NEVER DOUBT THAT GOD HAS A PLAN

Provo Tabernacle as it appeared about 100 years ago

The Provo Tabernacle, a beautifully designed building constructed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in between 1883 and 1898, was beloved by generations of church members and other residents of this Utah community who attended meetings, concerts, and other events there, until it was gutted by an electrical fire in December 2010.

In the fall of 2000 just ten years before the devastating fire, I had my one and only opportunity to be inside this lovely structure with its ornate, attractive, hand-crafted woodwork. I was there with my son Nathan sitting in the balcony listening to his future wife, Angela Hartsell, who was in the choir performing Rob Gardner's musical, He Is Jesus Christ.

The exterior walls & corner towers are all that remain standing

For almost a year everyone has wondered what the Church might do with the property, many fervently wishing that somehow what was left of this venerated historic structure might be saved. During the General Conference of the Church this weekend, it was announced that after careful study and engineering evaluation, the decision has been made to save the Provo Tabernacle, which will be converted into a new temple, THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. The external appearance of the building will mirror the Provo Tabernacle when it was originally built in the 1800s.  This was an emotional moment for members of the Church . . . for that which appeared to be hopelessly lost has been saved!

Being a full time missionary in a place where there are hundreds of less-active members of the Church, I couldn't help but think of the real life comparison between the emotional feelings felt by Church members for the worth of a much-loved building that had been thought to be lost and is now saved and the worth of those of God's children in the city of Baltimore, who also appear to be lost pertaining to the blessings associated with the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul taught, "But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor12:20-26)

The restored Provo Tabernacle when it is dedicated as a temple in future times will have need of every brick, steel beam, and piece of wood employed to hold it together. Likewise, the Church in Baltimore has need of every member. Just as God has a plan in place to recover a lost Church building, WE SHOULD NEVER DOUBT THAT GOD HAS A PLAN OF REDEMPTION FOR HIS CHILDREN WHO NOW APPEAR TO BE LOST!