Oakland, California • On any springtime Saturday, a steady stream of Catholic quinceañeras can be seen promenading along the blooming rose bushes and gushing fountains of Oakland’s LDS temple.
It's a favorite among the 15-year-olds, who travel from all parts of the Bay Area for a photo shoot among the temple's gardens, creating a unique blending of religious cultures. It's not clear how the tradition got its start, or why certain segments of the community choose The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland over any other locale.
But Dulce Gutierrez, who owns and operates Gutierrez Limo in between pre-med classes, has a pretty good guess: "It's beauty," she said.