Our Love Story---Why the Provo Tabernacle is Meaningful to Us

During the past General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Linda S. Reeves spoke to the women in a talk called "Claim the Blessings of Your Covenants." 

"Almost three years ago a devastating fire gutted the interior of the beloved, historic tabernacle in Provo, Utah. Its loss was deemed a great tragedy by both the community and Church members. Many wondered, “Why did the Lord let this happen? Surely He could have prevented the fire or stopped its destruction.”

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/heraldextra.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/15/51558908-09eb-11e0-a4f9-001cc4c03286/4d0b75ee41721.image.jpg

Ten months later, during the October 2011 general conference, there was an audible gasp when President Thomas S. Monson announced that the nearly destroyed tabernacle was to become a holy temple—a house of the Lord! Suddenly we could see what the Lord had always known! He didn’t cause the fire, but He allowed the fire to strip away the interior. He saw the tabernacle as a magnificent temple—a permanent home for making sacred, eternal covenants."

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/provocitycenter/gallery/images/provo-city-center-mormon-temple1.jpg
A rendering of what the finished Provo City Center temple will look like.

This announcement was special to me and Danny, because of the part the Provo Tabernacle played in our love story. We are excited every time to drive by it and see the progress being made and I still think about talking with Danny there every time I see it. It will be a special experience when we can walk through the finished temple. 

http://www.willhiteweb.com/lds_historic_sights/provo_tabernacle.jpg
The Provo Tabernacle the way it looked when we were going to BYU. The way it looked the night we had Stake Conference there.

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, my roommates and I attended the evening session of our Stake Conference at the Provo Tabernacle. Danny was ushering at the back doors, and after some giggling and prodding from my roommates I went back to talk with him until the meeting started. The other usher kept trying to talk to me, and he was totally getting in the way! Even at the ice cream social afterwards, this Mark guy wouldn't leave us alone. But he was nice, so we talked to him. Danny said later that he thought Mark was going to ask me out. Maybe he helped me more than I thought...

After all that I got invited (with all my roommates) to go to Danny's apartment and watch the movie Up with a ton of people. Even though there were too many people and not enough seats, Danny sat by me on the couch instead of giving his spot up to a girl. I appreciated it, even though none of the girls probably did. We made little comments to each other throughout the whole movie, and we were sitting close enough for our arms to touch! I could hardly think about anything else. :)

Falling in Love for the Last Time

". . . When we fall in love the first time, we don't know anything. We risk a lot less than we do if we choose to love again.
"There is something extraordinary about the first time falling.
"But it feels even better to find myself standing on solid ground, with someone holding on to me, pulling me back, and know that I'm doing the same for [him]."

--From the novel Reached by Allie Condie

How One BYU Devotional Changed My Life

January 13, 2009 was a significant day in my life, though it was an average Tuesday for most of the rest of the world. On this day, thoughts and feelings that had been building for years came to a head, and I remember feeling like I was battling myself inside. I had two big questions on my mind with no answers and only confusion.

One question was about my past.

One concerned my future.

I won't go into details about the past question, as it is personal and quite complicated (as the past usually is) and would take a lot of time to explain. My future question was pretty straightforward: "Should I serve a full-time LDS mission, or is there something else I am supposed to do on earth right now?"

I remember focusing on my future question and heading out to watch the BYU devotional that day hoping for some answers. I walked up to campus by myself and sat down in an auditorium where they were broadcasting the devotional. As I listened, surrounded by strangers, I began to cry as I looked up at the projected image of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and felt like he was speaking only to me. I knew I was getting answers instead to the question about my past, and I just wanted to soak it all in. I had brought paper to take notes, but I sat and listened instead.  I looked at Elder Holland and paid attention to the emotion and feelings I was having. It was a very enlightening, humbling, and spiritual experience that really did change my life.

The rest of the day I put homework aside and prayed and studied conference talks, scriptures, and other doctrine concerning my past question. I called my dad and counseled with him as well. I wrote a lot of my thoughts and feelings down in my journal. I haven't often searched and pondered so hard for an answer to anything in my life.

Slowly, piece by piece, my mind became clear as to how I should view this question, the answers to parts of it, and the things I should do now because of it. It was like light slowly and suddenly coming at the same time all throughout that day. My past question answers lead to answers to my future question, and I continued to study and pray the next day until I had a solid, clear, unmistakable, (and surprising!) direction to take and peace in my heart and mind.

This experience with revelation from God through the words of his latter-day apostle truly changed the direction of my life and strengthened my faith. I felt like I should go to school in the fall, which lead to meeting my husband, which lead to so much happiness and rightness, a marriage, a baby, and continued adventures that I feel so blessed to have. I was reminded of this experience this past weekend, and felt like I wanted to share it.

"Remember Lot's Wife" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has become a somewhat famous and beloved message for many. I feel privileged that I was able to be there on the day he spoke those words and feel like they were just for me, although I know they have helped thousands. You should listen to it if you haven't.


Also, "The Spirit of Revelation" by Elder David A. Bednar describes the way receiving revelation is like light coming into our minds and hearts. This is how I felt on January 13, 2009. I had been in darkness for so long concerning my question, and light and answers slowly filled my soul with peace. If you haven't read it, you should.

I know prayers are answered. Answers are out there if we are patient and keep asking questions. Light can fill your heart and mind too.

3 Nephi 18:20 "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."