Personal Experience

I came across an interesting video produced by Wendy Wilson, a Special Education Student at BYU-Idaho a couple of years ago:

I'll Walk With You-Profiles of Autism in LDS Congregations.

Link to Article: 
Author: 
Jana Bouck Remy
Magazine: 
New Era
Month and Year Published: 
January, 2001
Page Number: 
46
Description: 

The author describes the process of coming to terms with a promised blessing of healing from her patriarchal blessing after the amputation of her leg.

Quotations: 
“No!” I screamed. I yanked the bedcoverings back down and yelled again, “No!” Dropping my head into my hands, sobs shook my body as I realized what I had seen: my right leg had been amputated.
“You can do it, you know,” he said. “It won’t be easy. Everything—even smelling roses—will be harder from now on. But I know, and you know, that you can do it.” We were both silent for a long time as I looked into his eyes. In that moment I realized that I had no choice about the loss of my leg. It was gone, and I needed to accept it. I also understood that I would need all of my strength and determination to do the things I would want to do. I will do it, I thought to myself.
With that realization, I bowed my head in prayer. I thanked my Heavenly Father for the fulfillment of the blessing of healing. I thanked Him for my father’s wise counsel and for the support of my family and friends who had helped me through the most difficult months of my life. Most of all, I thanked Him that I was still alive—for I realized that with or without my right leg, my life was worth living.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Sherilyn Farnes
Magazine: 
New Era
Month and Year Published: 
January, 2008
Page Number: 
15
Description: 

A leader from a youth camp recognizes the strengths of another youth camp leader who was born with Down syndrome.

Quotations: 
One of the youth camp leaders with us that year had Down syndrome. She had a tremendous spirit and loved each of us without reserve. And we loved her.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Annette Candland Alger
Magazine: 
Ensign
Month and Year Published: 
January, 2008
Page Number: 
66
Description: 

A mother describes the process of coming to appreciate her baby who was born with Down syndrome.

Quotations: 
Rather than deserting me, Heavenly Father was entrusting me with a child who needed extra care. Realizing the confidence He had placed in me, I felt my bitterness slip away.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Dora D. Flack
Magazine: 
Friend
Month and Year Published: 
February, 1988
Page Number: 
20
Description: 

A profile of a young man who has a learning disability, his success as a figure skater and how he helps other people.

Quotations: 
Although Trent looks like other children his age, he has a “hidden” handicap—a learning disability.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Susan Piele
Magazine: 
Friend
Month and Year Published: 
February, 1980
Page Number: 
37
Description: 

An experience of an older brother who stuttered when nervous preparing to give the sacrament prayers.

Quotations: 
Calvin is my older brother, and I can tell when he’s scared about something—partly because of the stuttering but also because of little things that he says or does.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Ensign Staff
Magazine: 
Ensign
Month and Year Published: 
March, 2002
Page Number: 
58
Description: 

Members of the church describe their personal experiences with a variety of chronic illnesses.

Quotations: 
I have had osteoarthritis since my early 20s and have also developed fibromyalgia and asthma. There were times I used to wonder if I had done something in the premortal existence to earn such “punishment,” but during one of my many priesthood blessings I was reassured that it wasn’t a punishment at all, that Heavenly Father was well aware of my condition and would help me endure it.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Juli Housholder
Magazine: 
New Era
Month and Year Published: 
August, 2003
Page Number: 
21
Description: 

A young woman describes her experiences after being diagnosed with alopecia areata, which causes total hair loss.

Quotations: 
School was a challenge. I knew my Heavenly Father loved me and I could count on Him to be there when everyone else was turning away. But that was hard to remember when my peers gave me quick, odd glances.
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Donald Kranendonk
Magazine: 
Ensign
Month and Year Published: 
October, 1999
Page Number: 
20
Description: 

A former bishop tell about his experience with a member who stayed at home because of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis and that member participated in ward activities from home.

Quotations: 
I sat down by Crawf’s bed and explained that I was there to interview him for recommendation to the stake presidency to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained an elder. Crawf was stunned. He protested that he had not attended church for years...
Link to Article: 
Author: 
Julie K. Kennard
Magazine: 
New Era
Month and Year Published: 
May, 2007
Page Number: 
34
Description: 

A young woman describes her experience with chronic illness and gaining peace about her situation.

Quotations: 
I hated this body I had that hurt all the time and kept getting sick. I felt I was stuck with a fat, ugly, sick body.
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