President Hinckley’s 2007 remarks upon the rededication of the tabernacle:
“Now this building has undergone extensive renovation and remodeling to bring it up to the latest seismic code. With this undertaking, we hope and pray that its historical features have not been destroyed.”
“Some of the old benches have been saved and will continue to be used. But as you’ve already discovered, the new benches are just as hard as the old ones were!”
“Exits have been added to meet modern-day requirements. The great stone pillars, which constitute its outside walls, have been greatly strengthened and fortified. The roof has been strengthened with the addition of steel trusses, with new roofing applied.”
“Changes in this building, I remind you, are not new. Even shortly after the days of its creation, it was modified. Originally there was no balcony, and this had to be added.”
“This is a peculiar building, the only one of its kind in all the world. It was built almost a century and a half ago in the days of the poverty of our people. It was literally a Tabernacle built in the wilderness.”
“The temple was far from finished at the time. Those who built the Tabernacle did so with faith, as well as their rudimentary architectural skills. Skeptics, of whom there are always many, predicted that when the scaffolding was removed, the roof would come down with it. This did not happen, and it has remained in place through sunshine and storm through all of these many years.”
From the Prayer:
"we dedicate, rededicate, and consecrate this, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, to Thee and to Thy Beloved Son, that through many years yet to come it may serve as a place where Thy people may gather for many reasons."
"At one time most of the Latter-day Saints lived here in this valley and in other surrounding areas where settlements were established. Now, Thy work has grown and spread over the earth until we have more members outside of this nation than we have in it."
I listened to the dedicatory prayer yesterday and was struck by how this edifice, the Old Tabernacle, is in so very many ways symbolic of our church. It touched me deeply. I found myself moved as I listened to the prayer. Here’s a link to President Hinckley's talk and dedicatory prayer.
I chose only a few paragraphs from the address. There is a great deal of touching commentary on the early church and pioneers that were our foundation.
What are your thoughts?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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"It was literally a Tabernacle built in the wilderness.”
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading the Old Testament, so I really appreciated this phrase. It links the tabernacle with the temple that Moses was commanded to build in the wilderness. I think I needed that. (sometimes I get a little bogged down with all the detailed descriptions of the construction of the temple)
I constantly think about the pioneers, and how brave they were. If I had lived back then, I hope I would have been, too, but I don't know.
I love the Tabernacle. I have fond memories of going there as a child.
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of the Tabernacle. It always gives me a sense of connection with our pioneer forebearers.
ReplyDeleteAs you point out, the Tabernacle can function well as a type of the Church, itself: "Skeptics, of whom there are always many, predicted that when the scaffolding was removed, the roof would come down with it. This did not happen, and it has remained in place through sunshine and storm through all of these many years."
Also: ". . . the new benches are just as hard as the old ones were!” I wonder what we might compare the "new benches" to? The Church's inconvenient stand on certain social issues? The fact that sacrificing for the Kingdom is still as important as ever, within a culture that strongly features escape and amusement?
:)
ReplyDeleteI thought about that, too. It is not EASY to be a disciple, sometimes! But how many people standing line twice a year to sit on those hard benches? Do they really mind so much in comparison to the messages/spirit they're recieving?
It really comforts me, for some reason, that we still have wooden benches in the tabernacle, and not plush, ergnomomically engineered seating.
In a way, I think of it as another nod to our pioneer ancestors...
Yes. A tabernacle in the wilderness. But we're really not in the wildnerness anymore. It's almost like the new center is a representation of the church as a whole, today, and the old Tabernacle is our reminder and our foundation...
The roof did not fall in :) Worldly wisdom so often misses important truths, doesn't it.
There is so much in this talk, I was literally bowled over as I listened to it.