A guest story by Lynette Sheppard ~ How To Raise Grownups podcast
I come from a long line of faithful Latter-day Saints. On both sides of my family tree, my ancestors go back to Kirtland, to Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City via handcart and wagon train. I was, therefore, raised in the church and taught the simple truths of the gospel from my infancy. I always believed, but the gospel and, by extension, the Savior did not become real to me until my teen years.
When I was 16 years old, I sat down to read in the Doctrine and Covenants one night and came across a verse that spoke to my heart. Thinking nothing of it, I wrote the verse down on a piece of paper and stuck in the front of my scriptures, forgetting about it for a time.
Several months later, I was hit by a trial whose crushing blow came almost out of thin air. A dear friend hugely betrayed my trust, leaving me feeling more alone than I ever had. The days dragged into weeks and months of loneliness and despair. Although I was naturally a positive person, I struggled to see the light or the goodness in my life.
One night, while trapped in this dark place, I sat down to read my scriptures. As I opened the book, a small piece of paper fell from its pages and onto my bed. On it, in my handwriting, was a scripture – the one I had written down several months prior:
Doctrine and Covenants 78:18 – “And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.”
The words of that scripture spoke to the very depths of my soul. An undeniable feeling of peace enveloped me, bringing tears to my eyes. It felt like the Savior had reached down from heaven, wrapping me in the warmth of His embrace. At that moment, I knew with stunning clarity that He knew of my suffering. He understood I felt weak, alone, and unequal to the adversity I was facing. And amid of my pain, He reminded me that I was not alone. He had, no doubt, been leading me all along. That knowledge sustained me until the winds calmed and I emerged from the storm.
I have reflected on that experience countless times throughout my life. In times of heartache, I have been able to draw strength from the memory of His unexpected embrace. Through it, I learned that Jesus Christ is aware of me and loves me enough to extend His grace to me, however imperfect I am. He cares about the circumstances of my life, and will always be there to guide me if I look to Him.
I do not know why He chose to speak peace to the heart of a young and inexperienced 16-year-old girl in such a powerful way, but I will forever be grateful. He is a God of love. A God of miracles. A God who leaves the ninety and nine to find one lost sheep. A God who does His best work with individuals – mending broken hearts and strengthening feeble knees. He is my Savior. My brother. My friend. One to whom I will be forever indebted.
Lynnette Sheppard is a sunshine-chasing, chocolate-loving mother of five, four of whom are currently teens or young adults. When she is not trying to keep up with her teenagers, you can usually find her hiking in the hills near her home, experimenting in the kitchen, or writing inspirational words. She and her husband, Greg, cohost the How to Raise Growunups podcast, where they teach parents how to raise kids with all the skills necessary to thrive in life and do great things for the Lord.
