Went to the temple.

So when I say that phrase, most of the LDS readers in this audience might think of this:

Boston Temple via.

Or if you knew I was in Washington DC this week you might have thought of this:

Washington DC Temple via.

But instead, I'm going to talk about this:

Rapeseed fields near Cressing Temple with Elder Jackson, June 2001.

In the background there, you see the Cressing Temple and Barns.  Here's the run-down, from Wikipedia:

Cressing Temple is an ancient monument situated between Witham and Braintree in Essex and was founded in 1137 by Matilda of Boulogne, the wife of King Stephen. It was the headquarters of the first grant of land given to the religious order of the Knights Templar in England. The two barns and the templar well which exist on the site, originate from this period. The Wheat Barn and the Barley Barn are the two finest Templar-built barns in Europe while the Barley Barn is recognised as the oldest timber-framed barn in the world.

Check out this guide from the temple website. 

 So now, who are the Knights Templar again, and why do they need barns? Again, from Wikipedia:

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders. The organisation existed for nearly two centuries during theMiddle Ages.
Officially endorsed by the Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favoured charity throughout Christendom and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. Non-combatant members of the Order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, innovating financial techniques that were an early form of banking,^[6][7]and building fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land.

And further down:

Although the primary mission of the Order was military, relatively few members were combatants. The others acted in support positions to assist the knights and to manage the financial infrastructure. The Templar Order, though its members were sworn to individual poverty, was given control of wealth beyond direct donations. A nobleman who was interested in participating in the Crusades might place all his assets under Templar management while he was away.  

It doesn't take much looking to find that the Templars had much influence in England.  I visited several ancient sites like this round church while there as a missionary.

Hedingham Castle at the village of Castle Hedingham.  

This Castle is where Matilda, who founded the Cressing Temple,  died  in 1152.  You can rent the castle's great hall if you want to host a wedding there.  Otherwise, the castle appears to be occupied by the owner's son and daughter-in-law and small children (how cool would it be to be raised in an ancient castle?). 

Associated with the templars are pilgrims, who would visit the Holy Land, even amid the war and turmoil.  They were permitted to visit Jerusalem as long as they were unarmed.  I wonder if that's why one of these stone figures of pilgrims have been unarmed?

Pilgrims at Finchingfield

When I took this picture, I thought it curious that some mischievous person inscribed the tomb with graffiti, "1755", right above the man's bicep.

Well, maybe we're not so different than the ancient pilgrims and Knights Templar as the principles of visiting holy places, contributing our means to funding the Lord's effort, and sending (peaceful) missionaries to reclaim the souls of men are still in effect.

"To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments."

—Thomas S. Monson