Saturday, September 14, 2013

         Dark clouds (not nearly as dark as those over Provo and Jeff’s house last Saturday, but dark for us) filled the sky and unleashed their load again this afternoon and we could hear the rain on the temple windows and bask in the sounds of thunder while we worked.    The atmosphere inside felt cozy and safe and the work continued unaffected as the storm pelted the world outside with the wind and rain. 

I was helping sisters at the end of the session and, hearing thunder again and feeling that cozy protectedness, recognized an analogy—nothing new, but the feelings were very strong.  The temple surrounded and shielded us from the storms outside.  We know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can surround and protect us from the storms of sin and unrighteousness that fill our world and threaten not only our physical safety, but our spiritual safety as well.   Those worldly storms are battering the doors of the righteous every day; and if we don’t make every effort to protect ourselves and our families, we risk being swept away from safety and into darkness.  We know that Satan will work hard to sway the righteous away from the Gospel.  If he succeeds, his victory is great because God’s worked is stalled and His children lost.  He works hardest on the strongest and we must be ever watchful and prayerful.

Have a beautiful and spiritually renewing Sabbath.  As always, we send our love and prayers.

8:30 p.m. and raining beautiful rain.