Richard Gieseke Dreamed of Temple Gardens Years Before the Houston Temple Was Announced

Richard Gieseke owned a small landscaping nursery in Houston, Texas. A few months before the Houston Texas Temple was announced, he had a vivid dream.

He recorded: 'The dream was so vivid that I awoke and wrote a letter to the First Presidency of the Church and filed it for later use. The unusual dream was of a beautiful temple with lovely gardens in special arrangements. From the dream I knew the Lord wanted me to begin growing plants at my nursery for the temple.'

Six months before the dream, he had unexpectedly acquired 100 four-year-old oak trees and planted them in containers larger than he needed — for a reason he could not explain. After the dream, he designated the finest oaks and best plant material exclusively for future temple grounds, growing them to 'uncommon excellence.'

The Houston Texas Temple was announced three months after his dream. Over the next several years, he passed up multiple opportunities to sell the valuable trees to fill other orders, holding them firm for the Lord's house. His nursery also grew remarkably during this period — from 6 acres to a 40-acre nursery and a 50-acre tree farm.

Three years after his dream, the plants found their permanent home on the grounds of the Houston Texas Temple. The majestic oaks now stand at the front entryway.