Provo Tabernacle part 2

They are rebuilding the tabernacle. It will now be a temple.  The only thing that will be done there will be saving ordinances.  The old tabernacle hosted many beautiful and spiritual gatherings, but the work that was done there wasn't absolutely essential to salvation.  Now we have to rebuild our lives. As I have watched the tabernacle be rebuilt, I am amazed and overwhelmed at the process of it.  It is taking a long time...  I think it is amazing that they are reinforcing the originally structure instead leveling it and starting over.  I have thought about that idea a lot.  Why didn't they just start over?  It would have taken far less time and money and effort?  Why did they value the original foundation so much?  They value the ORIGINAL.  They didn't want to do a "redo."  The original foundation had to be included to make it the sacred place it was always meant to be. I could go on and on about that.  But, it is a comforting thought. It wasn't meant to be completely destroyed even though we all seemed to fear that when we saw it on fire.

We have to rebuild our "tabernacle" into a "temple" too.  We have to reinforce our original foundation.  When I say "we" I am referring mostly to me and Jason. We have to clean out the stuff that doesn't belong there and bring in a crew to help us.  We need the right tools and materials.  We can't be angry that it burned down (not for too long anyways...).  We need patience and perseverance. We need faith that somehow this is going to be a better place than the previous building. Completely destroyed in less than a day and years to rebuild!  Isn't that how a lot of destruction happens...quickly.  you never rebuild quickly. And you need lots of help.  And sometimes lots of help feels uncomfortable (that's a nice adjective to describe my feelings).

As you make plans to rebuild, it is exciting.  You try to remember all the good you had before and include it in the plans. If you want to put in an extra bathroom or a walk-in closet, now is the time. You start my constructing in your head and on paper.  And then the actual work begins.

The ground breaking ceremony is almost like a rebirth of the original building.  It signifies the start of a beautiful undertaking.  It is the beginning of the future.  I found it particularly significant when I found the picture of Elder Holland at the ground breaking.  We had a very special and personal experience with Elder Holland the week before we had Eli.

And there are miracles, even in the midst of the fire.  Many miracles.  It reminds me of the picture that the fire fighters found in the rubble of the tabernacle. It was the picture painted by Harry Anderson: "The Second Coming."  The print was entirely black, except around the outline of Christ.  How fitting that it was the picture of the second coming (for me, at least).  The building of this tabernacle into a temple will help usher in the second coming of our Savior.  It is the thing we can and should look forward to.  God is building more temples right now.  They are important for the salvation of families.

I like the picture that depicts how the temple will look after it is completed.  I got a kick out of the fact that there is a white Chevy Malibu driving on the road in front of the temple.  Jason has that exact car...it looks like the same year.  I guess we will be there.  It's hard to imagine our life after our fire.  It's hard for me to draw up plans for how I want the new building to look.  But, I think you have to clear a little rubble out before your mind is clear enough to the planning phase.  Planning and rebuilding is a lot of work, but it is hopeful work.