Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 26:30

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 26:30

"And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount."

This reminded me of the story of the Hong Kong temple and how President Gordan B. Hinckley received revelation during the night on the design of it. When the Temple Department took his sketch and tried to expand the function and size of the building they were unable to obtain approval from Hong Kong officials. When they returned to the original sketch of what President Hinckley received it was approved.

"At about 6:45 a.m., President Hinckley called Elder Brough and requested that he and Elder Carmack come to his hotel room at 8:00 a.m. Brother Simmons joined them there at the appointed time, and President Hinckley then shared, on a sheet of white paper, a detailed drawing. During the night, he had envisioned a building of about eight floors above ground, with the temple on the top floors and other functions housed on the lower floors. It included replacement facilities for the Kowloon Tong chapel and the Hong Kong mission home and office, since the new building would require that these existing buildings on side-by-side lots be demolished. This concept of multiple use, President Hinckley explained, would depart from tradition in that all other temples in the Church at that time were stand-alone buildings.

President Hinckley asked Elders Brough and Carmack to express their feelings. They each responded that the concept of a multi-story, multi-use building had not even been considered previously, but they had a strong conviction that President Hinckley had received inspiration—even revelation—about what the Lord intended.

After briefly reviewing the other options, President Hinckley asked the brethren to join in prayer. He asked if it would be all right if he offered the prayer. He then discussed the whole matter with the Lord. He talked of the need for a temple in China to bless the people in that area of the world. The prayer was powerful and compelling, evidencing his love for all the people of Asia."

(Elder Monte J. Brough and Elder John K. Carmack, "How the Hong Kong Temple Came to Be", Dec 2006, Ensign)

Day 2235