Fasting and Prayer

David's spinal surgery has given us the opportunity to fast and pray as a family. As an extended family, and as a friend family.

The church congregation was asked to include David in their fast--we fast once a month in our church, for those in need of help or comfort, or for ourselves if we are going through challenging times. It was a little strange for me, to hear it announced in Sacrament Meeting now and again, that "David Whitesell is having back surgery, and if you would include him in your fasting and prayers..."

But it has never been hard for me to believe that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers. He knows each one of us, better than we know ourselves. There have been enough times in my life that I have felt comforted, and feelings of peace when I was very upset or agitated.

When my dad died of lung cancer 2 1/2 years ago, I focused on finding scriptures that included "Peace of God." For weeks, I studied those scriptures that had that phrase. It's amazing, how many beautiful passages there are in the scriptures, that tell us of the peace God can offer us in times of trial.

So I know that God hears our prayers. And maybe they can't be answered the way or in the time we want them to be answered. (My dad didn't live. That's what I wanted. He was only 70.) But if we can't have the answer we want, we can still have peace inside.

We asked our ward congregation to fast with us for David, that he would have a safe and successful surgery and as quick and complete of a recovery period as possible.

I also asked family members, living in different states. And we have good friends scattered around different places, too, that I asked to join with us in prayer and fasting.

Frank and our home teacher, Tom Keenan, also gave David a blessing the day before his surgery. It was really beautiful, and I am so thankful that Frank is worthy and willing to give our family members blessings when we need that strength and peace that comes from the Lord. Frank included in the blessing that Dr. Karlin's hands would be guided and that David's body would respond to the pain medication, helping him to heal. And that he would also be able to focus on school when he returned home, keeping up with the material while he was not attending school.

The friends and family we have who might not fast, offered their prayers for David. That is such a big deal. We appreciate that SO much, and it has touched my heart that people think so highly of David. We keep getting comments of encouragement, including "what a great kid," and "I love his smile."

It will be a long road to full recovery--they say 6 months. But one day at a time and with so many people's prayers and good wishes, we are feeling their love and the love of our Heavenly Father.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.

What is a Testimony?

We had a talk in church today on "testimony." He quoted a General Conference talk that told us we needed to get back to "true testimony" in our meetings. Testimonies aren't stories, they aren't travelogues, or lectures.

Another talk more recently told us that testimony time is also not the time to tell your loved ones "I know I don't tell them this very often, but I want them to know I love them." The point was, you SHOULD tell them, often, and not just in a public forum.

But our speaker John E., said that while the talks seemed to limit what you say, he decided that his testimony is his own. It is what is in his heart, not anyone else's.

I haven't been up in Sacrament Meeting to bear my testimony in years. As Relief Society President, I felt like I was bearing my testimony pretty frequently. At the end of lessons. When I spoke in church. I thought everybody heard WAY too much from me as it was, so I sure wasn't going to add to my pulpit time by just getting up on a Fast Sunday.

What do I believe? What is my testimony?

There was an article in the October 2008 Friend magazine that told about the "testimony glove." Your testimony should be (count on your fingers):

1. I know that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us.
2. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer.
3. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth and translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.
4. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth today.
5. I know that this Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation.

Of course you know these things because of different circumstances or experiences you have had. It is your testimony, and no one can change it or add to it, or strengthen it or neglect it except you.

I want our kids to know how much I love my Heavenly Father and I know that He loves us immeasurably. That He is forgiving and kind, and knows each of us so well. That He knows how we think, and not only THAT we struggle with different things, but WHY we struggle. He knows our hearts, and that we were hurt by someone way back when, and that memory is dug up every time a different person acts or says something similar. That we don't really mean to hurt somebody else, but at that particular moment, it's all that would come out, and we are really, really sorry.

It doesn't erase the fact that we just hurt someone else, and we have to fix it. But he knows it's not easy and he'll give His love and support every step of the way back as we repent and try to do better.

Maybe as I search for love or understanding or happiness from various sources in my life, I should remember that the true source of love is my Heavenly Father. That no matter what happens, He is there to listen and lend support. Max Lucado said, "We cannot go anywhere where God is not." He is always just a prayer away.

The Power of Prayer

What do you believe?

I believe my Heavenly Father knows and loves me very much, just like he knows and loves each person on the planet very much. I believe He has a plan for each of us, I just can't see the "Big Picture" like He does.

I believe in the power of prayer. I think there is a lot of power available to us, that we don't "tap into," simply because we don't take the time to ponder and ask when we pray. Myself included, of course.

I had a good testimony-building experience on prayer, when Frank and I climbed Long's Peak, 2nd attempt and this one was successful. Let's see if I can find it.

Well, I have just spent 20 minutes looking for it, and alas, I think it has gone the way of so many things when you move...into the dreaded "Black Hole."

I summarized our climb to Long's Peak, and I thought it was actually a good paper. But anyway. I pulled a leg muscle about a month before climbing...this was after training for a YEAR. We tried to climb the summer before, but it ended up being too cold. We planned for warmer temps and I was shivering in shorts, for Pete's sake. So, we continued training for a year, then I go and pull this leg muscle.

I spent the next month praying for my leg to be okay to climb, knowing that if it hurt in the beginning of the climb, it would only get worse. I was careful, but still planned on going.

I could still feel the pull the night before we were to hike. But it didn't hurt, I could just feel it.

Heavenly Father heard me, though. I was careful, and I took it slow, and the whole day it didn't hurt. We made the climb and descent.