Hiram turns 12 this year. That means he is of sufficient age that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he can be conferred the Aaronic Priesthood, ordained a Deacon, and attend the holy temple to perform work on behalf of the deceased. The year that a youth turns 12, starting in January, they may enter the temple to do that work. We did the same thing with Aliza. 

We were originally slated to go 12 January but a winter storm closed the Twin Falls Temple. Our Ward, the Burley 8th Ward, also had a temple trip planned to the Twin Falls Temple on 13 January. Weather cancelled that trip as well. The temples are usually booked out a month or two in advance. Looking around, I found a little opening in the Pocatello Temple on 26 January, so I booked it. Twin Falls is about 45 to 50 minutes away, Pocatello is about 65 to 70 minutes away. 

We loaded up Dad and trekked off to Pocatello. Lillian and James stayed with Aunt Lolane Andra in Chubbuck and we ran up to the temple. We snapped this picture on the way in. A bit fuzzy, but it preserves the date! Grandpa Milo and I were able to baptize and confirm Aliza and Hiram.

Afterward we hung out with Aunt Lolane for a bit and then squeezed in a trip to Denny’s before heading home. Unfortunately we forgot to get a picture with Lolane.