Provo City Center Temple

I went to the noon dedication session of the Provo City Center Temple. Elder Oaks talked about how the temple got a do-over. He talked about how we get to cleanse our lives and how God gives us do-overs.  I remember watching the news and seeing the tabernacle burning. 

I was so sad because I had spent a lot of time in that building as a child. My parents gave tours in that building when I was little, when they were so busy.... I got to give a few tours myself. 

Seeing it gutted, I thought for sure the building would be a total tear down. It was heartbreaking. I thought it was over. The same thing had happened in my marriage a year or so ago. We went through a really tough time. I was sure my marriage had burned to the ground. 

I couldn't find a way that it could possibly be saved.  But the Lord had a way. I was praying and asking God if my husband could be all I needed him to be. The impression I had in my head and in my heart that I felt was an answer from God was the feeling of "what you are asking of him, is nothing compared to what I want him to be."  I kept feeling like I needed to trust God and to give him a do-over. 

I saw my husband change his whole life. He changed his movies, music, church attitude and his heart. 

It's been a long and hard journey but our marriage is way better!  My husband is so much kinder, a better father, more supportive and loving. In a year he has already become so much more of what I needed him to be. He is more like the man I fell in love with, a man of honor and a man of conviction.  I can't wait to see what else God has in store for him and for us. 

Just like the temple, the very foundation of our relationship had to be reworked. After a year of hard work and a lot of repentance (from me as well) and we have something beautiful again. This time we are not striving for a tabernacle relationship, we are going to become better. We want a temple marriage, not just because long ago we married in a temple. We want to be pure and dedicated to the Lord. 

I am grateful we got this do-over and I am grateful for the symbolism of the holy temple getting one too. 

Love Lori 

Family Forever, really?

I had recently gone to the Provo temple open house with a good friend. She has not grown up in the LDS church. Watching the video talking about the purpose of the temples was an eye opener for her. She was shocked with just how much we talk about families. It was a new concept for her. 

  The way the church regards the purpose and responsibility of the family was all new to her. She had grown up in an unhappy and a broken home. She has two children of her own, but she has never married. She has lived a life so far from the Mormon ideal, was that kind of happiness and family life even possible? 

The part of the temple experience that stuck out to her was the video where Elder Holland talks about heaven. He talks about how it wouldn't be heaven without his wife and his children. She leaned over and whispered to me how she wants that. Heck, I want that myself! My husband and I are a 15 year marriage but we are a work in progress. I want to be a 50 year married and deeply in love couple like the Hollands. 

When we truly live as Christ wants us to live, we will have those lasting and meaningful relationships. God wants us to be happy. He doesn't want us to be miserable or to be stuck forever with miserable people. We have our agency but with his help and influence in our lives we can become the loving people he wants us to be. 

So don't get discouraged if right now life doesn't match the ideal that is talked about at church. We are so short sighted, God is patient. He is willing to work with us and on those we love long term. We need to make as much progress as possible in this life but we are eternal beings. When talking to my friend, I had asked her.... Which of your kids would you give up on? You wouldn't give up on any of them, even if you were mad once in a while. You would ALWAYS want your children. God is even a better parent and he is more loving and understanding than we are. He is perfect!  So when you struggle with your earthly father, turn to your Heavenly one! 

Lots of Love!

Lori