Faithful Builders
by Wendy Heilesen, President
My Dad is a carpenter. I've always been proud of that. I admire how he uses his mind and hands to build and create almost everyday of his life. He subsists and provides for those he loves by creating and inventing useful, beautiful things. He is also a problem solver--most carpenters are.
Not far from where my father grew up there is a tabernacle built by Mormon pioneers in Paris, Idaho. I've never been there, but I'm told that one of the most interesting features is the roof.
Apparently, the pioneers in the small community didn't have a lot of experience in building tabernacles. However, one of the pioneers, James Colling Sr., had built ships in his native land. Using the skills and knowledge that he had acquired in England he improvised. He and his fellow pioneers built a ship--upside down. James borrowed from the designs of the hulls of the sailing ships he built in England and with the help of others they created a wonderful, beautiful tabernacle with a distinctive roof and ceilings of intricate woodwork. The structure would be sound and the roof would be watertight. Plus, the Norweign builders of the Manti Temple, facing the same types of problems, were doing the same type of improvising.
From the outside one would never know that the roof of the tabernacle was designed after the manner of the hull of a ship. But inside it is obvious and a beautiful reminder to the ingenuity and creativity of the early builders of that community. They were faithful problem solvers.
From the outside one would never know that the roof of the tabernacle was designed after the manner of the hull of a ship. But inside it is obvious and a beautiful reminder to the ingenuity and creativity of the early builders of that community. They were faithful problem solvers.
For me the tabernacle symbolizes the faith and determination of the early Utah pioneers and it also brings to mind ancient lessons of ancient peoples with like minded faith and determination.
For an instant, imagine sitting in the tabernacle looking up into the hull and remembering the words of our Savior (a carpenter and the son of a carpenter) as he taught from the deck of a ship on the Sea of Galilee. Remember the Savior fast asleep in the hull during a frightening storm. Remember the Savior, being roused from His slumber and speaking "words" as he stood on the deck of a ship and calmed troubled waters. Remember Christ's words as He takes His disciples fishing and following His instructions they catch more fish than their nets could hold--He forthwith called them to be fishers of men. Remember the Brother of Jared and the Lord blessing him and his family with sturdy boats and lights to cross the sea to the promised land. Remember Nephi being commanded to build a ship when he had no experience in such matters. Yet, nothing doubting, he built a boat with the Lord's help and he and his family were blessed to come to the promised land. Remember Noah and the ark and the safety the ark provided his family and the animals from the floods and total annihilation. Noah didn't know how to build a boat either. The Lord was his teacher.
For an instant, imagine sitting in the tabernacle looking up into the hull and remembering the words of our Savior (a carpenter and the son of a carpenter) as he taught from the deck of a ship on the Sea of Galilee. Remember the Savior fast asleep in the hull during a frightening storm. Remember the Savior, being roused from His slumber and speaking "words" as he stood on the deck of a ship and calmed troubled waters. Remember Christ's words as He takes His disciples fishing and following His instructions they catch more fish than their nets could hold--He forthwith called them to be fishers of men. Remember the Brother of Jared and the Lord blessing him and his family with sturdy boats and lights to cross the sea to the promised land. Remember Nephi being commanded to build a ship when he had no experience in such matters. Yet, nothing doubting, he built a boat with the Lord's help and he and his family were blessed to come to the promised land. Remember Noah and the ark and the safety the ark provided his family and the animals from the floods and total annihilation. Noah didn't know how to build a boat either. The Lord was his teacher.
We are wives. We are mothers. We are daughters. As such we may not build boats or ships, but we are still builders of some very important structures and organizations. We are builders of families? We are builders of communities. We are builders of futures. We are builders of testimonies.
As spiritual and temporal builders, "How do we face our challenges?" "How would we face our challenges if we were sitting in a boat with the savior?" "Do we use our faith? Do we put into practice what we know and use our ingenuity and creativity to be better homemakers, wives and mothers."
As spiritual and temporal builders, "How do we face our challenges?" "How would we face our challenges if we were sitting in a boat with the savior?" "Do we use our faith? Do we put into practice what we know and use our ingenuity and creativity to be better homemakers, wives and mothers."
Church buildings, be it a temple, a ward building, the cannery or your home function much the same as a ship on the Sea of Galilee. Sometimes we are the teachers, sometimes we are the ones being taught. But for all, these places offer protection from the storms of life. The spirit in these edifices can speak peace to troubled minds and hearts as we learn and teach of the Savior and the Plan of Happiness. Spiritual, physical and emotional needs can and are met in these holy places.
My hope and prayer is that like the pioneers we use our energy, time and talents to build a legacy of faith that will be an example to our families, our friends, and future generations. As builders in our own right, I hope we continue to do our best to overcome the challenges that we encounter and abound in good works. Let us focus on what matters most and trust in the the Lord as we look for ways to overcome the obstacles we face using the gifts and talents with which we have been blessed. "[W]ith God all things are possible. Matthew 19:27.
