142: A

Teotihuacan.

The quintessential ancient ruins destination.

The bus dropped us all off where they have to park, quite a ways away. It was blazing hot at seven in the morning already, and storm clouds were on the horizon, promising a thunder shower or two later. The air was muggy.

"So, this is the birthplace of the Gods." Rafe said as we reverently walked up the central lane, crowded already with tourists. The pyramids were too big. Unreal. You couldn't see the tops from the ground.

The grounds were deforested grasslands, as Ben and I had known they would be, according to Book of Mormon culture. The ruins all around us were cement, glistening with gemlike rocks in the sun. I had my umbrella, my spray bottle with fan, baseball cap, and glasses. Rafe asked why I was so sun protective, and asked if skin cancer ran in my family.

"Is that a deal breaker, if it does?"

"Might be." He rubbed his thumb under the waistband of my shorts.

I laughed and adjusted the little backpack I had on. It was heavier than usual. With more than a lot of water, and extra shoes, socks, and the first aid kit. I figured the pyramid might be a pretty good hike, and I might need to doctor a few blisters.

Tim, ahead of us, met up with the tour guide who was to take us on the initial tour of the ruins. Our group was huge now--- well over sixty people had asked to come, as there was to be no concert tonight, so everyone was free. The tour guide was a taller Mexican man, with thinning dark hair, and a round face, with neatly trimmed facial hair. He looked to be in his late thirties or so, and wore blue jeans and a Teotihuacan t-shirt. His smile was infectious when he told us in perfect English and only a slight accent that we would really do better in smaller groups, and to break us down into groups of less than fifteen. A few other tour guides were on their way.

"Are there any expectant mothers?" The tour guide had introduced himself as Trevino, and he looked around happily.

Rafe raised my hand high. "This girl." I snatched my hand down and our small group started laughing.

"That is good, senora, very many congratulations to you! I will have your party join with another party with a pregnant family. We will take it a little slower."

"Oh, I'm not---." I began, and Rafe clasped his hand over my mouth.

"She is. Due in March."

"I will take you all on a personally tailored tour, just for you, sweet lady." Trevino smiled and ushered a very nice looking Mexican family to our sides.

Other tour guides began splitting our group into smaller groups and Rafe kept his eyes on them. He was laughing just under the surface, squeezing my hand, and he snickered, "You might not be pregnant now, but you will be."

I pretended to be shocked, but was secretly pleased, and surprised, and the wonderful thought of having a child permeated my whole being. I leaned into Rafe's side and he kissed me.

Trevino introduced us to Gomez and Ariana, and their daughter, Felicity. Gomez had two brothers with him, Marcos, and Carlos who he said were visiting from out of town, and that was why they were touring. Ariana had just found out she was expecting and was due in February, and she came to my side and took my hand, squeezing it. I guessed her age to be about the same as mine, her beautiful long dark hair was braided and wound around the top of her head artfully. Her daughter, Felicity was adorable, and about four.

"I was told..." She said in Spanish, "That I couldn't have more children after Felicity. I have a condition, where no eggs drop into the womb to be fertilized. And then we went to a fertility specialist in Guadalajara, and after treatment, I have conceived. We are so happy."

"I'm very happy for you!" My medical mind was quickly going over the condition she described, probably the very common Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, otherwise known as PCOS. I was familiar with it, being a maternal health care specialist. I asked her a few questions, oblivious to the people around us.

When we started walking I found that Gomez and his brothers were very friendly with Rafe and Ben, talking about their band, and how the tour was going. In our group were Gomez's family, Rafe and Ben and I--- and our entourage, including Jeremy and Levi, Jeff and Mutt, Tim, Aiden, Jake and Lavon. Manuel and Monty had stayed with the bus. It was all in all a very intimate and interesting group. It was nice to have a native Mexican family with us.

One of our cameramen had tried to sneak in, but not only had Rafe waved him off, but Gomez had asked that no pictures be taken of him and his family as they were of the noble class, and their security was of deep importance. This suited us just fine.

