Four things the Salt Lake Temple reconstruction can teach you about personal growth
Self-improvement can be a balancing act between changing for the better while still recognizing the good in yourself. It may be difficult, but it is possible! Consider following these four tips to help you start your personal renovation.
1. Evaluate your foundation
After looking at the 128-year-old temple鈥檚 foundation, President Nelson said in the , 鈥淭he foundation of any building ... must be strong and resilient enough to withstand earthquakes, corrosion, high winds, and the inevitable settling that affects all buildings.鈥�
Your personal foundation should be grounded in 鈥� or the 鈥渨hy鈥� behind your actions 鈥� which gives you direction and strength to do the right things for the right reasons. The strongest foundation we can have is a desire to become like Jesus Christ. Once you鈥檝e identified your purpose, President Nelson suggests that 鈥淸you] implement extraordinary measures 鈥� perhaps measures [you] have never taken before 鈥� to strengthen [your] personal spiritual foundations.鈥�
2. Acknowledge debris
Strengthening your foundation starts with identifying the old debris in your life, but in a healthy and constructive way. Debris is anything that limits your ability to become who you want to be 鈥� and who God needs you to be.
Consider taking some time to think about your thoughts, words, and actions. Are they helping you come closer to or pulling you away from your goals? You might write the things you want to change and the things you are doing well. Once you acknowledge the 鈥渄ebris鈥� in your life, you鈥檒l be able to make plans for how you want to improve in a positive and realistic way.
3. Take action
After you see what you need to fix, the next step is to take action. It isn鈥檛 enough to stop bad behavior; you have to replace it with something good! Try to pick one thing that will help counteract a personal flaw and do it consistently. The key is to start small and stay consistent.
Given time, these small actions will clear away the old debris in your life, helping you become 鈥渉appier, more productive, and less burned out鈥�4. Preserve the good
Through personal efforts to renovate, don鈥檛 forget that you have many magnificent qualities too! Just because the Salt Lake Temple has cracks and flaws during construction doesn鈥檛 make it less valuable or sacred 鈥� and the same goes for you. Despite shortcomings, your infinite value to God never changes.
President Nelson said, 鈥淧lease believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable.鈥