The Elliot Ward Temple Tree

Adam helping plant our temple tree

In August, our stake leaders visited our Primary and presented the Temple Tree Project. The children were to earn money to buy a tree to be planted at the temple. The dimes, nickles and pennies started pouring in - along with quarters and dollar bills. It took no time at all to raised the $100 necessary to buy the tree.


Adam by our tree


On Saturday, our stake (the Gilbert Highland Stake - although in the meantime our ward has been moved to the Gilbert Stake) gathered at the Mesa Arizona Temple to plant our trees. Our spot was by the temple president's residence. It was a beautiful oak tree. The bishop and dads broke up the ground, and the children took their turns at the shovel scooping out the soil. Once the hole was the right size, the tree was put into place and the children reversed the process and put the dirt back in the hole.


Some of our Primary children who helped plant the tree

When the tree was all planted, we took pictures of the children in front of "their" tree. Now as the kids return to the temple, they can see how their tree has grown, just as they are growing in the gospel. They can take their picture with their tree when they return to do baptisms for the dead, then when they are old enough to receive their endowments, and later when they are married. It is a great project that will continue throughout their lives.