When Trevino found out that some of us were Mormon, he beamed with pleasure. "You will be so happy so know that many of the Book of Mormon sites are believed to be right here in Teotihuacan." And he proceeded to tell us all about it. My eyes met Ben's, and he nodded knowingly. I thought his confidence cute.

I gazed around in interest. The ruins were all around us. The Book of Mormon described cement buildings that dated their cities to a certain time frame. Many archeologists had felt that Teotihuacan must be much newer than Book of Mormon times because they felt that the people did not start using cement so early. But everything else pointed to an earlier origin for Teotihuacan. In fact they knew that the city had been sacked and burned more than once. All around me I saw the echoes of past Teotihuacnaos, Lamanites, Nephites and others. It was as if I could hear their voices raised in praise to God, people like Alma, and Ammon and Gideon.

Rafe, next to me, was paying close attention to Trevino, but he finally leaned over to me as we entered the ruins of a smaller apartment building type place and felt the cement and gemstone walls, the smaller rooms, the way the tops were molded to hold thatched roofs. It was all so surreal.

Felicity was a typical four year old. Bored with walking around looking at bricks not five minutes into the tour. Rafe asked if he could carry her on his shoulders for them, and Gomez acquiesced. He was only too happy to share his adorable child with us. Jeremy tickled her legs, and goofed around with her as she rode on Rafe's shoulders. I could only stare in wonder as Rafe transformed before my eyes into the father he would one day become.

We wound our way through the ruins, learning about the way of life of the people who they knew had once lived here, from the archeological remains. Pottery, tools, fields plowed, animal bones. Trevino made it all so interesting for us, and it was nice that Gomez and his family spoke a bit of English as well, so it went faster in both languages without having to stop and translate.

There were three pyramids, two small and the one large one, the Pyramid of the Sun. The correlation to Mormon temples was easy to see if you'd been to any, and we had, so Jeremy and Rafe both drew those conclusions, teaching not just themselves, but the rest of the group. I was surprised at the knowledge they had picked up. Surprised and pleased.

Oblivious to everything around me except Rafe holding this adorable child, and the guys in the band spouting religious confirmations, I kept my eyes open and my feet moving. It was another gorgeous day.

We stopped before making the trek to the top of the temple, which everyone wanted to do. The clouds were rolling in, and Trevino radioed to his superior to get an accurate forecast. They couldn't allow people on top of the pyramid if lightning was expected. As we waited to hear back, we drank our waters, offered some to Felicity and Ariana, Gomez had his own, but some of ours had flavors, which excited Felicity to no end. I gave her grapes and mango and a power bar too. Our guys were all pretty hungry of course, which lightened my load considerably. Not that they hadn't packed their own stuff, but they liked my stuff better as usual.

We got the okay and started up the steps.

I'll admit. You needed to be in shape for this. Ariana took it a little slower and I felt obligated to stay with her, making sure she didn't try and keep up with the young guys who zipped up the steps and then back down. Rafe stayed with me, said he was practicing for next month when it really was me. He kept counting off days till our wedding and then days until I found out I really was pregnant. What he really wanted to know was how soon one could find out the sex of the baby. And he didn't want to hear it from me--- the neonatal surgeon--- he wanted to engage pretty little Ariana.

And I loved him for including her and Gomez, making them feel so included, so warm and friendly. Gomez told the whole story of how they'd wanted another child and had tried so many times, and ways, and been unsuccessful. I knew the heartache that accompanied infertility first hand from working with so many, many who dealt with this every day. Multiple births due to invitro were my specialty. We talked about that a lot and at every rest point on the way up.

Each place Trevino took us to stop and rest we looked out over the view. It was without a doubt, the most spectacular sight I'd seen on this excursion. The feeling of antiquity never left, only grew more pronounced. From up here it all became so clear, so amazing.

Felicity wanted to run, so her dad took her hand as Rafe let her down. Rafe stretched his back and shoulders, enjoying the view. And then he turned to me.

"Do you think Nephites got married up here, on this ledge?"

I blew out my breath. "There were no windows to see out from inside. It would have been a better view to be married up here."

"I would have been married up here. This is surreal, so incomprehensible. I am so glad you insisted we do this kind of touring. I'd have never done it. We are always so wrapped up in our own selves. But this is amazing."

