The examples of a kind, Christian family brought this former gang member to find his own faith in Jesus Christ. This is another of the His Grace videos at the Mormon Channel.

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I was recently reminded of a talk given by Elder Gérald Caussé called “Even a Child can Understand.”

“God would indeed be unjust if the gospel were only accessible to an intellectual elite,” Elder Caussé teaches. “In His goodness, He has ensured that the truths regarding God are understandable to all His children, whatever their level of education or intellectual faculty.”

Elder Caussé continues:

In reality, the fact that a principle can be understood even by a child is proof of its power. President John Taylor said, “It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it” (“Discourse,” Deseret News, Sept. 30, 1857, 238). Far from diminishing its impact, purity and simplicity of expression allow the Holy Spirit to witness with greater certainty to the hearts of men….

One day Jesus’s disciples asked Him the following question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Jesus, having summoned a little child, set him in the midst of them and said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1, 2–4).

On another occasion Jesus said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Luke 10:21).

With the hastening of the work, I imagine we will see and hear more examples of children helping participate in this great work. There is a reason we are taught to be as little children!

For example, note these three examples from my missionary friend:

Sister A has a baptismal date, but she hasn’t come to church lately. While we were [visiting this week], we were able to ask some inspired questions and figure out what she’s feeling. I asked her “What was the moment you decided you wanted to join this church?” She told me that she had met the sisters at church for a lesson. At the same time, there was an activity going on with the young girls [Activity Days]. So this 11-year-old girl told the sisters, “I want to be a missionary today! Can I come to your lesson?” So the child helped the missionaries teach. She taught in the way that the woman needed. All of the woman’s questions, this 11 year old could answer. The woman was was amazed. And at the end, the child said, “It’s just so cool that here you are, you didn’t grow up in the church, and you’re searching and seeking. And here you are! You’ve found it. Isn’t that just so cool!?”

That day we also visited a family with a 6-year-old boy. The missionaries taught about God’s plan of salvation. The mother was struggling to understand and her 6-year-old son would explain it to her.

The sisters told me that one member brought their 7-year-old daughter to a lesson with a non-member and the testimony the child bore…

I pray that we will know how to open our hearts like a little child and take pleasure in hearing and practicing the word of God in all the power of its simplicity. I bear testimony that if we do this, we will gain the knowledge of the “mysteries [of God] and [the] peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (D&C 42:61).

~Elder Caussé

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~by Michelle

Al Fox is a Mormon woman. She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints three years ago today. She’s been creating videos to share what the gospel of Jesus Christ means to her. The following video, “This is Happiness” was created to celebrate the anniversary of her baptism. The young man in the video was the missionary who baptized her. He shares a little of his experience as a missionary in the video as well.

This video captures so beautifully how the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of joy. That doesn’t mean life won’t have its hard times. As Al acknowledges,

Since joining the church there has been a lot of hard times. A lot of changes. Trials. That’s life. But because of getting baptized, because of the Gospel, because of Christ, not once- not even for a second, did that happiness go away. Not only that, but it got stronger, and stronger!… The Gospel is hands down, the biggest blessing there ever is.

What struck me is how she described the difference — the tangible, physical difference — she felt when she was confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is the key. Understanding and allowing the Spirit into her life made all the difference.

I’m reminded of this quote from Eliza R. Snow, an early leader in the Relief Society of the Church.

When you are filled with the Spirit of God, … that [Spirit] satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that spirit my soul is satisfied. … The Spirit of God will impart instruction to your minds, and you will impart it to each other. … Remember that you are Saints of God; and that you have important works to perform in Zion” (Woman’s Exponent, Sept. 15, 1873, 62). [See Sister Julie B. Beck, “Relief Society History: A Look at the Lord’s Vision for His Daughters“]

I echo Al’s testimony about the gospel being the greatest blessing there is. The happiness that can come through knowledge of God’s love and God’s plan and God’s Son — and the powerful influence of God’s Spirit — is a kind of happiness that can exist even while facing pain and struggles of life.

I’m grateful for the faith and testimony of women like Al Fox who strengthen my own. Happy Anniversary, Al! [Edited to add a link to more of Al’s videos.]

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I’m a female in my mid 20s and not a member of LDS but am looking into the idea of joining. What I’m trying to figure out is….I guess, would there be a point in my life outside the church? I’ve been a typical young woman shall we say, and do not want kids. Have a degree, a job, etc. I’ve read elsewhere these sorts of thing could mean that if I were to join, I’d basically end up alone for life. Not that I’d join looking for a husband, but if it came down to the only way I marry someday (which I do want to) is to marry a non member, that seems a bit silly to join in the first place. I understand this might make me sound like a horrible person, but I’m only now really pursuing the idea of being active in a religion for the first time in my life. Only I feel like I might be too old for it in some ways. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

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I know this is the true Church of our Savior Jesus Christ and that we are led by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

My story:

My life challenges started at a very early age. I was eight years old when I was first molested. He was a friend of the family and I had a child’s love for him. He broke my heart and severely injured my spirit. Unable to tell my parents, my trust of people around me was shaken. I became very insecure and frightened of life. When I reached my teens, my insecurities and lack of participation in school activities became evident and a concerned counselor started drawing me out and I felt comforted by his concern. But, once again my life was jolted when he betrayed my trust. One day he offered me a ride home. I accepted his kind gesture. I soon realized he had other intentions. We took a ride into the hills near our town and the unspeakable happened. Once again I was shaken to the core and afraid to go to my parents. I had no idea how to deal with any of this and so I pushed the thoughts and feelings deep inside. I didn’t have any close friends at school and my insecurities became overwhelming.

