President Thomas S. Monson
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"The erection of this edifice has long been in the planning stage. We've needed a much larger building to accommodate those who attend conference and other activities throughout the year. Workmen with finely honed skills have labored with their hearts and hands to provide a structure worthy of his divine approbation, 'Well done, though good and faithful servant.'"
Jesus often spoke in parables during his ministry, a language people understood well, and home building was a common reference for the carpenter's son.
In Doctrine and Covenants 88:119, the Lord counsels, "Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of order, a house of God."
"Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby he or she could wisely and properly build a house to personally occupy throughout eternity?
"In a very real sense, we are builders of eternal houses. We are apprentices to the trade — not skilled craftsmen. We need divine help if we are to build successfully."
Remembering we are literal sons and daughters of God, prayer becomes the way we communicate with the Lord, our teacher, about this raw material we call life.
Paul, in an epistle to his beloved Timothy, told us all how to build our better selves, giving us an inspired charge to be an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
