Joy Comes in the Morning

This life is indeed a period of testing. Like Mother Eve said, “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:11). Sometimes that testing really pushes us beyond what we believe our limits are. Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ are not impaired with limits or by our limits; and, with Them we can experience joy in the morning; not just in the millennial day, or in the resurrection, but every day (see Psalm 30:5 ).  

Last evening was full of pain and sorrow. It was also full of faith and love. I'd like to thank the brother from the ward who came to give my daughter a blessing along with her Dad. I'd like to thank the man in the lobby of the ER, who saw my distress in the long wait for her to be admitted; who asked if he could pray with me, then grabbed my hand and said a heart-felt faithful prayer of hope and healing; and then he helped increase our faith by sharing his testimony and personal experiences of deliverance found in Jesus Christ and His word.  I'd like to thank the many people who have blessed our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren with their goodness.

I would also like to thank the loud lady in the ER, who was distressed and alone, and just wanted someone to share her grief, pain, and sorrow. In taking the time to talk and pray with her, I had the opportunity to extend the Savior’s faith and love to another, just as others had done for me and my family all evening.

My daughter was at that limit last night. Her pain was so severe. And yet, because of the faith and love and kindness of those already mentioned and all those others who are supporting us with their prayers; because of Jesus’s infinite intercessory prayer, and because of our Father’s great love for all of us, her burden was lightened, her pain was eased, and she found rest; long before she was given the IV fluids with pain medication.

I just finished reading President Nelson’s conference talk from October 1986. What a hopeful message of joy he shared with his own family, to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and which is still being shared with anyone in the world who would like to read it, who loves to find joy in the morning. Here’s the link: Joy Cometh in the Morning.