United We Stand

Grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa. Put in a couple of marshmallows and let it melt just a little and slowly sip as I tell you three stories.

Story One

When I was in high school, my dad was diagnosed with leukemia. We hoped and prayed that my dad would be healed. One particular weekday, our ward held a special fast for my dad. Our family was touched that they loved us enough to do this. As I was at school that day, I remember sitting on the grass during lunch with my good friends. One friend noticed that I wasn't eating my normal peanut butter and honey sandwich, crispy apple, and homemade chocolate chip cookies for lunch. Instead, I sat there quietly talking to them. When she asked why I wasn't eating, I replied it was because I was fasting and praying for my dad. She looked at me quietly and then said something that I've never forgotten:

"I wish you had told me. I would have fasted for your dad, too."

I was touched. She was not a member of my church and I don't even know if she had fasted before. I felt her love that day that she wanted to be united in my cause and do something for my family.

Story Two

About two years ago, my husband was told he was getting laid off. Our family immediately began fasting and praying that he would be able to find employment quickly. We called and e-mailed family and close friends and asked if they would join us in fasting for Ron. Everyone we talked to seemed genuinely interested and willing. We felt great strength as we united our faith. The job offer didn't come that week or even that month, but Ron was only without a paying job a few weeks before a job offer came. We are so grateful for the love and support of our family and friends.

Story Three

A few weeks ago, my sweet daughter asked that we pray for her wonderful husband, Jacob. He needed to pass a few tests to graduate from the Police Academy. Of course, we were willing to do that. When I mentioned this to my Mom, she said, "Jennifer should ask the entire family to pray. There is strength in unity."

I shared that with Jennifer. A week or so later, Jennifer sent out an e-mail to Jacob's and her extended family. Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins were asked to join in a special fast for Jacob that he would be able to do well on his upcoming tests. There were many heartfelt prayers in the following days. Last Thursday night, Jennifer text-ed Emily and let her know his tests would be the next day.

Early Friday morning, Jennifer sent out another mass e-mail asking for family members to remember Jacob in their prayers that day. He was taking his tests that evening. I spent part of the day working in the temple and many of those minutes were spent in prayer that Jacob would do well.

Friday evening, we received another phone call from Jennifer. Jacob passed all three tests easily. We rejoiced with them and are so grateful that prayers were answered.

There is great strength in unity. There is strength in uniting our faith and our prayers. Sometimes, the answer isn't what we want it to be. My dad did not recover from leukemia. But, even though the outcome wasn't what we hoped for, we felt loved and buoyed up and filled with hope for better days.

Jennifer recently posted on her blog, "I really, really love my family."

I echo that. I really, really love my family.

Lost Keys

When I was a very young, my parents taught me how to pray. I remember my mother sitting on my bed, and Barbara, Daniel, and I kneeling down in a row at bedtime as she helped and listened to us say our personal prayers. We had family prayer and blessings on the food as well. Prayer was a natural part of our lives.

When I was four years old, my parents only had one car. If my mom needed to run errands, she would bundle up her children early in the morning and drive my dad to work. I remember those early morning drives still wearing my pajamas and still half asleep.

One particular day when my mother had the car for an important appointment, she could not find her car keys. She looked everywhere. Frantically she asked me, her oldest child, if I had seen them. I had not. She continued to look.

I remembered that we could ask Heavenly Father for help. I remember going into my bedroom, kneeling by my bed, and asking Heavenly Father to help me find the keys. My mommy needed to go somewhere and she could not find the keys anywhere.

When I finished praying, I stood up, walked out my bedroom, down the hallway, through the living room, into the kitchen and out the back door to our back yard. Without any hesitation I walked over to the clothesline. I remember reaching up into the bag where the clothespins were kept and reaching in with my little hand. I couldn't even see into the bag because it was higher than I was, but when I reached in, there were the keys!

I grabbed them and walked into the house.

"I found your keys, Mommy!" I called.

I don't remember if I even said a prayer of thanks, but this memory has stayed with me all my life. I have told this story many times as I have taught Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society. My testimony of prayer began as a four year old. It has continued to grow as a teenager and an adult.

I'm so grateful for prayer.

Men Are That They Might Have Joy!

When Ron was told that his job was coming to an end about 1 1/2 years ago, we began attending the temple on a weekly basis. It was the highlight of our week because for a few hours we were able to forget the pressing problems that weighed so heavily upon us. "How would we meet our financial obligations? When would a new job open up?" We always felt great peace as we walked through the temple doors and were able to put our problems behind us. We also felt a tangible feeling of Heavenly Father's great love for us. No wonder we enjoyed going to the temple every week!

One particular temple session stands out from the rest. We had been attending the temple for a few months when one of the officiators said something that I will never forget. He was giving the prayer and he said, "We ask that those attending the temple will feel joy."

This was an emotion I had not felt in months! Peace, yes. Love from our Heavenly Father--yes. Joy? No. Soon after entering the Celestial Room, I sat in a comfortable arm chair and began praying once again. Praying for our family. Praying for Ron in his search for employment. Praying that I might have greater faith. Suddenly, I was filled with such an overwhelming feeling of joy--it was indescribable! I don't know if I have ever felt such great joy in my entire life. It surpassed even the feelings on my wedding day and the birth of my children. It was joy that was felt in ever fiber of my being and brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. As I soaked up those nearly forgotten feeling of joy, I thanked Heavenly Father that the prayer of a humble temple worker was answered. I felt like that particular prayer was given for me--that I could have joy even during the trials and tribulations of life. That feeling of joy stayed with me for the remainder of the day. How grateful I am for the reminder that in this life, we can have joy and experience peace, even when our lives seem to be falling apart.