101 Places to See Before You're 12 - A Place of Worship (Other Than Your Own)

A Place of Worship (Other Than Your Own)

On the first day of our California vacation we got up really, really early and had a looong layover in Salt Lake City.  We thought we'd all be exhausted, but we weren't.  So we decided to spend the time touring downtown Salt Lake City.

It didn't occur to me right away but Brennan mentioned that this was one of our "101 Places to Visit" - a place to worship that's different than our own church.  He had taken this library book on our trip, so I think religions were on his mind.

We definitely wanted to tour Temple Square.  Brennan has a strong interest in comparative religions and how science and religion converge and diverge.  Yes, I realize he's only 8, but trust me - it's a strong interest.  Just ask him sometime.

The Salt Lake Temple (left) and the Salt Lake Tabernacle.  The Tabernacle was completed in 1867.

The Temple was started in 1853.  It is really pretty, and enormous.

The Assembly Hall was started in 1877.  The Monument of the Gulls (bronze) stands in front.

Inside one of the Visitors Centers in Temple Square is a large statue of Jesus.

These murals tell major Bible stories.

The gardens all around Temple Square were really pretty.

The boys and me

I would definitely like to visit other places of worship with the boys as they grow.  I think it's important to have an understanding of how our beliefs are similar and different to others.  In college I took a World Religions course and we attended a Bar Mitzvah.  It was really interesting and I think my boys would benefit from experiencing something like this.

In addition to Temple Square, we visited the Discovery Children's Museum and the Clark Planetarium.

Brennan by a sculpture downtown

Dicovery Center.  Thomas took this photo and is proud of it.

The boys had a lot of fun making routes for balls to travel through.

Rescue helicopter at the Discovery Center.

Beautiful mountains of Salt Lake City

From the Book:

#55 - A Place of Worship (Other Than Your Own)

Most kids would agree that what the world needs now is a little more peace and understanding.  But what can a kid do, and how can you start?  Well, you can start by getting to know people who are different from you so you can better understand their culture and beliefs.  Visit a place of worship that's different from your own to find out what it's all about.  Attend a service or ask your host to explain the symbols, rituals, and beliefs to you.  One of the most surprising things you'll probably learn is that we all have a lot more in common than we think. 

Faith Facts:

• There are more than 200 Hindu temples in North America.
• The oldest synagogue in North America, Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, was built in 1763.  It also houses the oldest Torah in North America.
• The largest mosque in North America is in Dearborn, Michigan. 
• The Buddhist Church in San Francisco is the oldest Buddhist temple in North America.
• The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, a "house of prayer for all nations", is the world's largest cathedral and has been under construction for over 100 years.