The Great and Spacious Building

One Sunday after three uplifting, fulfilling meetings, I left the chapel by a side door to walk to the rear parking lot. It was the first “hint of spring” day after a long, dreary winter, and I was enjoying the blue sky and the fresh air.

As I walked, I heard some harsh, loud voices. Looking around, I saw that I was alone on that side of the building, so the voices must have been directed at me. I looked in the direction of the voices and saw three men standing on the balcony of a large home overlooking the church parking lot. I kept walking toward the car, pretending not to hear them. Yet they kept laughing loudly and repeating their harsh-sounding words and crude gestures.

As they raised their voices, I could tell they were making fun of Latter-day Saints. At first I felt uncomfortable. They were making fun of me! Then I thought of Lehi’s vision. Indeed, that house overlooking the church parking lot was a great building with people laughing and scoffing at me for my desire to stay on the gospel path. I felt the security of the iron rod, and my heart filled with peace.

Almost immediately, the voices stopped. Once the men could see that I was no longer concerned, they were silent. The entire event probably lasted no more than two or three minutes, but I was thankful to Lehi for the lessons his vision of the tree of life teaches us.

There will always be scoffers who make light of the things of God. Yet we can have strength if we hold to the iron rod and are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

I pray that those scoffing men will someday know the peace and happiness the gospel brings, and that they will listen when they hear the Savior’s message. Karen H. Seely, Salt Lake City, Utah