The Best Things Are Always Worth Finishing

 

Have you ever considered the monumental task it was for the pioneers to build the Salt Lake Temple? I was reminded of the magnitude of the undertaking when I studied a talk by Elder Holland this week titled “However Long the Road.” It’s truly inspiring to think of the work that went into every detail of building the temple. It took years of labor for passersby’s to even see a slight difference in the landscape. It took 40 years of hard labor, tears, and perseverance to finish the temple.  Elder Holland said that a prestigious newspaper called it a  “monument to Mormon perseverance.” He said, “And so it was. Blood, toil, tears, and sweat. The best things are always worth finishing.” He goes on to quote Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?”

That profound statement has had such an impact on me.  Right now, I’m 46 years old.  6 years older than what it took to build the temple.  It causes me to reflect. What have I accomplished in my 46 years? What kind of a “temple” have I built? It’s a great lesson of perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice. Again, Elder Holland says it best “I am asking you this morning not to give up ‘for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.’ That ‘great work’ is you—your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams. That ‘great work’ is what, with effort and patience and God’s help, you can become.”

In the spirit of “the best things are always worth finishing,” instead of focusing on the past, we can start with a vision of who we want to be, both in our personal and professional lives. Set goals, work hard, never underestimate the power of God in your life. Through him opportunities will come, and doors will be opened. It’s never too late to start, but always worth finishing.