November 2013 Liahona

things, endureth all things. Charitynever faileth.” 9Also let us remember that throughany illness or difficult challenge, thereis still much in life to be hopeful aboutand grateful for. We are infinitely morethan our limitations or our afflictions!Stephanie Clark Nielson and herfamily have been our friends for morethan 30 years. On August 16, 2008,Stephanie and her husband, Christian,were in a plane crash and subsequentfire that scarred her so horrificallythat only her painted toenails wererecognizable when family memberscame to indentify the victims. Therewas almost no chance Stephaniecould live. After three months in asleep-induced coma, she awoke to seeherself. With that, the psyche-scarringand horrendous depression came.Having four children under the age ofseven, Stephanie did not want them tosee her ever again. She felt it would bebetter not to live. “I thought it wouldbe easier,” Stephanie once told me inmy office, “if they just forgot about meand I quietly slipped out of their life.”42But to her eternal credit, and withthe prayers of her husband, family,friends, four beautiful children, anda fifth born to the Nielsons just 18months ago, Stephanie fought her wayback from the abyss of self-destructionto be one of the most popular “mommybloggers” in the nation, openly declaringto the four million who follow herblog that her “divine purpose” in lifeis to be a mom and to cherish everyday she has been given on this beautifulearth.Whatever your struggle, my brothersand sisters—mental or emotionalor physical or otherwise—do not voteagainst the preciousness of life byending it! Trust in God. Hold on inHis love. Know that one day the dawnwill break brightly and all shadowsof mortality will flee. Though we mayfeel we are “like a broken vessel,” asthe Psalmist says, 10 we must remember,that vessel is in the hands of thedivine potter. Broken minds can behealed just the way broken bones andbroken hearts are healed. While Godis at work making those repairs, therest of us can help by being merciful,nonjudgmental, and kind.I testify of the holy Resurrection,that unspeakable cornerstone giftin the Atonement of the Lord JesusChrist! With the Apostle Paul, I testifythat that which was sown in corruptionwill one day be raised in incorruptionand that which was sown inweakness will ultimately be raisedin power. 11 I bear witness of that daywhen loved ones whom we knew tohave disabilities in mortality will standbefore us glorified and grand, breathtakinglyperfect in body and mind.What a thrilling moment that will be!I do not know whether we will behappier for ourselves that we havewitnessed such a miracle or happierfor them that they are fully perfectand finally “free at last.” 12 Until thathour when Christ’s consummate gift isevident to us all, may we live by faith,hold fast to hope, and show “compassionone of another,” 13 I pray, in thename of Jesus Christ, amen. ◼NOTES1. 1 Peter 3:8.2. See Alma 26:27; see also Alma 56:16.3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church:Joseph Smith (2007), 267.4. Thomas S. Monson, “We Never WalkAlone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013,123, 124.5. See Matthew 26:39.6. See, for example, Psalm 4:4; Doctrine andCovenants 101:16.7. See Mosiah 4:27.8. Doctrine and Covenants 121:41.9. 1 Corinthians 13:4, 7–8; emphasis added;see also Moroni 7:45–46.10. Psalm 31:12.11. See 1 Corinthians 15:42–43.12. “Free at Last,” in John W. Work, comp.,American Negro Songs: 230 Folk Songs andSpirituals, Religious and Secular (1998), 197.13. 1 Peter 3:8.Shareable Video and QuoteScan this QR code or visitlds.org/go/Oct13Conf7 toshare a designed quotation orshort video from this message.