Tabb Clements

As I have been pondering the changes made within the church over the past decade, I thought of something that Neal A. Maxwell said about the Church being "scaffolding", that would one day be removed. As I was looking to find the exact quote, I was given more insight from a grok search.. "Several LDS leaders have addressed the idea that the scaffolding (representing the Church's programs, aids, organization, or administrative functions) is TEMPORARY and will eventually be removed or taken down once its purpose-- building strong individuals and eternal families-- IS FULFILLED." Harold B. Lee originally said: "Much of what we do organizationally in the Church is scaffolding, as we seek to BUILD the individual, and we must not mistake the scaffolding for the soul." From L. Tom Perry “There are two principal reasons why I appreciate President Lee’s metaphor for the Church—as scaffolding for our eternal families. First, it helps me understand what the Church is. Second, and equally important, I understand what the Church is not.” That’s an interesting perspective, isn’t it? Although the Church plays a pivotal role in proclaiming, announcing, and administering the necessary ordinances of salvation and exaltation— all of that, as important as it is, is really just the scaffolding being used in an infinite and eternal construction project to build, support, and strengthen the FAMILY. And just as scaffolding is eventually taken down and put away to REVEAL the final completed building, so too will the mortal, administrative functions of the Church eventually fade as the eternal family comes FULLY INTO VIEW.” Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: “The true believer... sees that some Church aids are, in a sense, scaffolding for the soul, which scaffolding one day will be REMOVED— like water wings or training wheels.” Again from my grok search—Teachings on "home-centered, Church-supported" gospel learning (from the 2019 Come, Follow Me adjustments and related addresses by President Russell M. Nelson and others) reflect the same principle: The Church provides support that helps families increasingly STAND ON THEIR OWN, reducing reliance on centralized programs over time. The metaphor underscores that while the Church remains essential for ordinances, covenants, and community, its organization "scaffolding" aspects are means to an end- NOT the end itself. As individuals and families GROW STRONGER, some administrative elements naturally become less central." Home CENTERED, church supported. As I was walking around the temple grounds, I noticed one small piece of scaffolding remaining on the north side. Just one small piece remained. I thought of how we rejoiced as each piece of scaffolding came down, revealing more and more of the beautiful temple we love. We appreciated the restored beauty even more, as we had to wait so long to have it revealed to us. So it is with our own individual lives! The scaffolding of the Church is being slowly removed, a little at a time, and will eventually reveal to us the beautiful work that God has CREATED in EACH of our lives. He knows what He is doing! So as the changes come, as prophets continue to lead us, we can TRUST that God is creating something more beautiful for us than we can imagine. Through His prophets, He is preparing EACH of us for GREAT THINGS ahead… and in His own time He will reveal it to us. And we might just be surprised at how beautiful it is! We can TRUST HIM! #SaintsOnX #HearHim