Temple Trips: November 2024

Paris France Temple
My 62nd Temple

The Paris France temple is located at 46 Boulevard Saint Antoine, 78150 Le Chesnay, France. It was dedicated in 2017. I went to the Paris temple for the first time in November of 2024. It had just snowed that day - something that they seemed to not be used to, since they didn't shovel it except in small areas and not a direct path. We stayed in temple housing, which is right next to the temple and shares the same covered parking garage. The first night we were there I tried to go outside to take photos of the temple, but I was stopped by a security guard. He didn't want me to slip on the snow and insisted that I come back inside. If I'd known how to speak French I could have told the security guard that snow is the norm back home, and there was no need to be so worried.

Patron housing is a great deal if you are attending the temple in Paris. You can reserve housing by calling the temple directly. It is meant to be for members of the stakes in the temple district, so they will probably not allow you to reserve housing until a couple weeks before you need it. It only costs about forty euro a night for a room. The rooms have bunkbeds, a table and chairs, and lockers/cabinets to keep clothes in. They give you new sheets and towels, and each patron staying there needs to clean up their room in the morning. Check out is at nine, so if your temple appointment is later there are common areas to hang out in the housing that aren't the individual rooms.

We did initiatories one day and sealings the next day. Both were in French, although the workers did try to speak English for us. I really enjoyed hearing the French, though. My favorite thing about the temple is the painting of an arch just inside the side door. I asked a worker where the arch is and she told me it's in Normandy. I also love all of the stained glass. The beauty of the interior of the temple is very similar to the Payson Utah temple. I love the furniture and the glass windows. The housing is very nice as well.

My daughter and I went back to visit the Paris Temple in March of 2025. It was fun to see it when it wasn't covered with snow. The temple is within walking distance of the Palace of Versailles -- about a half hour walk that is really fun in pleasant weather. My daughter and I did an endowment session in French. The session was very small, so the workers assured us that we could join the prayer circle if we wanted to, even though we don't speak French. We rented temple clothes from the temple because we didn't have space in our luggage to bring them with us.

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My daughter at the temple in 2025

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Me in front of the temple in 2025

The courtyard into the back of the temple, 2025

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My daughter with the Christus, 2025

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the underground parking for the temple and temple housing, 2024

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The Christus on the temple grounds, 2024

Freshly fallen snow on the beautiful flowers, 2024

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One of the common areas in temple housing, 2024

one of the paintings in temple patron housing, 2024

another painting in temple patron housing, 2024

one of the bedrooms in temple housing, 2024

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The temple at night, 2024

The Christus on the temple grounds in July when my daughter visited, 2024

When Visiting Paris

Obviously the Eiffel Tower is a must-see when visiting Paris. There are some other must-see places in Paris and Versailles as well.

In the evening hours for five minutes on each hour the Eiffel Tower sparkles. It is definitely worth seeing at night. You can purchase tickets to ride the elevator to the top. We bought tickets to go to the top, but on the day we visited it was very cold and windy, so the top was closed. We rode the elevator to the second level, which was plenty high for us. Some people purchased tickets to climb the stairs to the first level. I would have found that terrifying - being able to see down the entire time as I was climbing the stairs. A sign said that it takes 10 minutes to walk the stairs. When we went back in 2025, the elevator to the Eiffel Tower broke. The people who were already up there had to walk down the stairs or just stay up there and wait for it to be repaired. After an hour and a half wait, the elevator was functioning again and we were able to ride up to the second floor.

The Arc de Triomphe - We paid to visit the top of the arch. We climbed 284 steps up a windy staircase to get to the top, but it was worth it! The views of Paris are great from up there. We went back in 2025 and had again purchased tickets to climb on top of the Arc, but there was some sort of public movement that day so they closed the monument down. Luckily I did get my money back for the tickets about a month later, but I was very disappointed that I didn't get to visit the top.

Notre Dame is finally open to the public again. Reserve your spot at midnight three nights before your intended visit -- the spots fill up very fast! I went on right at midnight and by the time I finished the reservation process the spot I wanted was already full. Luckily I was able to get my second choice.

The Louvre Museum - purchase your tickets ahead of time and allow many hours to make it through the Louvre Museum. The Denon wing is where the Mona Lisa and many other famous works of art are on display.

The Palace of Versailles - The Palace is actually only about 5 minutes away from the Paris Temple by car, or a half hour walking. There is plenty of parking at the palace, but be sure you get your tickets ahead of time. You have to show up within one half hour after your ticket time to be allowed in. The Hall of Mirrors was my favorite part about the palace.

The Flame of Liberty has become a memorial to Princess Diana because it is above where she died. It is within easy walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. Lots of people leave locks on the monument, and it is covered with pictures and remembrances of Princess Diana.

The Hague Netherlands Temple

My 61st Temple

The Hague Netherlands Temple is located at Osylaan 2, 2722 CV Zoetermeer, Netherlands. It was dedicated in 2002. It is about 30 minutes away from the Schiphol Amsterdam airport. I visited this temple for the first time in November of 2024. It was my 61st temple. There was freshly fallen snow on their beautifully manicured flower beds.

The temple is not normally open for baptisms on a Thursday at noon, but when I contacted them via email to tell them that we would be coming from America and landing in Amsterdam at ten am, they agreed to come to the temple so that we could do baptisms at noon. The temple president and and his wife, and the 2nd counselor in the temple presidency and his wife, assisted us in the baptistry. We came straight from the airport and were in our sweats that we had worn on our 9 1/2 hour flight. We went in to the bathrooms just inside the entrance to change into our Sunday clothes. The 2nd counselor said, "all that matters is worthiness, not clothing. You don't need to change clothes just to change again." I thought that was very kind and also very profound.

They treated us like royalty the entire time, including the temple president giving us a spiritual message in the baptistry next to the font, as the eight of us stood in a circle. My husband, son, daughter, and I were each able to perform baptisms for family members who had passed away. I love the beautiful baptismal font in the temple, as well as the stained glass that can be seen from inside and outside. I also love the beautiful artwork in the temple. The president and second counselor talked about how proud they are of their temple, and how much they love knowing most of the people who come to worship there. They mentioned that their temple is small, but I assured them that our own Casper Wyoming temple is even smaller than their temple. They were surprised to hear of smaller temples than theirs.

Perhaps my very favorite thing about this temple was the beautiful flowers covered with a sprinkling of freshly fallen snow.