Today was our first shift at the VC. The visitor’s center is open every single day…except Christmas Day. So, we work there every day except our Pday, which changes every month. The shifts are usually about 3-4 hours long. There is usually one senior couple and 2-3 companionships of young sisters working each shift.
There is a beautiful fountain just outside. The temple is over to the left. As you walk in there is a beautiful statue of the Christus. Also, the information and greeting desk.
We can have patrons sit and listen to a short audio narration of the Savior and then they can tour the rest of the VC. As they go toward the back we have the first of several theaters. In this one we usually show the Welcome to Laie 6-min. Video. I tells the history of this area and how the PCC and Temple got it’s start.
Next is the temple hallway. There are large posters on each side that tell about the temple, and then at the end is a huge picture window looking out onto the temple!
Next is the room called God’s Plan for his family. It is a walk-through video display. I made the mistake of going through this one just before shift, which was terrible because I cried like a baby! I must be missing my family a lot right now!
Next are several displays with buttons you can push for the narration. One is about temples, one is how to find out more about the church, etc.
In front of this, about where I am standing to take the picture, is a cut-away model of the temple . And behind it are some interactive plaques on the wall about God’s Plan for us.
There are larger and smaller theaters and teaching rooms where we also show a variety of videos and have meetings.
Finally there is a Book of Mormon room where we show and tell about how many languages the Book of Mormon has been translated into. And an interactive Family search area.
There are some other offices and storage rooms too, but that is about it. It is a gorgeous place! Across from the visitor’s center is a family history library on the right and a distribution center.
In the middle of those two, in the courtyard is a statue of Lehi blessing his son Joseph. The Hawaiians believe that Joseph descendants were part of the people who founded the Polynesian is,ands.
2 Nephi 3:1-25
Behind the statue are copies of the friezes that were carved onto each temple face. The Old Testament frieze faces West. It depicts leaders and prophets of the Old Testament. The central figure is of Adam in the Garden of Eden with the Tree of Life on obpne side and the Tree of Knowledge of good and Evil on the other. Eve is shown kneeling at the altar on the left. By her is Cain whose offering was rejected. Other patriarchs on the left are Seth, Enoch, Noah with the dove, Melchizedek, Issac carrying the wood for his own sacrifice, Jacob, Judah, Benjamin, Joseph in Egyptian clothes, Ephraim and Manasseh. To Adam’s right are representing the Judges, Kings, and Prophets of Ancient Israel.Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel anointing King David, Solomon, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel.
The next frieze is about the New Testament. It is on the south face of the temple. It depicts events in the New Testament and the Savior’s ministry. Christ is in the center. Mary and Joseph and shepherds are at left. Depicted next are a blind man, the woman taken in sin, A drew and Simon leaving their nets to follow the Savior, a group representing the lame, the halt, the blind and little children coming to Him. On the right are depictions of the growth of the church and Constantine and the Reformation and the translator of the Bible.
The last frieze faces the East and is a depiction of modern day, or the Latter Day dispensation.
Prophet Joseph Smith is kneeling in center. At feet of God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.
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