Washington DC Temple

Me and Alli:

Me and Kjersten:

Me and Mike:

The Visitor's Center had an exhibit called "The Healing Power of Christ." It was portions of Christ's life sculpted into bronze by an artist named Angela Johnson.
I absolutely loved it! And because I am a nerd about this sort of stuff, I took pictures of almost all the sculptures plus the signs next to them. But I typed in the signs so that you can just read what they say instead of trying to read the picture.


BE THOU CLEAN
"And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if though wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him." Luke 5:12-13
Outward sickness has obvious need of healing. But what of the sicknesses of the heart: loneliness, sin, fear, anger? Each of us, like the man afflicted with leprosy, must fall in humility at the feet of Jesus and plead for healing.

OH MY FATHER
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12
"Messiah though He was, He was profoundly conscious of His dependence upon the Father, whose work He had come to do." James E. Talmage
"Jesus' meekness and all-consuming love for His Father in Heaven is the perfect example for us in our own upward reaching. Prayer is the loving communion between a perfect, loving Father and His child."

REACH IN FAITH
"After His resurrection Jesus appeared to the apostles on several occassions. The first time, the apostle Thomas was not present, and he refused to believe that Jesus had been resurrected until he could see and touch Him himself. When Thomas finally did see Jesus, the Savior taught an important lesson:
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast sen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29
"One day we will see our Savior face to face, but until then He asks us to reach out to Him in faith and believe."

GETHSEMANE
"And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not I will, but what thou wilt." Mark 14:32-36



LET HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN
"Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayst thou?... But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her... And they... being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one... When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:4-7, 9-11

ONE THING IS NEEDFUL
"A certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42
"Through His loving words to Martha, Christ invites each of us to refocus on what is most needful. This "good part" cannot be taken from us."

IT IS I, BE NOT AFRAID
"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Matthew 14:26-27
"Fear is one of the most powerful and common human emotions. But it is the opposite of faith. Faith in Jesus Christ gives us strength to face and conquer the challenges life brings. Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him. Knowing that even though you do not understand all things, He does."

HIS GATHERING
"O ye house of Isreal who I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart." 3 Nephi 10:6
"Will we have the humility and wisdom to live so that we can know the exquisite joy of being "gathered" by Christ?"

LAZARUS, COME FORTH
"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:21-25

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
"God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Joseph describes this experience in his own words:
'I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.... When th light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other---This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" Joseph Smith History 1:16-17

BECAUSE OF LOVE
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
"Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour...
And I, if I be lifted up from this earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:27,32
"The Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sons of his people." Alma 7:13
"The Lord your Redeemer suffered... the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto Him." Docterine & Covenants 18:11
"All this Jesus did because of love."

COME UNTO ME
"As the apostle Paul taught, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
"The Savior of mankind personified the divine attributes of strength, love, compassion, and mercy. All who come unto him will feel his tender love for them."

I really loved visiting the Visitor's Center and taking a moment to focus on Christ's life; His teachings and His sacrifices. I do believe that we will see Him again one day and that it is only through Him that our families can be together forever. I am thankful for that knowledge and for the peace it brings into my life because I love my family so much and I want to know them and feel that love throughout eternity.