the parable of the (new) provo temple.

on sunday i was sitting in church.  suddenly a story came to my mind and i quickly began to write.

i started thinking of the provo tabernacle.  i remember clear as day hearing that the tabernacle had burned down.  i was on vacation with my family in florida and i had just barely left provo the day before.  it had been my intention to stop by the building all semester but it was just too busy and i kept putting it off.  i was devastated that i had missed my chance forever.  tears ran down my face as i thought of this building and all that it represented.  coming back to provo and driving past that building i asked, "why would something like that happen?  why would this building burn down?"  all of us hoping they could just rebuild it back to how it was before.

i was sitting in my living room with marlee watching general conference.  they began to announce the new temples being built.  next thing we hear is that the provo tabernacle is being turned into a second temple in provo.  literally jumping up and down.  hugging.  screaming.  you better believe we were pretty excited that day.  i was in awe.

i sometimes go driving by the temple, just to see the progress.  i'm excited for every little tiny improvement that's been made.  i love hearing of what it's becoming.  every little thing seems like such a big deal, because it means it's getting closer.

as i thought about how these stories connected i thought about how symbolic this is of our lives.  how often do we feel as if our life is "burning down" and wondering why this seems to be happening all around us? and so you just keep hoping and praying that you can get back to the place you were before.  but in reality Heavenly Father has much grander plans.  He doesn't want to just rebuild you into the same old tabernacle, He wants to turn you into something much grander, a temple even.  sometimes its hard and it takes a long time.  building something never has been easy.  but it's a beautiful work in progress.  and you have to remember, you are becoming a special, sacred temple.

and suddenly, it all seems worth it.