There's a toddler who's sure
all the elevators are gold,
and if you start to walk him up the
stairway to heaven,
he'll ask to push the buttons.
When you explain
it's for the elderly in wheelchairs,
he'll ask you to carry him.
As you carry him
past the baptistry
then up the east spire's spiral steps,
dipping your head down to see the reflecting pool below,
he'll ask to go swimming.
Thinking of water will remind him,
upon arriving at each floor,
that he's thirsty;
he'll probably request to drink from the golden water fountain
and ask you to push the button.
Then,
it will be his turn to push buttons.
As he squirms and twists
and talks altogether too loudly near the altars,
you'll tense
and it'll make you wonder,
ooh, it'll really make you wonder,
about Abraham and Isaac.
There's a panicked feeling you'll get
when you look to the west
and see he is striving for leaving,
springing past the stanchions
spurning the signage against such actions,
stopping only when you snatch him.
Being ensnared in your arms again
won't make him happy,
but when he looks into the facing mirrors
in the celestial room,
he might notice his image goes on forever,
which means he'll be
quiet
just long enough to look up and ask
"What's that?"
and repeat "chandewier" slowly.
Then,
he'll be off again.
Your head will know what it feels like
to sleep on a rock and not to roll off
as you juke betwixt the multitudes
ascending and descending
as he takes to this ladder himself.
When he finally reaches the bottom,
he'll probably be tired,
which means he'll be in your arms again
despite the ache in your back.
As he snuggles on your shoulder,
your emotions will drop
a few tiers
reflecting at the thought
of forever.
And as he winds on down the hall,
no shadows falling from his soul,
there walks a Man whom you will know;
He shines white lights and wants to show
you
how all inside
him
can turn to gold.
And chances are,
once you’re back in the foyer,
he’ll ask to push the buttons
to the golden elevator
and play stairway to heaven
again.
DC Temple Pic: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/washington-dc-temple-open-house
Check out the Richmond, VA, Temple Open House: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/featured/richmond-virginia-open-house
