Lift Thine Eyes to the Heavens, Part 3 — The Portland Oregon Temple
A Photographic Essay by Scot Facer Proctor

Some Parting Shots

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As I walked around this temple certain words seem to come into my mind, like beautiful, magnificent, intricate, lovely, becoming, fine, ausgezeichnet (so I love the German language), exquisite, stately, dignified, resplendent, majestic.  Those were just the words I could identify.

With the lens I brought this was the closest I could come to capturing the whole temple in one shot.  I don’t know if the Portland Oregon Temple has become a landmark like the Washington D.C. Temple is here, but it should be—it has to be one of the most unique buildings in the entire northwest.

I just had to shoot this particular angle.  The spires and the trees just work together here in perfect harmony.  I could not help but think of Isaiah at this view:  “Lift up thine eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number:  he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth…Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  There is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” [i]

Okay, so I don’t know what the circular objects are on the top of the three eastern spires.  Perhaps someone from the temple can write and tell us.  They are very interesting and many will be curious to know.  If you came upon this building after trudging through an immense wasteland or a wilderness wouldn’t you be constrained to ask, “Is not this the House of the Lord, the Most High God?”

These spires do remind me of the great forests of the northwest.  Note again the star motifs on the spire.  Let’s see it elsewhere on the temple.

Aren’t those the most interesting and beautiful doors?  I love them.  They were so inviting it made me want to enter into the temple.

Those of you who have followed the various temple dedications we have attended and photographed over the years know that I love to take various angles of the Moroni figure on the top of the spire.  “Hark, all ye nations!/Hear heaven’s voice/Thru ev’ry land that all may rejoice!/Angels of glory shout the refrain:  Truth is restored again!” [ii]   Doesn’t that make you joyful?

I end with this one.  “I love to see the temple.  I’m going there someday to feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray.  For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty.  I’ll prepare myself while I am young; this is my sacred duty.  I love to see the temple.  I’ll go inside someday.  I’ll cov-‘nant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey.  For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together.  As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:  A family is forever.” [iii]

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