Newport Beach California Temple

When I travel I try to visit as many temples as possible. It's just a quirk of mine, a tradition developed over the last few years of frequently traveling solo. Usually I try to do a session because heaven knows (literally!) I need all the help I can get. But sometimes I just explore the temple grounds: the diversity of the setting, the unique architecture. And I just enjoy the special spirit of the area. So if there's a temple close to where I'm traveling, I put it on my sightseeing list.


On my drive between Dana Point and Los Angeles, I stopped off at the Newport Beach California Temple. I recall driving past it during a previous family vacation but this time I had time to stop and walk the grounds. It was a small one. The granite was pink (technically an "earth-tone shade of seashell" which sounds way more sophisticated). And the spire was so short in comparison to other temples that I could have walked right up to the Angel Moroni and given him a high-five. Really?! No. Not really.


Do they always chisel the address number into the granite and I've just never noticed until now?


The grounds, in particular, were breathtaking. It was beautifully landscaped with white and red flowers, both in full bloom. And there was a large fountain that fed into another, larger fountain. This honestly has to be one of my favorite settings to date.