Easter Sunday John spoke on the Atonement in Sacrament
meeting. Emma said it was the best talk
she has ever heard. He referenced two
talks; one from Elder Bednar on the Enabling power of the atonement and one
from Brad Wilcox’s parable of the piano lessons. Our new branch is small but mighty. Emma played the piano for sacrament
meeting. James was the only deacon
passing the sacrament (our other deacon was out of town). Our small Sunday school class was more intimate, lots of participation on missionary work, and
the third hour was a powerful lesson on apostles -- ending with watching Bruce R
McConkie’s final conference talk bearing a powerful witness of the Savior.
The Olsen’s new branch meets later than ours, so after their
meetings they came over for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Today Becky was called as their YW president!
In Georgia, on Easter, my sister, Heather, gave a talk on
the resurrection. She shared a little
about my Grandfather, my niece Brooke and also Tessa. Here is the part she shared on Tessa;
“I have a niece
named Tessa who is very young and beautiful, but she has been given a body that
has had many physical challenges which have resulted in much pain and crying
and sorrow at different times of her life. I asked her mother, my sister
Laurel, to share with me a little of what Tessa has had to go through the first
6 1/2 years of her life. With the resurrection “there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation
21:4).
“When
Tessa was just ten months old she would cry when we would pull into the
underground parking lot of the hospital. She had been to doctors and specialist
so many times that she associated going there with fear and pain. Tessa was
born with a chromosome deletion called Turner's syndrome. In her first year of
life she had heart surgery, tubes in her ears, started on a growth hormone
(which is given through a daily shot in her thigh), had her blood taken every
three months, was monitored closely for kidney problems, had four of her toenails
removed, wore orthotics in her shoes, and had weekly physical and occupational
therapy. Tessa is such a light and joy to us that we feel sad that her body has
to go through so many afflictions.
Last
year, when Tessa was five she got very sick. She was weak and could hardly
walk. We are living in China so we flew her back to the states where she spent
a week in the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with myositis, inflammation
in the muscles usually associated with the flu. They thought she would recover quickly.
Back in China she wasn't getting better. She spent a few more days in the
hospital in China, then we flew her to Singapore for more tests. After 1 and
1/2 months of not feeling well, not being able to walk or go to school, Tessa
was diagnosed with an auto immune disease called Juvenile Dermatomyositis, this
disease results in severe muscle weakness, rashes and other complications. When
the doctor was explaining the results of her MRI he said, "Tessa has
probably been in pain a 10 out of 10 for several weeks now."
It
is so hard for us to see Tessa in this kind of pain. I often think about how
glorious the resurrection will be for her.
She
was diagnosed with JDM one year ago yesterday. She is feeling much better now
with the help of medications, physical therapy and prayer, but she still has to
take some pretty yucky tasting medicines.
In
this life she will always have Turners Syndrome and Juvenile Dermatomyositis”
but what comfort the resurrection brings to us as we know this pain and sorrow
is only temporary and that one day Tessa will be freed from all of her physical
afflictions.
How
grateful I am for the knowledge we have that the resurrection “...shall come to
all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the
wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their
heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame” (Alma 11:42–44).
I cannot think of a better gift any of us could ever receive. The price the
Savior paid for each one of us is incomprehensible and not only brings me much
comfort and hope but the desire to be a little better each and every day so
that I can live with Him again. For I know He lives.”
