As houses of the Lord, Latter-day Saint temples often stand as beacons of peace and beauty.
And the Oakland California Temple is no different. In fact, it's for this very reason that it has gained a little bit of unexpected fame.
According to mercurynews.com, the Oakland temple is a popular destination for Catholic quinceañera photo and video shoots.
Quinceañeras are special celebrations for a girl's 15th birthday, marking her passage into womanhood and are both a religious and social event, according to britannica.com.
With the rapid growth of social media, photo shoots are particularly in demand for quinceañeras, as is a beautiful backdrop.
As a beacon of beauty and peace, it's easy to see why the Oakland temple would be so popular among photographers and their clients. "It’s my favorite place to take photos,” videographer Carmen Palacios told mercurynews.com.
With the unique architecture, golden spires, manicured gardens, and a striking fountain feature, the temple has become not just a favorite for quinceañera photos.
Temple security guard Tawn Gorbutt told mercurynews.com he's seen families gather for photos for Ethiopian Coptic weddings, Tongan celebrations, first communions, graduations, and more.
Through its beauty, the Oakland temple has brought people of many religions and backgrounds to the house of the Lord where they can enjoy the peace of its grounds.
"As members of the church, we love that,” temple spokeswoman Janelle Wyatt told mercurynews.com.
Read the full story at mercurynews.com
This story originally ran on LDSLiving in 2019.
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