Where flowers bloom, so does hope

A few weeks back I took the opportunity to stop by Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City to capture some photos of the numerous flowers that cover the grounds. Temple Square is a wonderful, peaceful place for the body and soul, and I enjoyed the few minutes I had to spend wandering. As the scriptures have told us, Heavenly Father had this beautiful world created for us, and everything in it is one of his creations. In my photography, I often find myself striving to capture the beauty of the night sky, the colors of a landscape or the smiles on my kids faces. I would be amiss to not acknowledge that all of these are creations that help me know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over me and my family.

While wandering the grounds with my 100mm macro lens attached, I stopped at numerous gardens to snap a few photos of the flowers, each with its own unique color, shape or size. The dark blues of a tiny little flower or the bright whites of a daisy’s petals were showing off to the thousands of people who visit Temple Square each day. I was fortunate enough to capture a few of my favorite flowers.

And in keeping with the style of photography that has grown on me this year, I framed a few shots that would allow me to add a quote and design a piece of canvas art that could adorn anyone’s home. When I first saw the way the photo I shot with this purpose in mind turned out, I was drawn in by the stunning contrast of the white and purple flowers against their bright summer day background. Now it was time for the real challenge in making this piece work – finding the right quote and identifying the right font.

A Google search turned up a few ideas, but it took me a while to find the one that I felt would convey the wonderful and peaceful feeling that always accompanies me when I visit Temple Square. When I came across this one by Lady Bird Johnson – “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” – I thought of all the temple grounds I have visited that belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are often accompanies by beautiful and colorful flowers, adding to the magnitude of the magnificent and eternal edifice. It is the teachings of Jesus Christ that can bring families together to these temples, to be sealed for time and all eternity, and it was in the Salt Lake Temple that my wife and I were married more than 11 years ago. The knowledge of this eternal bond offers hope in the challenges of life – and the past year has been full of those, and I am sure there will be many more challenges to come.

So in the simplicity of these blooming flowers at Temple Square, I am confident that I can be reminded of the hope that comes with entering the temple, setting the worries of life aside, and gaining comfort in knowing that my loving Heavenly Father has his hand extended toward me, and all I must to do reach out to him, showing that I will put forth the effort to be obedient to his commandments.

I hope these words and the accompanying photos bring you, the reader, confidence – confidence in knowing that, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

~signed, Carltonaut