I started going to a neighborhood church and felt some comfort but still I had no answers to why bad things were always happening to me. I was convinced that bad things only happened to bad people ant that I was being punished. I met a boy who belonged to another church and we started dating. School became increasingly harder for me to deal with. When I was sixteen and my boyfriend nineteen I convinced my parents to allow me to get married. I was then dropped out of school.

A couple of years into my marriage my husband and I started having very heated arguments. We were both so young and immature. It became an abusive relationship with my husband using physical force. After our son was born, I decided that the best thing for both me and my son was to leave this marriage. I was more fearful for my son than for myself. Once again I was left with the thought and feeling that I was a bad person.

It was very hard being a single mom at the young age of nineteen. I started having severe migraine headaches that often made it hard for me to go to work, or be a mother. I started suffering with depression as well. I had long since stopped going to church, I couldn’t see the point. My friends changed and my lifestyle became one that I am now ashamed of. And soon drugs became an escape from all my worries. At least I thought so at the time.

Even though this was a time of spiraling out of control, I did meet a man who was stable and who had healthy life goals and was willing to be a father to my son, and so, we were married and a year later we had a daughter. I still suffered with migraines and depression. I was also still painfully insecure and that was a problem for my very outgoing, enthusiastic husband.

At some point all of these physical, mental and social challenges became too overwhelming. Prescription drugs and illegal drugs became a part of my life again. I was what you would call a “functioning addict.” My marriage of seventeen years ended and I really went into a tailspin. I became so frightened of life. I was completely convinced that my life had no worth.

Mid-October 2004 I tried to end my life. I was found unconscious, barely breathing and rushed to the hospital. I was put on a respirator. My two sisters, one in California, and the other in Utah, were contacted by my former husband who is a doctor. They have since told me they thought they were coming to bury me.

After five days I regained consciousness and was taken off the respirator. My two sisters were standing by my bedside. Both my sisters have been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since they were in their teens. One of my sisters reached over the safety bar on the bed and laid her hand on my arm and asked me if I would like a priesthood blessing. At the same time that she asked that question there was a whisper in my other ear. Jesus whispered, “Are you ready to do it my way?” I knew it was Him because of how specific those words were to me. I also knew it was Jesus because of the love, warmth and comfort that fell on me. I have never felt such love in all my life! Such pure love! I said yes to both questions. Any questions I had about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were answered in that moment.

It’s my testimony that Jesus lives and his Atonement will make everything right. Heavenly Father’s love has healed me. I do not suffer from depression, overwhelming insecurities, nor do I feel like I’m a bad person. As my faith grows and my knowledge of the gospel grows I realize that bad things happen to good people. We are here to be tested. Our lives are subjected sometimes to those who choose to use their agency in a negative manner. When those times befall us, He will comfort us.

Before I was baptized, I worried about forgiveness. I worried about whether Heavenly Father would forgive me if I couldn’t forgive those who had trespassed against me. Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” I talked to Elder Hansen (who was the missionary teaching me and who would be baptizing me) about my concerns and he suggested that I fast and pray. I also talked to the local Relief Society President. Sister Hunt loaned me her scriptures and showed me how to use the Topical Guide and the Bible Dictionary. I took her scriptures home, fasted, prayed and read scriptures that night and the next day. I can’t really say that I had any earth shaking revelations, but at some point, an indescribable peaceful feeling came upon me. I no longer had any ill feelings left and I was able to pray sincerely for those who had hurt me. I then felt like I could enter the baptismal waters and enter into those sacred covenants and start my journey of enduring to the end.

I know I’m not alone on this journey. I know that I can call on Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, to help me through any challenge and he will give me the strength to endure.

—

Editor’s note: This post originally appeared on this site on June 12, 2008.

The post When Bad Things Happen to Good People: One woman’s journey to overcome the effects of abuse and addiction appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Why Am I Mormon? contains podcasts as well from people sharing their thoughts about their membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Read and find other essays and conversion stories. MormonsBelieve is another site where you can read the perspectives and beliefs of members of the LDS Church.

Want to share your conversion story? Please consider submitting to Why am I a Mormon? or MormonsBelieve. We also are always grateful to receive your stories and submissions here (submit at gmail to either ‘mormonwomen’ or ‘mormonwoman’)

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