Last night, I took this picture:
We were at the Detroit temple for our usual Thursday night shift, but John needed to go in 30 minutes earlier than normal because he was serving for the first time as shift coordinator (the coordinators need to be there before the workers arrive in order to hand out schedules and make sure everything is in order). There was no need for me to go in the temple that early, so I sat out in the car. However, as John walked in, I quickly grabbed my camera and took the photo.
I do believe this picture is worth a thousand words or more, and our experience is not unique. It could be applied to other times in our lives, and to the lives of our friends and family.
As much as people try to tell us that we are not alone, ultimately we are. When we stand before the judgment seat someday, it will just be us and the Savior. John has relied heavily on many people over the past few months, listening to their counsel, bending their ears, and asking for prayers, but in the end, this trial is his and his alone.
With one exception of course: Heavenly Father is there for him. He has inspired John multiple times in the temple. He has sent the Holy Ghost to act as a comforter. He has inspired other people to think about John and pray for him without John even asking.
But John has had to go on his knees and beg God for mercy. The Savior may be standing at the door and knocking, but John has had to open the door. And the lessons haven't been easy. He has had to make a lot of changes in who he has been for the past 50 years. He has been humbled down to his core.
And he has been given the teachings over and over, just like we are given in the temple. He has learned from the scriptures, from blessings given by inspired men in the temple, from friends who have gone through painful experiences as well, and even from therapy. It feels like every time he goes to someone for help, he learns something new even though he's already heard the same things over and over.
This life journey is difficult. Can't you see the weight of it all on John's shoulders? But no matter what we do, we need to always turn to God for mercy, for comfort, and for deliverance. We may feel alone, but we should always remember that God is there.
We were at the Detroit temple for our usual Thursday night shift, but John needed to go in 30 minutes earlier than normal because he was serving for the first time as shift coordinator (the coordinators need to be there before the workers arrive in order to hand out schedules and make sure everything is in order). There was no need for me to go in the temple that early, so I sat out in the car. However, as John walked in, I quickly grabbed my camera and took the photo.
I do believe this picture is worth a thousand words or more, and our experience is not unique. It could be applied to other times in our lives, and to the lives of our friends and family.
As much as people try to tell us that we are not alone, ultimately we are. When we stand before the judgment seat someday, it will just be us and the Savior. John has relied heavily on many people over the past few months, listening to their counsel, bending their ears, and asking for prayers, but in the end, this trial is his and his alone.
With one exception of course: Heavenly Father is there for him. He has inspired John multiple times in the temple. He has sent the Holy Ghost to act as a comforter. He has inspired other people to think about John and pray for him without John even asking.
But John has had to go on his knees and beg God for mercy. The Savior may be standing at the door and knocking, but John has had to open the door. And the lessons haven't been easy. He has had to make a lot of changes in who he has been for the past 50 years. He has been humbled down to his core.
And he has been given the teachings over and over, just like we are given in the temple. He has learned from the scriptures, from blessings given by inspired men in the temple, from friends who have gone through painful experiences as well, and even from therapy. It feels like every time he goes to someone for help, he learns something new even though he's already heard the same things over and over.
This life journey is difficult. Can't you see the weight of it all on John's shoulders? But no matter what we do, we need to always turn to God for mercy, for comfort, and for deliverance. We may feel alone, but we should always remember that God is there.
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