Our Church

We are members of

Official website: http://www.lds.org

We are also known as Mormons.

Another official website: http://mormon.org/people

I think most people we know, know that Nathan and I were born and raised Mormons 

or Latter-day Saints (LDS). 

But, just sayin' so any lurkers that do not know us personally....now know we are Mormons. 

Since only my parents have been able to come way out East and way up North to visit us, so far,

I thought I would give you all a virtual tour of our church building! 

We are a Branch of the church. 

A Branch is a small congregation. 

A Ward is a larger congregation. 

Nathan and I have spent the majority of our lives in Wards. 

So, this has been a new experience for us. 

Here we go with the tour.

This is where we meet.

Yes, really!  We meet in Arlington Plaza.

There are several businesses in this building because it IS an office building...but we are a church!

And we meet here....see the bottom of the left column?

This is where we park. The meters are not enforced on Sunday, 

even though they say they are enforced 7 days a week. ;-) 

 We enter at the door just on the other side of our car in the picture above. 

But, there are two other doors where you can enter the building.

 See, here's is strong Marley, opening the heavy door, and going in.

(These first few pictures were taken on Nov. 13th, because that is when I originally had the idea...but, I didn't get all the pictures I wanted. I only mention this because there is now snow everywhere. Which you will see at the end of the post. Just clarifying so nobody is confused.)

Here is the hallway right inside the door. 

Toward the end of the hall, on the left, is a cute little chair and table setting.  

 Just beyond these chairs, we turn left. 

The first door on the right is our main door. 

There are four other doors, (to the right, beyond the chairs) to get into the church from the hallway, but I only took a picture of this one because it's the only one with the church logo on it. ;-)

Here it is again with the blinds open. I like that you can see our little lobby or entry room. 

On the left (you can't see it but,) there is a little table with flowers, tithing slips and envelopes. 

Right by that table is the mobile chalk board/white board. 

Then a classic church lobby chair. 

Then a classroom.

This is the Youth Sunday School Class and the Young Women room.

Nathan teaches the Youth Sunday School Class.

This room is SMALL...9' by 10'.

I know because it used to be the nursery. 

I was trying to see if it was the same size as another room the Primary uses...and it turned out they were the same square footage just shaped a little different. 

The other class was 8' by 11'.

 An-y-ways...

(The rest of these pictures were taken today.)

This cute girl with long hair is our friend Julie!

Coat rack is behind Julie.

Then we have the door to the chapel/multi-purpose room.

And a classroom table with more flowers and the programs for Sacrament Meeting.

This is a nice picture from the back of the chapel.

The glass door is on the left of this picture. 

The chairs are set up at an angle, facing the corner. 

This is a view from the opposite side of the room. 

Some things are a little different. 

But, for the most part it looks like a typical Mormon church! Right?

Sacrament table, all cleaned up and tucked away.

The padded chairs in front of the table are turned around because the Elder's Quorum meets in here during the last hour of church but, those are usually facing the other way and make up the front row of the chapel chairs. 

Typical.

Podium.

Here is a view of the back of the chapel. 

I was standing by the organ. 

That open door is the library/custodial closet.

The majority of the right side of the room is the Library.

The majority of the left side of the room is the Custodial closet. 

All the cleaning liquids are locked in that cabinet. 

Moving on. 

This is me backing out of the chapel. 

Typical. 

I love the art in the church buildings and it is always so beautifully framed. 

We backed out of the chapel, we turn around and end up in the kitchen!

 No! Brother Stephenson, don't drink the dish soap!

He's funny! Being a sport and posing for my picture tour.

That is the doorway we were just standing in when we caught Bro. Stephenson.

Then onward, on the right, one of the bathrooms.

Across from this bathroom is the Primary Room.

 Outside the Primary room we continue on to the next room, which is the Nursery. 

I actually took this picture during Nursery...the rest I took after church. 

This room is the biggest "classroom" but it has the most doors...so it gets tricky.

The door behind Sister Milner (on the chair, reading the book) goes to the outside hallway, we keep that dead bolted.

The door on the left continues through the church. 

Just on the other side is a baby gate. 

To the left of me, where I am standing and taking the picture there is another classroom. 

I am standing in the final door, the door we just came from the Primary through.
We keep a baby gate there too. 

Here is the classroom, just off the nursery. 

This is the other classrooom I measured. Small.

This is where our Jr. Primary class meets. 

In January it will be 3 years - 6 years and it will have 4 children.

Walk through the nursery and we pass the second bathroom, on the right. 

I don't think I got a picture of that one. 

Then to the left, sort of across from the bathroom is the Relief Society room. 

Also pretty small...but bigger than the other two classrooms. 

Feels a lot smaller when all the women are in it.

Then just beyond the Relief Society Room, there is another classroom...well sort of. 

It only has three walls, so we use a coat rack as the fourth wall. 

This is where the Sr. Primary class meets. 

We are losing Julie (model previously seen) in December to the Young Women.

So, in January this will be ages, 7 through 11, but there will only be a 9 year old boy and two 11 year old girls. Three...until those girls turn 12....and then we lose them to Young Women as well. 

Across from this "room" is another little lobby/waiting room.

And another door to the outer hallway.

My models in this picture are Rachel, Julie's sister and Sister O'Brien. 

They are waiting for people in a meeting...the meeting I'm supposed to be in...;-)

From where I was standing when I took the picture above, we have the clerks' office.

Brother Stephenson again, on the left and Brother Ince on the right.

And to the left of the clerks' office is the Branch President's office. 

Here he is!

 President Schemm

He's a character. 

He is also, Julie and Rachel's dad.

We love him!

Here is the rest of the people for our Branch Council meeting. 

 Well, there are a few missing, giving people rides home and some were out of town so they are missing. 

President Schemm, Elder's Quorum President Franks, then Elder Milner a senior missionary. 

His wife was with Sister Franks, giving rides home. 

They joined us later.

Then we have Sister Stephenson the Relief Society President on the right....Brother Stephenson's wife.

And Sister Schemm a counselor in the Relief Society, on the left, and of course, President Schemm's wife.

Here are Sister Franks, my Primary counselor. 

And Sister Milner (you saw her in the nursery and she is married to Elder Milner, senior missionary couple).

They are standing in the doorway of the nursery, by the bathroom and Relief Society room.

 That's our building! 

Pretty snazzy huh? 

Different and yet, very much the same. 

A small, business building version of a church. 

It is such a blessing to be a member of the church.

It is the SAME throughout the world! 

No matter where you go, you are taught the same doctrine. 

The buildings look similar, even when they are different. 

They are like home!

You are welcome to come and VISIT IN PERSON, ANYTIME!

Ok, one more picture of the handsome....

Brother Stephenson!

Here is Marley, bookin' it down the outer hallway.

Ready to go home after being away for 5 hours!

5 and a half, once we got home.

Church is from 10 to 1
But, we try to get there by 9:30 so I can do Primary and Nursery stuff.
Then on the 2nd and 4th Sunday, we stay late so I can attend Branch Council.

 And our snowy car.

 Thank you!

Come again!