The Refiner's Fire

Today while sitting in Church, a friend shared a story that I'd like to reshare because it hit home so deeply for me. This story was shared in a talk by Linda S. Reeves called "Claim the Blessings of your covenants" http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09/claim-the-blessings-of-your-covenants?lang=eng&query=provo+tabernacle+fire

"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 Thomas S. 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.

My dear sisters, 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 does not 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."

Provo Tabernacle Fire 2010
Provo, Utah

The only thing standing was the exterior walls

Beginning to build the new temple using the old exterior walls

It will look even more beautiful like this when finished

My friend went on to say that sometimes when we are in the midst of trials it is easy to cry out to our Heavenly Father "why Lord? why me? why have you burned me?" If we look at ourselves as a temple, the Lord is refining us, and we do go through a refiners fire making us better, stronger, more prepared for what is to come. But you can also learn from this story that he see's further than we can see in our own lives. He knows what is best for us.

So today, when I feel gutted out inside from a bad week of suffering from excruciating pain, feeling low in spirit, and in body, it was a beautiful reminder that no matter how hard things get, the Lord is there with out stretched arms. 

If I were an artist, I would paint a picture depicting how I feel. I would paint a girl sitting at the steps of a burned building, her clothes tattered, torn, and soot on her face. In the corner, I would paint a beautiful depiction of the Savior with outstretched arms, reaching and bidding this girl who is tattered, torn, bruised, exhausted, and defeated to come into his loving and protective arms. 

Until next time...