Temple architect shares life story

Temple architect shares his life story

Elder Bleak says patriarchal blessings and seeking inspiration act as a guide for people's lives

BY BYAMBASUREN CHIMEDBAATAR

After working for 40 years designing temples for the Church, Elder Scott Bleak shared with students he found his own path in life by following inspiration from the Holy Ghost and his patriarchal blessing. He encouraged students to do the same during his devotional address on Nov. 9, in the Cannon Activities Center. “We should consider our individual patriarchal blessings as a guide on a path that we should take to fulfill his will regarding our lives. If I was faithful to my covenants, my blessing would be a guide to me showing the way that I could play part in the planning of temple of this church. But the path was not clearly defined for easy to follow.’’ Following inspiration, he said he decided to move from Utah to Arizona even though this was not his plan. After several years working there, he said he and his wife wanted to go back to Utah to be closer to their families. He said they prayed, fasted and went to temple to receive the guidance from the Spirit. The answer was to stay in Arizona. After he worked for 17 years in Arizona as an architect, he was invited to work for the Church. Elder Bleak said it was a totally different experience working on building temples. So he asked the Lord again for help and said he received answers on the details and design of the first small temples the Church decided to build.

“I’ve learned that inspiration from the Lord typically comes only one line at a time. I have to draw the first line before I receive inspiration on subsequent ideas. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. This process leads to inspired architectural design. It is not a complete vision of a building. It is what we call an iterative process. Lots of ideas are tried and improved and changed. Some are even thrown away only to start new ones, again and again. I’ve also learned that you always do the best you can. Don’t settle on the first idea or on mediocrity, the trite, or the trendy. It has to be the best we can do within the constraints given us by our priesthood leaders. We do grow and improve our abilities if we ask Him to help us. The Lord will help us increase our talents little by little. I also learned these are His houses, with His name on them. ‘Holiness to the Lord, House of the Lord.’”

Now Elder Bleak has worked on temples all over the world including Paris France and Rome Italy Temples, and the current revisions happening with the Salt Lake Temple.

Joe Samo Ifunaau, a senior student from Solomon Islands, majoring in information technology, said, “I have not gone to devotionals for two years. I felt the spirit because of his speech. I felt the feeling that I should go to devotional every week.’’

James Collins, the husband of a BYUH student, said if he has time, he loves to come to devotionals with his wife. While most of the time he has to work, he said he learned from this devotional that reading his patriarchal

blessing is very important to make sure he is on the path the Lord has prepared for him.

Elder Bleak said, “How important it is for you to make the choice to follow your patriarchal blessings in confidence and faith. It will not just happen without pursuing its fulfillment. It is very important for you to follow the path the Lord would have you follow now and each year. It will not be clear, but He will “lead thee by the hand,” and as Nephi said, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth…”

“You will not do better by going on your own path. Right now, you’re at the crux of defining the path you will go. Just make sure it’s His path and you will find greater happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction than you ever thought possible.”

Top left: Elder Scott Bleak speaks at devotional on Nov. 9. He is a missionary at the Polynesian Cultural Center. One of the temples he has worked on as a Church architect is the Salt Lake Temple that is being renovated now. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos and Church Newsroom website.