The Lesson of the Lock

Last week, as we prepared for a Primary Quarterly Activity Day, one of my counselors, Catherine, was at the church with the ward librarian making copies for one of the activities. As they were finishing up, the librarian had to be somewhere else, and since Catherine was just finishing cutting and folding some papers, she said she would go ahead and lock up.

The librarian left, and when Catherine finished a few minutes later, she closed up the library, and went to lock the outside door of the church. The key fit in the lock, but it would not turn. After trying for several minutes without success, she called me and asked if the building had been re-keyed. I wasn't aware of that happening, but since I live just across the street, I said I would be right over with my key and maybe we could figure it out together.

I tried my key and the same thing happened... nothing. The key slid into the lock easily, but simply would not budge. I struggled with it until my fingers were sore. We tried our keys in the other doors and they worked just fine. Obviously something wasn't right with the particular lock we needed to lock!

We knew we couldn't leave the church unlocked. I finally suggested we should call one of the counselors in the bishopric and hope someone was around and that they could help us. Since it was the middle of the day in the middle of the week, it wasn't very likely that we would find any men home since they were probably all at work. But what else could we do?

I was about to run home to get the cell phone numbers of the bishopric, when I realized how ridiculous I had been. I had forgotten to do what we teach the Primary children to do. I said to Catherine, "I need to try one more time." As I walked back to the door, I silently pleaded with Heavenly Father for help.

Once again, I put the key into the lock, and just as I expected, it turned smoothly without any effort at all. I was very humbled and grateful. I needed that.

It was such a small and simple thing, but I was anxious to tell my children about the experience later that evening after family prayer. I saw the hand of the Lord in my life, and I needed to share it.