But I Want to Build a Temple!

King David wanted to build a temple.   
The Lord told him no. 
He was righteous, he was a good leader, he had a good desire.
But the Lord told him no.

How often do we have a desire for what we think is a good thing, and the Lord tells us 'no?'

In David's case, the Lord had a different plan.  David's son, Solomon, was to build the temple.  David had seen much war and bloodshed, and perhaps this calloused him a little.  Perhaps not.  In any case, building a temple was not for David to do.

We must see in this example how the Lord has a different vision than we do.  He can see the beginning and the end.  He can see the in between.  He can see what we are capable of and where we need to improve.  Just because we are called to do one thing over another does not mean we are not capable.  It does not mean we need to improve, necessarily either.  It simply means that we need to trust the Lord in the plan He has for us.  

I think sometimes we get wrapped up in what we think we need to be doing, instead of remember what we have been asked to do.  I sometimes think about how I think that "I would be great in that calling" or "I wonder why I'm doing this instead of that."  I do know the answer, and it wholly has to do with pride.  The Lord asks us to do what He wants us to do for a specific reason.  It is not our job to question that, only to accept and serve.  We will get much more out of it when we are looking to fulfill what we have been asked instead of looking to what is next, or what we could be doing instead.

 

I think that it must have been hard for David, as his desire was a good one--to build a temple.  It just wasn't the right time, and he wasn't the right man.  I think how our Prophets today all have their own assignments.  Joseph Smith wasn't supposed to build an ark, neither was Moses supposed to build the Salt Lake Temple.  President Monson has his assignment and so do we.  

We are to have faith and humility and simply accept and serve.

 

So, when the Lord tells us 'no,' just smile and have the faithful confidence that He knows what he is doing.