The Cornerstone & the Temple

George Q. Cannon said, "Every cornerstone that is laid, and every temple that is completed lessens the power of Satan."

President Uchtdorf used this quote at the Sunday morning dedication session of the Oquirrh Mtn. Temple. Later on I posted it as my status on Facebook, and someone I don't even know IM'd me and said he liked the quote. Now, as far as I can tell this dude isn't Mormon. I replied and said thanks, then closed the window.

About five minutes later, I get another message from him that says, "It sounds like something from the Bible more than a quote." I thought about all the responses I could give him, the proceeded to look up "corner stone" in the Topical Guide in the back of my Bible. Was I missing something? What little nugget was there to be found?

Well, there were scriptures about Christ being the chief cornerstone, ancient speak about a cornerstone, and that Christ was also the rock of out salvation. I sat for a minute and thought about those scriptures and this quote some more. Then it came to me, of course it's scripture. It's not only said by a servant of God, but each of those scriptures has something to do with the quote.

Christ being the chief cornerstone and coming to the earth to complete the Atonement lessened Satan's power. He is our Rock who will help us over come all things and crush Satan's influence in our lives. In Matt 21:44 we are taught, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." AMAZING! :D

Then my next thought came about temples. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Each body here on earth is here because they "overcame [Satan] by the word of their testimony" (Rev. 12:11). And each person has the opportunity to do it again. Each baby that is blessed under the proper priesthood authority, each person who makes the decision to be baptized under proper priesthood authority, each person who decides to serve a full-time mission, each couple who chooses to kneel across the altar and be sealed for time and all eternity, each time we attend the temple and do vicarious ordinances, weakens Satan's power.

While some people may not have the opportunity to attend the temple as often as they would like, they can still weaken Satan's power daily by the lives the chose to live. For those of us who live within minutes of the temple, we must act selflessly by attending as often as possible. It is a privilege to serve in the House of the Lord. It is a privilege to be on God's side of the battle and overcome Satan by the power of your testimony once again.

In the Master's hands

Caroyln Rusch wrote, "Just as every quilt has a unique pattern, so too our lives have a pattern uniquely ours. Each piece in our quilt represents a challenge we’ve had, a blessing received, a truth learned, a talent nurtured, or an experience that has helped shape us into... the person we are today—& the person we can become. Some quilts are orderly & have a precise pattern; others are crazy quilts with oddly shaped pieces & mismatched."

I think my life is the crazy, right-brained quilt. Nothing quite fits together perfectly, but somehow it makes up the tapestry that is my life. There are many things I have pondered in the last little while like: starting another career, school, a PhD, boys, church, etc.

Only God knows what my ending quilt will look like, and I trust it into his hands. This week I have allowed something of small eternal significance bother me and keep me from the things I needed to do. I finally went where I knew I should have gone in the first place: the temple. That is my place of refuge from the world and it is there that I feel at peace with myself.

There is something about simply walking through the doors. I feel a change in spirit and in my own countenance. Suddenly, the weight of the world is gone and the issues that plague me retreat. In the temple is where I feel my Saviors love the most. In the temple is where I feel close to heaven but for a small moment.

I left with the feeling that if my closure comes, it comes. If not, life will still go on and I must chose if I will go on living or stay stagnate where Satan would like me to be. There is too much to be done with such a small amount of time for me to wallow in self-pitty and they "what could have been's."

Tomorrow will be the first square in a new part of my tapestry. I must admit I am nervous. In the same breath, I have to remember that this is where God placed me and he will make me equal to the task so long as I keep my trust in him. He is the matter potter, the all-knowledgeable God of this universe. He knows how to help me grow and become a potter not only of clay, but of the lives of the students who walk through my door and myself.

I am amazed sitting at the potter's wheel and feeling earth and water slip through my hands. There is something soothing about mastering a piece of clay with patience and forming it into a work of art. Though there is sometimes grit from the sand, the organic nature of the creation is awe-inspiring. Just as clay has an elastic memory, our spirits have a memory little by little of who we once were.

I think of how excited I get when I finish a piece of pottery. How God must feel as we are shaped and molded into the people he knows we are. We go through many transformations and firings before the final product is complete. I submit I will always me moldable, and perhaps one day leather hard for continued refinement.

Anywhere

I watch this video and sometimes think it could be me. Not that I am going to marry a prince, but that I will find that someone who will change my life and I his. Maybe it is someone I already know... Only time will tell, and until then I want to be "Anywhere."