This last weekend our church had its annual General Womens Conference. All of the talks were touching and left me feeling hopeful. One particular talk really stuck with me. This talk was given by Linda Reeves (click her name for the video) I wanted to share one of her stories and quotes, it really did touch me to the core and gave me greater understanding of my loving Heavenly Father.
Linda Reeves referred to a tabernacle in Provo Utah that had caught on fire and the interior was destroyed. She said about this, "Many wondered why did the Lord let this happen? Surely he could have prevented the fire or stopped the destruction? 10 months later a gasp came from the audience when President Thomas S. Monson ( The president and Prophet of the LDS Church) announced that the destroyed tabernacle would be turned into a beautiful temple. She goes on to say; We could now see what the Lord had always known. He didn't cause the fire but he aloud the fire to strip away the interior, he saw the tabernacle for what it could become, a magnificent temple."
She than went on to say what really hit me personally and deeply, "The Lord allows us to be tried and tested sometimes to our maximum capacity. We have seen the lives of loved ones and maybe our own figuratively burned to the ground and have wondered why a loving and caring Heavenly Father would allow such things to happen? But He doesn't leave us in the ashes, He stands with open arms eagerly inviting us to come to Him. He is building our lives into magnificent temples where his spirit can dwell eternally."
I loved this talk, this analogy and this quote! I needed desperately to hear these words. I love my Heavenly Father! I know He is there with open arms. He does not leave us alone. I know that if I can continue to have faith and hope and smash away the fear that I will not shrink and I too can become a magnificent temple.
Thanks for reading!
2013 Women's General Broadcast (link to the rest of the talks)
