Church History Museum Visit

Way back in December, Grandma Candy got each of the families groupons for ice skating at the Gallivan Center...the idea being that we would use them for Rachel's birthday celebration. But when we got there on the 22nd, it turns out there were blackout dates on the groupons for the two weeks surrounding Christmas. So Grandma Candy ended up just paying for us all to go that night...but that left us with groupons still to use. Fast forward to February when there was literally only one night left that we could use them before ice skating was closed for the season. We coordinated with Jenny and Matt, arranged our whole evening around skating, and made our way to the Gallivan Center. Danny and I were running about 20 minutes behind, and so got there later than Matt and Jenny. As we presented our groupon, we were told that the rink would be closed for public skating in 25 minutes to accommodate a private party. WHAT?! We were totally annoyed, but we figured 25 minutes was better than nothing. 

We got the skates on the kids (no small feat...pun intended) and got them on the ice. Ten minutes later, they call for everyone to exit the ice for the Zamboni. Ok, it was not worth skating for ten minutes!! Annoyed beyond all, we returned our skates and were all feeling extremely disappointed the evening. Then Danny and I decided to call an audible and head to the newly renovated Church History Museum. It was awesome! We started out with a movie of the First Vision in a 270 degree curved theater...it really felt like we were in the Sacred Grove! It was a wonderful experience to share with not only our children, but Matt and Jenny and their family.

The first floor of the museum has been completely redone, and has exhibit after exhibit of different aspects of the Restoration. Many of the exhibits are interactive, and the kids loved that. The printing press replica that printed the Book of Mormon was incredible!  

Upstairs there was an Angel Moroni that used to be on a chapel somewhere in Washington, DC. And a scale replica of the pulpit from the Conference Center. I had to take a picture of Danny behind that pulpit. Is is too weird to say "you say it first here!"? ;)

It wasn't the night we expected, but sometimes the greatest memories and experiences come as the result of a detour. :)