beauty for ashes

 

"almost three years ago, a devastating fire gutted the interior of the beloved historic tabernacle in provo, utah. its loss was deemed a great tragedy by both the community and church members. many wondered  - why did the lord let this happen? surely he could have prevented the fire or stopped its destruction. ten months later, during the october 2011 general conference, there was an audible gasp when president monson announced that the nearly destroyed tabernacle was to become a holy temple, a house of the lord. suddenly we could see what the lord had always known. he didn't cause the fire, but he allowed the fire to strip away the interior. he saw the tabernacle as a magnificent temple, a permanent home for making sacred, eternal covenants.

the lord allows us to be tried and tested, sometimes to our maximum capacity. we have seen our lives figuratively burned to the ground and have wondered why a loving heavenly father has allowed 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."

-linda s. reeves

 

 

2 for verily i say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3 ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your god concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 for after much tribulation come the blessings. wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
5 remember this, which i tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

-d&c 58

3 to appoint unto them that mourn in zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the lord, that he might be glorified.
-isaiah 61

4 every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 and the glory of the lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the lord hath spoken it.
31 but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
-isaiah 40