August 2006 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

church and to be in the company of other Latter-day Saints.
The opening hymn that Sabbath day was number 85, “How
Firm a Foundation.” I had sung this hymn many times
before but had never paid close attention to the words.
Now, as I sang the second verse, I realized that the hymn
referred to the circumstances of my life: “. . . At home or
abroad, on the land or the sea—As thy days may demand,
. . . so thy succor shall be.” As I began the third verse, I felt
an outpouring of the Holy Ghost overwhelm me. I felt my
Father in Heaven was communicating with me through the
words of the hymn. I felt as if my heart would burst from
the immense love that filled my soul, and I could no longer
sing but silently read the words: “Fear not, I am with thee;
oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give
thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to
stand, Upheld by my righteous, . . . omnipotent hand.”
I had never felt such love, peace, and comfort before, and
I knew, independent of any other person, that there is a God
in heaven who knows and loves each of us as His children.
With the Lord’s help I was able to persevere and successfully
complete basic training. Upon graduating, I went
on to complete my training at Chanute Air Force Base
near Champaign, Illinois. Once again, the first Sunday I
attended church there, the opening hymn in sacrament
meeting was “How Firm a Foundation.” I knew the Lord
was letting me know He was still with me and would see
me through this difficult and demanding period of life.
A few weeks later I received a disturbing letter from
my mother. She was battling cancer and felt she could no
longer endure the chemotherapy treatments and did not
have the strength to struggle onward. That Sunday I wrote
to her and told her about my experience in basic training.
I exhorted her to read the third verse of “How Firm a
Foundation,” and I explained how it had answered my
prayers and given me the courage and the stamina
to endure adversity, knowing that I was not alone
in my trials.
The following week I received a letter from my
mother, written the same evening I had written to her.
She had been very sick that Sunday morning but managed
to attend sacrament meeting. The opening hymn was
“How Firm a Foundation,” and as she sang the third verse,
she felt that the Savior was speaking directly to her and
that she could endure as long as necessary, for the Lord
was with her in her affliction.
With the Lord’s help, I was able to successfully complete
my military training. I returned home with a fervent
testimony that God lives, and I was better prepared to
serve a mission the following year. I was able to enjoy
another six months of my mother’s presence before
she was relieved of her pain and suffering and
passed away. I am thankful for a loving Father in
Heaven who is mindful of His children and who
gave me strength through the words of a sacred
hymn during a trying time of life. ■
ENSIGN AUGUST 2006 55