Emily Jensen

I heard about a fireside on the Young Single Adult Listserv for the singles ward that I should be going to and the email said the following: a Fireside on *Having Faith Through Adversity*. I have been a sort of rough time lately so I decided to go. Long story short it was amazing!!!! Emily Jensen was 16 yrs old when she got into a car accident that destroyed her brain. She had to learn how to swallow, talk, sit up, crawl, walk, read, everything, all over again. She and her parents spoke at this fireside. Some of the thoughts that were shared that really struck me I have put into bullet form below

• Deal with adversity with dignity, grace, and good humor
• it is the journey's in our lives that create the people who return home to our Father
• Never, Never, Never Give Up!!!!
• Never sacrifice the things that matter most (those with eternal significance) in life for those that mater least
• Never sacrifice what matters most for what you want right now
• Don't let what has happened in your past determine your future
• you can be greater than anything that happens to you
• Perhaps sometimes it takes more faith to accept things as they are than it does to change them
• trust faith is much more than perfect desire, no matter how strong that desire might be. True faith is perfect trust in our Heavenly Father
• It is a remarkable gift to be able to wake up in the morning and choose how we will spend the hours, minutes, and seconds of our day
• if we are serious about our discipleship Jesus will eventually require that which is most difficult for us to give
• though conditions may be terrible focus on those things which you can be grateful for

I wish I could help you feel the Spirit that was in that little Relief Society room tonight as Emily shared her testimony and then as her dad repeated what she said to ensure we all understood. It is remarkable how when my trials are put into perspective, like they were tonight, I can see my blessings so clearly and yet, somehow, i always seem to forget so quickly. I sometimes wonder how I would deal with some of the trials that others are asked to endure, could I make it? Would I be faithful? Could I keep my faith? I am so extremely grateful for the experiences that I have been through in my life, though they haven't always been easy, they have taught me very valuable lessons and have shaped me into the person that I am today. The Lord knows each of us individually and that knowledge alone gives me hope that things are in fact going to turn our for me the way they are supposed to, He can make a much better me than I could ever make of myself if I will allow Him to.