I reached inside the side pack to bring out some sun screen. "I think it's time for reapplication." I squirted some into my hand, and Felicity seeing us, danced back to our sides, wanting some too. Her mother was a little embarrassed at her daughter's precociousness, but we assured her they were just like family now, and gave Felicity a good dose. She applied it like a pro, and even told her dad to bend down so she could get his head where the hair was thinning. He and his brothers both laughed uproariously.

We continued on up to the next platform, and Trevino described what the known customs had been, again drawing the obvious conclusions from the Book of Mormon for those of us who would find that interesting. Ben had brought his book to read in from the top of the pyramid, and Jeremy was discussing it with him.

Rafe leaned into me. "How are you doing, beautiful?"

"Super dooper." I smiled up at him. He wiped his brow.

"Glad I brought the umbrella now?"

He was standing in its shade. "Never gladder."

I took off his sun glasses and mine and looked into his eyes. "What do you think? Is Teotihuacan Zarahemla, as Ben thinks, or is it Bountiful? Or neither?"

He surveyed the land around us. "Zarahemla was city center, about a day's walk from Bountiful, and it was burned and destroyed and sunk. Mexico City fits that description. It's on a major fault line, it is sinking--- proven, eight feet. Sinking still. It spread out and housed the majority of people, and many, many people died there. They regrouped here, where a temple had been started and righteous people were still living. They took in the righteous refugees and built up the city with the Temple, etc. I think Teotihuacan is Bountiful, and this is where Christ came to the people in 3rd Nephi. That's what I think for real, Aubrey."

I was shocked at his logic, at the thought he had put into it. I felt instantly sorry for people who came here and just thought it was a nice place.

Ben came up behind us. "After examining the facts man. I too feel that this was Bountiful. It's been changed and of course, we know it died in four hundred AD, but what is still here is pretty self-explanatory. The Aztecs moved in and took over after the Nephites were wiped out, and they did some weird carvings and stuff, and some renovation, but yeah, the main thing is still intact."

"So, if Jesus Christ came here, to the temple, where?" Jeremy came up to us too.

Rafe and Ben looked around. Then up.

They both pointed. "Up there."

We all looked up just as Trevino stopped joking with Gomez and his brothers, and Mutt and Jeff joined us where we were. "Let's continue." Trevino called to us.

Mutt tapped my shoulder as I turned. "Yeah?"

His eyes were a dark greenish color, almost yellow brown, his hair was dark brown, and his face was square, a line of eyebrows framed the top. "Aubrey, you've got the whole group thinking like Mormons."

"I have?"

He nodded as we began up the steps again. "And I resent it."

I was startled. "I'm sorry, Mutt. I didn't mean to bring anything on board that would be offensive to you."

"It's not offensive." He said. "It makes sense."

"What does?"

"Well, temples for one. This temple... the temples we've gone to. All of it."

"You find the temples to be..."

"Authentic, real. Their purpose is meaningful, not just decorative, or to justify some past royal's ego. It makes sense that they would be places of learning. I learn here. And I like learning."

I nodded, not sure where he was going with this, and pretty sure that all my conversations with Mutt were like this. He just wanted to tell me something and then be on his way. I waited, and Mutt patted my shoulders and then took some big steps and got out of my way. My eyes widened and then I smiled in relief that I hadn't offended him in anyway, and continued up myself. I was confused about why he'd said he resented it, but I determined not to dwell on it too much. Mutt was an enigma---enough said.

Felicity came back and wanted a ride. And she wanted to hold the umbrella, and she wanted more flavored water. I thought Rafe might be annoyed, but he didn't seem to be, although carrying a four year old up the Pyramid of the Sun was beyond taxing to say the least.

Gomez was busy helping Ariana. So Rafe and I played with Felicity.

The last part of the climb took longer. The steps were wider, and the sun was hotter. The wind picked up as well, as the clouds scuttled across the sky, and gathered darkness, now and then giving us relief from the glare. The cement was so reddish white, so worn, yet so pristine, so built to last... and this Pyramid had lasted. This Temple... like its brothers in Egypt, like its family of over a hundred now in all parts of the world, was a testimony to the everlasting nature of the gospel and what went on inside... the sealing of families together. To solidify our choices to become children of God forever.

