Job changes have been one of the biggest challenges of my life. I’ve worked at several crazy private equity turnovers. I’ve worked at nine companies over twenty years, with many periods of unemployment; the longest job loss period was a year. During a couple of those unemployment periods, I had two experiences and impressions that were life-changing paradigm shifts for me. Both experiences were at temples.
“Nothing Eternal Has Been Taken Away.”
After one job loss, I interviewed for a job in the Los Angeles area and felt like I should stop by the L.A. temple. Sitting at a bench on the temple grounds, three parables popped into my mind:
The first parable is what I call the “Monopoly” parable. A dad was playing Monopoly with his young kids and was annihilating his kids in this game. He was picking up houses and hotels and was making his kids go bankrupt. So, his kids got bored, went off to play another game, and the dad was left alone to clean up and put away the game. As he put all the pieces back into the box, he realized that this was an analogy for his life. Everything in life that he would accumulate in lands, houses, titles, and money will all go “back in the box” at the end of his life. God owns the game. All material possessions “go back in the box.”
The second parable that popped into my mind was the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. The first pig builds his house out of straw, and the big bad wolf blows it down. The second pig builds his house of sticks, and the big bad wolf blows it down. The final third pig builds his house out of brick, and it’s strong enough to withstand the big bad wolf’s hot air.
The third parable that popped into my mind was the story of the race between the tortoise and the hare. A race is arranged between the tortoise and the hare. The hare starts very strong, but then feels like he’s got such a big lead that he takes a nap. The tortoise just keeps plugging along. Eventually, he passes the hare and wins the race. This is just like the adage, “slow and steady wins the race,” or as the New Testament says, “The race is not to the swift or strong.”
As I sat there thinking about these parables, I also looked down at the mansions and business buildings down the street from the temple. The L.A. temple is down the street from Beverly Hills, from some of the most expensive real estate and shopping in the United States, and from the headquarters for many film companies. It occurred to me that all the opulence of Beverly Hills and the film industry could go “back in the box” when Christ comes. Like the wind from the big bad wolf, the buildings and companies that have been built by man will come tumbling down at his coming. As I sat there, feeling depressed because I didn’t have a job … again, and contemplated the 3 parables, God whispered into my ear and said something to the effect of, “Nothing ETERNAL has been taken away.” I still had my family, I was still married to my beautiful wife Carrie, I still had the possibility of eternal life, and I still had my relationship with God. Like the slow and steady tortoise that eventually wins the race, I was building my “empire” that would never fail, never go back in the box, never be blown down by the big, bad wolf, and would live forever. I’m gradually building my eternal “mansion,” which will never “go back in the box.”
“Be Grateful”
During another period of unemployment, I had a big interview coming up, and I decided to go to the temple to gain strength and peace. In our temple, we have a stunning room called the “celestial room,” which is symbolic of our future life with God. The “celestial room” is the most beautifully decorated room in the temple, and we try to keep a sense of reverence and peace while in this room. As I was sitting in the celestial room, feeling worried and depressed because once again I was without a job, a very strong impression came to my mind that told me, “Larry, be grateful.” At first, I didn’t understand. I was unemployed, and I was supposed to be grateful? That didn’t make sense. I was even a little mad at the suggestion. How was I supposed to be grateful? However, I started to ponder and think back on years where God had watched over me through all the chaos. Through all the job changes, through all my weaknesses, God was right there watching over me and meeting my physical, emotional, and temporal needs. I expressed my gratitude and pondered how God has watched over me the past several years. As I was just about to leave, another impression came to read the following scripture … “And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thy angels have charge over them (Doctrine & Covenants 109:22).” I knew that I would leave that temple armed with God’s power, that I was His child, and that angels would be watching over me. Even though I didn’t get that job, I felt power from the other side during those interviews.
Both experiences have been life-changing for me. My current church leader often tells us to “think celestial” or to “think eternal,” even during the hard periods. These two pieces of advice to “be grateful” and “nothing eternal has been taken away” keep me grounded. Brick by brick, one brick at a time, slow and steady, I’m building my eternal mansion, which will never “go back in the box,” which will eventually win the eternal race.
The artwork is called “A Gift of LIght” and is used by permission from Eva Koleva Timothy