A Useless Pile of Bricks?

The Provo Tabernacle was a beautiful icon here in the Utah Valley.  Built with the blood, sweat, and tears of the first pioneers to settle here in the 1870's, it had a rich history.  I personally loved visiting that building.  I did photography shoots there because of the beauty of the outside red brick walls and the expansive lawn out to the side.  My stake held Stake Conference there in February 2009 and I was involved in numerous choir concerts that took place in the tabernacle for the BYU Women's Chorus.  Here are some of the shots I have from my memories there:

Just a little over a week after I got home from my mission last December, I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law out in California when I got a text from a friend of mine telling me that the Provo Tabernacle was on fire!  I couldn't believe it.  I immediately googled it and, sure enough, found videos and photos of the historic blaze.  I'll admit, I think I remember crying.  

For months, the Provo Tabernacle sat in ruins on the street corner, reminding us all of its tragic demise.  We wondered what they would do with it; to us it seemed like there was no option but to tear it down.  The amount of distress it went through left it a useless pile of bricks.  

What we didn't know during all of this was that the Lord was planning something much greater and more beautiful for the remains of this tabernacle.  In this most recent General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, announced that plans were underway to use the structure of the Provo Tabernacle to become a temple, a house of the Lord.  What an incredible announcement!  It will now become something more glorious than the pioneers could have ever imagined.

This story was related today in my stake conference by the stake president.  He compared it to the power of the Atonement of Christ.  Sometimes, we have to go through incredible trials in our lives.  These often leave us feeling lower than the dirt, like a useless pile of bricks on a street corner.  But the Lord knows what we can become.  He always knew the Tabernacle would become a temple, he was just waiting for us to figure it out.  The same applies in our lives.  No matter how low we feel, he can make us greater than we ever could have imagined.  The rebuilding process may be slow and it may be hard, but it will be worth it.  His Atonement heals us and gives us ennabling power to be instruments in His hands. 

Thanks for that analogy, President Mullen.  It's something that I hope will stick with me forever.

Hot Chocolate

I love this time of year. There is something special in the air every time I walk outside. Maybe it's the imminent approach of the holidays. Could be the changing weather or the changing leaves. School spirit is raging with football games every weekend and marching band in full swing. General Conference is a time to hear from the prophet of God on earth today. The smell and feel of new school supplies always gets me excited. The World Series is revving up! Hot chocolate starts to make its way back out, along with all kinds of harvest breads and soups. Honestly, I don't even like soup but when the time is right, like right now, I could totally go for it.

My favorite part of all is the slow change in mood of the music I listen to. Summertime is "roll down the windows and cruise down the street singing at the top of your lungs" type of music. As I go into winter, it becomes a little more chill, a little more acoustic, a little more "sitting by the fireplace with good friends" type of music. The Adele station on Pandora is the best, just in case anybody was wondering. And my favorite song of the season? Winter Song (click it to listen...you'll love it too).

Ward Campout!

My roommate Susie and I went to a food fight!

Let's just be honest, there are plenty of things about every time of year that one could find to hate but that's no fun. Personally in my life right now, things are going so well. Summer was not the best one on record but I've bounced back. I'm now in my last semester at BYU. So weird! Trying to make the most of it though...2 jobs, 14 credits, and playing trumpet in marching band is definitely keeping me busy but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've loved my time at BYU but I'm ready to move on and see what else life has in store for me.

My friends in marching band, Doug and Kate. Go cougars!

Come January, who knows what I'll be doing? :) Right now the plan is to move to Auburn, CA, with an old mission companion...just for the heck of it basically! I will spend about 5-6 months there and then *hopefully* start training sessions for Teach For America. I've been accepted to the final interview, which is scheduled for October 20! Wish me luck. :) Though I do have all this in the plans, however, I am trying to still keep myself open to other plans the Lord may have for me...aka: if I start dating someone, I would be more than willing to change some things around. Haha :) But until the guys get their act together, I will just keep setting goals and making plans and finding happiness now, every step of the way.