We'd been told the steps would get higher as we climbed higher. We'd been told not to look down as we climbed. The heat coming off the steps was intense. Rafe had to put Felicity down, promising to hold her again once we got to the top. We'd been told it was 242 steps to the top, and I heard some people counting, out of breath and counting. Trevino stopped periodically, making it easy.

From the bottom looking up it seemed impossible. But there were others already up there and one had to say, if they can do it, I can do it.

Trevino was giving us the different names by which the temple / pyramid had been called. The temple of the Gods, where Gods were made, and the road to the Gods. The way leading up to the two pyramids was called the Avenue of the Dead.

"Why?" Levi challenged. "Did they bury their dead there? Are they some kind of vaults?"

I turned around at the platform. "Look at it, Levi. Does it look like a cemetery?"

"No. It looks like a university."

His perception was.... Perceptive. I agreed totally.

"So.... In our church, we believe that the temples are there to not only perform sealings and ordinances for the living, but also for those who went on before us. So, they did them by proxy. In other words they kept their genealogical records and then took those names to the temple and did work for them there. They believed that those on the other side have the opportunity to accept or reject the ordinances performed in their behalf. I think--- you might find--- that these smaller buildings, that look like a university from up here, are just that. Places of learning, places of repository for the records and genealogies. If you go to the Salt Lake Temple some time you'll find there is the world's largest genealogy library really close by. I don't know that for sure, Levi. But it might be. You said university. I say yes, and libraries full of the names of people whose temple work was done here."

"Are the names still there?"

I shook my head. "No. No they wouldn't be. The city was abandoned and the people destroyed around 400 AD. It got taken over and rebuilt years later by the Aztecs for sure and maybe others. What we see is the remains of several civilizations that used the temple for their own purposes after the original builders were gone."

Levi looked up and around and finally nodded and went on. Rafe smiled at me. "You are just one big fountain of missionary work."

I grinned sheepishly. "I'm not pushing it on anybody. I can't help it if the land itself testifies of the gospel."

He grunted, and kept going. I wasn't sure how he felt about this. If he was annoyed that the others were interested--- and even seemed to be investigating. Or if he didn't care what they did. I kind of thought it would be the second thing. Rafe wasn't one to care what others did or thought. What he cared about was that they chose for themselves.

The way to the top got harder and harder. I knew there were rooms and catacombs and tunnels inside the pyramid, but I also knew that whole entire temple ceremonies could be taught out here, on the giant platforms too. Whole groups had stopped on the one we went on to look at the view, and listen to their guides.

I noticed that our bodyguards were enjoying themselves and I was glad. I didn't think Jake had ever been to Mexico this way.

It took an hour, but we all made it up the 242 steps to the top. It was worth it. So, worth it. Rafe and I stood together, his arms around me from behind. "This is what it's all about, Aubrey, getting to the top--- with you."

I understood what he meant. If it was all symbolic, then being up here meant that we were symbolically in God's presence together. It was an amazing analogy.

There was a shout and I saw Gomez leap to the side to the railing around the top. It all happened so fast, even Trevino barely had time to move. I saw the little pink sundress for just one second and then I was shoved aside and Rafe was scrambling over me and down the steps.

Felicity was falling. Aiden was below her. I saw him barely over the top of the walls, and then he yelled. He had her. I ran after Rafe, wondering if she had been hurt. I could hear her screaming.

We all got to her at the same time. She was in Aiden's arms, which were scraped and bleeding.

And true to form, I felt the doctor calm claim me. I started assessing first Felicity, who had all superficial cuts and scrapes, and Aiden who had had to dive over the railing and slide on the punishing cement and rock mosaic walls. He was beat up too.

Fortunately I had restocked the medical kit. I had to clean out both of their cuts picking particles and rough shavings of loose gravel and dirt from their abrasions. Trevino also had some medical supplies and I could see the site mobile paramedics on their way up.

******