The Billings temple in the middle of the night

The end of November the Billings temple was open for a day a night and day without closing to celebrate 20 years of having a temple in Billings.  Matthew, Dallin, MaryAnne, Neil and I went to the temple on Friday evening.  We left Powell about 8:00 and got to the temple a little before 10:00.  When we got there the parking lot was clear full and cars were parked on the street leading up to the temple.  We decided to run to Winn Co to do a little shopping first.  When we got back to the temple it was at least as busy as before if not busier.  We went in to do baptisms and had to wait for a little while.  The locker rooms are small and had a hard time accommodating so many people.  When I sat down by Matthew he pointed out a young man from Sheridan who had served in the New Mexico Farmington Mission.  They were never companions, but had been in the same district.  Matthew baptized me, MaryAnne and Dallin for 2 names each and then Neil baptized Matthew. It was a wonderful experience to be together in the temple in the middle of the night.  When we were leaving the temple about midnight it was still a hoping place.  Kids were lined up waiting to come in to the baptistry and adults were line up to go in and do work as well. From what we heard it stayed busy the whole night.  I wasn't too sure I could stay awake doing temple work in the middle of the night, but  MaryAnne really wanted to be at the temple in the middle of the night.  Hopefully, it was an experience the kids will always remember.

Leaving the temple about midnight