Most nights, I parked underneath the conference center. On one particular night, however, I was running late and had to park on the street on the north side of Temple Square. As I finished my shift, I exited the main door that was directly east of the temple, near the reflection pool. As I began walking toward my car, I heard someone sobbing and immediately spotted a man on his knees in front of the fountain, facing the temple. Alone at 1:30 in the morning, my initial reaction was one of anxiety. Is this guy on drugs? Is this a trick to lure me in with ill intent? Many thoughts raced through my mind…

 

The Spirit overcame me and clearly directed me to approach the man. As I walked up, he buried his head in his hands in despair. I knelt down and placed my hand on his shoulder. He reached over and hugged me while he cried. I wept with him. After a minute or two, he calmed down and was able to speak. He was a polynesian man named Jordan, in his mid 20s. He explained that his mother had just passed away in the hospital. He had strayed from the gospel, but the only place he knew to go to seek comfort was the temple. This touched my heart deeply. We embraced once more and I reassured him that his mother was in good hands, and God would comfort him. I walked to my car filled with love for Jordan and gratitude for the experience.

 

There were several lessons here, but the one I want to highlight is that God is never too far away. In our moments of despair or hopelessness, he is a prayer away. A temple away. A loving embrace away. God works through us to show His love. He is ready to show us His mercy and miracles. “The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.” (Isaiah 32:3)