On December 11th, 2010, Elder Kent Watson of our Area Presidency and his wife Connie came to Vietnam to preside at the organization of the first District in Vietnam! So previous to our Saturday meetings, in the morning, we took a quick trip to the Temple of Literature. this is where 82 men received their Doctorate degrees back in the 1400's I believe up until a certain period of time, then this site was disbanded as a university. On a previous blog in September I believe, I posted pictures of the stellas of the Doctoral Thesis sitting on top of carved turtles. So, I didn't take pictures of those this time. There are 82 Stone stellas with the doctoral thesis written on them in Chinese. Each stella is sitting on top of a stone carved turtle. Each turtle is different. It's quite something to see. Bottom picture is l to r: Scott , me, Elder Talbot, Sister Talbot, Sister Watson, and Elder Watson. Top right is Jenny Marchant who organized the visit for us. She even drove which is an amazing accomplishment in this city! The middle picture is the main courtyard. Keep in mind, this is over at least 600 years old. I need to look up the stats. I probably am giving out inaccurate stats. The gardner lady is cleaning up on the top right picture.
'Sister Watson bought a turtle here because the stellas are all on turtles carved of stone. In Vietnam they believe the turtle means long life. The clerk told us because we purchased there we will have long life and good luck! Yeah! I would love that. I must have moved the camera little because I blurred the picture. Sorry, Sister Watson!
Beautiful young Vietnamese woman. Many come here in national best dress to celebrate the end of a test, or school year, or to come and pray to the Buddha that is there, or come to rub the stone turtles for good luck on their finals or special tests. It was a great visit here again!
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