Rising From The Ashes

The Mormon Tabernacle in Provo, Utah was originally built in 1861.  This historic building had been the site of church meetings, city cultural events and even hosted a visit from former United States president William Howard Taft.  It was a landmark in Provo City Downtown that residents of the area identified with and loved.

On December 17, 2010, at 2:43 am a four-alarm fire was reported at the Tabernacle.  The fire ended up gutting the entire building.  With the roof collapsed and only the exterior wall left standing it appeared that the only future this historic building would have would to become a memory in the minds of those who had ties to the Tabernacle. 

For me personally I felt a sense of loss and emptiness for this wonderful and beautiful building.  It felt like the death of a loved one.  I only imagined that the building would be torn down.  It's future would be a memory in my mind's eye as I would drive past the site as I had countless times in the past.

Then on October 1st, 2011 Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the opening of the session of the Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church made an announcement that caused my heart jump within my chest and tears to well up in my eyes.  President Monson said this:

"First, may I mention that no Church-built facility is more important than a temple. Temples are places where relationships are sealed together to last through the eternities. We are grateful for all the many temples across the world and for the blessing they are in the lives of our members."

"Late last year the Provo Tabernacle in Utah County was seriously damaged by a terrible fire. This wonderful building, much beloved by generations of Latter-day Saints, was left with only the exterior walls standing. After careful study, we have decided to rebuild it with full preservation and restoration of the exterior, to become the second temple of the Church in the city of Provo."

 

I lived in Utah County until May 2014.  From the time of President Monson's announcement until I moved I drove by the Provo Tabernacle on a regular basis.  It was amazing to watch the Tabernacle rise from the ashes and slowly but surely make its transformation into another sacred House of the Lord.  To me the most amazing sight to witness was seeing the entire building being held up on stilts.  The building looked like it was so fragile and being held up in such a precarious way.  I truly wondered if it could remain standing in a good stiff wind.

 

 

And now, a little over 5 years after being gutted by fire, on March 20, 2016, what was once the Provo Tabernacle, gutted by fire with its interior in a pile of ashes, will be dedicated as the Provo City Center Temple.  The newest "House of The Lord".  Risen from the ashes to fulfill a divine destiny.

 

As I have reflected on the events of the Provo Tabernacle's transformation I have come to the conclusion that there are parallels to this building within our own lives.  Each of us has been divinely created by our Father-in-Heaven.   Each of us face our own challenges and difficulties.  At times we feel that we have been burned out and are in piles of ashes.  Our burning out comes is many different shapes and forms.  Stress, anxiety, financial woes, physical health problems, sin, or even faith that seems to have weakened can causes us to feel as if we have lost the Devine purpose for which we were created.  At some point we try to rebuild.  We may find ourselves entirely gutted, up on stilts where we feel wobbly and like at any moment we may just tumble and fall, never to be put back together again.

But we have a master architect and construction expert in a loving God.  The one who knows and can see the beautiful edifice that each of us can become.  He is the one who can rise us from the ashes and rebuild our empty shells if we keep him at the center of our lives, trusting in him and following the teachings of His Son, Jesus Christ.  In the end we will find a transformation within ourselves.  A transformation that takes our tabernacle and turns it into a beautiful edifice, dedicated to service to Him who gave us and continues to give us Life.


Click on this link to watch  an interesting video on the transformation of the Provo Tabernacle into the Provo City Center Temple:  The Building of the Provo City Center Temple

For information on Mormon Temples click here: Why Latter-Day-Saints Build Temples


Submitted by:  James Tanner