Every summer for the past 22 years the beloved Bahá'í House of Worship has undergone exterior maintenance -- an annual check-up and prescription of sorts -- to preserve her health and beauty for years to come. This summer, three production crews have been diligently working on separate elements of the Temple's restoration, scheduled for completion in September.

One concrete crew is placing pre-cast steps on the circular monumental staircase that surrounds the Auditorium, while a second crew is applying new roofing material just above the Auditorium entrances. The third crew is focused solely on the Temple's exterior cleaning and coating, which will serve to enhance her original shine and splendor.

Although they are focused on the task at hand, the dedicated restoration crew is also keenly aware that work on a sacred edifice requires not only the capability to do a high-quality job, but also the proper spirit. Steps taken to honor the sacred functions of the House of Worship include:

--Adjusting the work schedule to suit visitors' needs, beginning at around 5 am in order to place the chemicals on the surfaces before the visitors begin arriving. 

--Halting noisy work during daily devotionals.

--Maintaining a reverent attitude.

In the words of one crew member, "Our attitude has to be completely different when we're working on this building as we would another. Language and everything have different standards. We enforce these standards on our employees whether they are Bahá'í or not."

Visitors are eagerly anticipating the pearly white finish of the Temple's exterior.