comes from some fantasy with its grand golden railing welded into beautiful, almost clockwork-looking florishes.  The staircase led us to several rooms I've never been allowed into before... including the rooms where I hope to get married in.  My heart fluttered when I saw the alter where I hope to someday kneel, and the mirrors which reflect eternity.  Then I saw the celestial room, and my heart stopped all together.  The main, giant stained glass windows adorning the outside of the temple are seen from the inside in this room.  The ceiling is high, and everything is a glowing white with gorgeous marble carvings and a huge chandelier where the light flooding through the windows shatters off the diamond glass in a kaleidescope spectrum of colors.  Like, it was so beautiful that I was desperate to just stare the room and soak in every single last detail, except the tour was moving quickly.       

The Spirit was so strong and I felt so genuinly happy being there.  It for me renewed my love of religion as I remembered the value of being with my family forever.  This week was the last week of the open house, which sadly means that I probably won't be going in again until I'm getting married {except to do baptisms}, but it's okay.  I can wait my time.  But I definitely know that when that time does come, I will embrace the opportunity to worship the God that I love in one of his most beautiful houses of worship.