I found myself thinking about another Stake Conference that had been pivotal in my life.
During my divorce I had moved in temporarily with my Brent-Dad and Julie-Mom. It was a temporary solution. I was, of course, struggling emotionally and spiritually. I was walking away from a marriage that should have been eternal but ended up being mentally and emotionally abusive and oppressive, and had asked more from me than I should have had to give. Even so, it hadn't been an easy decision for me to walk away from it.
I was having a hard time finding a job. I didn't have a finished degree (the reason I'm pushing so hard to finish it now, I'll never be so unprepared for life again) and I had an eight year gap in my resume from being a stay-at-home mom. The mental adjustment from being a stay-at-home mom to a single, working mom wasn't an easy one for me and it added to the situation. I was cleaning houses on the side where I could with my sister, McKell, but had nothing substantial to provide for my girls.
A neighbor reached out to me one weekend and invited me to attend Stake Conference with her. I don't know if she was acting on a prompting or if she was simply tying to be a nice neighbor to the new person in the ward, but I will forever be grateful for her invite.
The Stake Conference was being held in a conference center and I rode with my neighbors there. I can't remember anything that was said in that conference, but I do remember that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the twelve Apostles was the concluding speaker. To be honest, I can't even tell you what he spoke about, but at the conclusion of his talk he proclaimed that he felt the need to leave an Apostolic blessing.
Though I was sitting in a large conference center, full of people, that moment became an intimate one for me that it could have been just Elder Holland and I having a private conversation. I knew in that moment, despite who else might be needing it, this was for me.
Elder Holland went on to bless fathers, mothers, and children with all the wonderful characteristics that fathers, mothers and children should have.
Then he said, essentially, to those of you who are struggling: He knows you. He hears you. And He has already provided a way.
A few weeks later I was offered a job with a company that took very good care of me and my girls for the next few years, even with a recession. And within the same hour of being offered the job, my application for an apartment was accepted.
I had the things I needed to take care of my girls.
I'm no apostle, but I can testify to you that He does know you.
He knows you.
He hears you.
He has already provided a way.
And I have a firm testimony of the spirit and personal answers that can come from attending Stake Conference.
