A chainlink fence surrounds a modest yard on the corner lot at 397 S. Fort Lane in Layton, just up from a 7-Eleven.
In the driveway of the two-story house, a teenage boy works under the hood of a compact car.An ordinary scene in suburbia.
The house, however, is not an ordinary occurrence in an otherwise homogenous neighborhood. It's a Thai Buddhist temple - the only one in Utah - and is home to two monks, a "novice monk in training and a temple boy."
Compared to what he's used to in Bangkok, Thailand, it's a humble setting for Phramaha Thawatchai Narindo, the temple's abbott, an enthusiastic but pious man who takes great joy in discussing religion.
"I think there are good people in all religions," he says.
Narindo, who has been in the United States as a missionary for nine months, is confident that within a year, local Buddhists will close a deal on a site for a new temple on a 3-acre lot. Narindo has his eye on a church nearby that's up for sale. The church, he says, could be remodeled into a pagoda-style structure.
Until then, Narindo and his fellow monks will continue to perform ceremonies in the Layton home, which the local Thai Buddhist congregation of about 100 regulars has used since 1985.
In a large room upstairs, the faithful worship at the feet of a four-foot golden statue of Buddha, which is surrounded by an array of tapestry, candles, flowers, incense holders and photographs of famous Buddhist leaders.
"We do ceremony two times a day," Narindo explains. "At 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. We bow three times to the image and light two candles. We also light three joysticks (incense)."
The three kowtows and the three candles symbolize wisdom, purity of mind and compassion. The two joysticks are to reaffirm a respect for the doctrine and the discipline of the religion.
Basically, Buddhists are required to live by five precepts: Do not kill, do not steal, do not misbehave sexually, do not lie and do not drink alcohol.
Novice monks - boys ages 7 to 19 who are training to become monks - are required to live by 10 precepts, while full-fledged monks must live by 227, Narindo said.
In addition, he said, "It's very important to practice meditation," of which there are two types: one for purifying the mind to gain concentration and one for gaining wisdom and insight."
The temple doubles as a summer school for Thai children born in the United States. Three teachers, who came from Bangkok for two-month stints, instruct 28 students four days a week. The subjects include Thai custom, culture and language.
Narindo would eventually like to expand the school to a year-round program in which Thai children may participate after their public school classes, on weekends and holidays.
But that will require a larger temple.
If his faith has anything to do with it, Narindo may well get his wish.