Heat and Storm

¹“And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” (Isaiah 4:6). Often when the Lord describes the trials that He requires us to go through, He compares them to the heat of a furnace. And often, when the actions of Satan and his minions to torment and afflict us are described, they are compared to winds and storms. The temple can be a place of refuge and relief both from the heat of trials sent to us by the Lord and from the temptations inflicted upon us by the adversary. When the refining fire becomes too hot for us, we can go to the temple to cool off a little. And when the devil's whirlwinds become too fierce for us, we can likewise hide from them in the temple. Jesus Christ will comfort us, no matter what the source of our pain may be. The strength that comes from the Atonement can be applied equally to recovering or preventing the effects of sin and enduring through trials that have nothing to do with our choices but are nevertheless important for our spiritual development and refinement. But regardless of why we are feeling overwhelmed, we can find relief in the temple and the strength to go out and face the heat and the storms once more.