Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Tale of the Time the Temple was Vandalized on Christmas Eve


           My heart sank as I read the news report; broken windows, damaged walls and mirrors, paintings taken off the walls and damaged.  I felt sick as I thought of someone walking the halls and hurting the place I have come to know so well and love so dearly…on Christmas Eve of all days.  I started to wonder, when I go to serve on Saturday, which paintings would gone, never to brighten the halls and bring cheer again.  The more I thought about it, the more heartbroken I felt.  I saw my dad and he gave me a big hug.  He then said with faith, “It doesn’t matter.  Satan can do whatever he wants, it still won’t stop the work of the temple.” His words brought me back to an experience I had years ago. 
           
           I was at BYUI and took advantage of an amazing deal to see some of the church history sites.  It was a whirlwind trip, but we had a chance to spend some quality time in Nauvoo.  That is such a special place! I loved the peaceful feeling I had.  I felt like I was home.  I had a delightful time walking around the houses and then headed up to a little street that had several little shops.  I was enjoying myself a lot when I saw a little white church across the street.  Anti-Mormon paraphernalia was plastered all over the windows.  I was ticked.  How dare they? They had no business coming into our town and spreading those kinds of lies! What if a new member came to feel the spirit and was led away by that? I was still bugged as I went to the fireside that night at the Joseph Smith Center.  The fireside talk was amazing.   I felt the Spirit strongly. At one point, the speaker talked about the Saints leaving Nauvoo and he said something that I’ve never forgotten.   “When the mob killed Joseph Smith, God was not up in Heaven saying ‘Oh no, what do I do now?!’ When the Saints were driven from Nauvoo, God was not saying ‘Well, now we’re finished!’ Brigham Young turned and looked on their beloved city with everything they had worked so hard for being destroyed and he prophesied that they would back.” The speaker leaned forward with conviction and said powerfully, “We’re back.” Suddenly it was like a shot of electricity went through me and I realized that the little church down the lane could do whatever it wanted, because it didn’t matter. It was good for me to look back on that experience after hearing about the vandalism at the temple.  My dad was right, in the long run, the vandalism doesn’t matter one bit. 
            
          Today I was thinking about the “Light of the World” prompt for the day, to list some of the things the Savior has done for me.  Honestly speaking, I’ve been struggling with anxiety lately, worrying about the future and about other problems.  One particular anxiety demon I have always struggled with, is being afraid that I have disappointed or angered the people I love, and that they are going to walk away from me.  That has really been a struggle for me lately.  I thought about today how anxiety and depression are kind of like a vandal.  They break in and cause havoc, taking the beautiful pictures of your life and damaging or destroying them.  It’s easy to feel invaded. It’s easy to give into the negativity and to believe the lies that anxiety paints.  But just like the early saints, I know that God has a plan for me. I know that he is very much aware of me.  I know that because of Jesus Christ, it will be okay in the end, and if it’s not okay, then it’s not end.  I know that just as workers lovingly fixed windows and walls in the temple, and artists will lovingly paint more pictures, the Savior works within me, to repair damaged thoughts and a hurting heart.  I know he will use beautiful memories and loving moments with dear ones to paint more beautiful pictures for me to hang on the walls of my heart and mind.  The Savior heals.  I am so grateful for all that he has done for me.  Merry Christmas 2019!