To Devise Cunning Works

The Lord commanded the children of Israel to build an elaborate tabernacle with specific requirements while they were in the wilderness. There were two people in particular who led the building project: “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it” (Exodus 36:1-2). Bezaleel and Aholiab were given wisdom and understanding to be able to lead the construction of this most important project. The Lord had prepared them as He said in this earlier passage: “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee” (Exodus 31:1-6). The Lord gave them wisdom and skill to be able to accomplish the tabernacle as He commanded to Moses. He had prepared them beforehand to be able to do the work He had prepared for them.

               This account of Bezaleel and Aholiab reminds me of the well-known story of John Rowe Moyle who was an accomplished stonecutter and worker on the Salt Lake Temple. He lived far away from it, and every Monday morning he would walk six hours to the temple site where he would work until Friday. Then tragedy struck: “One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg.” Most would have assumed that it would be the end of his stonecutter career, but John was determined to continue in his service to the Lord: “Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.” He was the one who carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” which is seen by all who come to the temple. What an incredible example of faithfulness! He was committed to using his talents in the Lord’s service, and even when that seemed impossible, he persevered and provided a powerful model of fulfilling the mission the Lord had given him in this life.

The stories of John Moyle along with Bezaleel and Aholiab remind us that the Lord can do great things through each of us as we try use our talents to fulfill the mission He has for us on earth. He will magnify our abilities when we seek to use them in His service. It may require sacrifice as it did for Brother Moyle, but surely the Lord did not send us here without a great work to do. I believe His words to Moses are true for each of us: “And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son” (Moses 1:6). Or, as he said to Thomas B. Marsh, “I, the Lord, have a great work for thee to do” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:6).