Constantly Faced with Challenges

Well, it's been some time since I've added to the blog and it's been 22 months, almost two years since my accident. I thought I would let everyone know how things are going and I would say that everything has been going fairly well considering the challenges that we are constantly faced with. This injury didn't affect just me. It affects Annette, our children, our grandchildren, all of our family/relatives. Even our friends are affected by my injury. There have been no improvements in my abilities or things that I'm able to do. I have gained technique and a small amount of strength transferring and exercising, but I still can't use my hands or any of my body below my chest.

I’m very grateful to announce that throughout this whole ordeal, we have received several grants that have helped a lot with life.

The first grant I received was from Neuroworx, without this grant and the therapists there, I would not have been able to take advantage of all the other Grants. Insurance companies only pay for 20 therapy visits and then at the end of those 20 visits I was still unable to do much at all. A Neuroworx grant allowed me to have 75 more therapy visits.  Those additional 75 visits have helped me so much!!  At the end of the 75 therapy visits I am much more able to transfer, balance, move, push a manual wheelchair, hand-cycle, sit-ski and Drive my Truck. 
The next two grants were so that I could experience skiing. One grant was with the Trails program and the other one was with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. I was able to ski 15 times last year! The sit-ski equipment they have is too small for me and outdated but it’s still barely useable. Although skiing was only two to three hours each time it was still fun. I really appreciate all those who helped me be able to have this experience of skiing. From the people who were running the programs to my friends and family who took time out of their busy schedules to take me there, I’m indeed grateful to you!

Here is a picture of me Skiing with my two kids Ryan and Cherie:

I have also been able to do some hand cycling (think road biking) with Annette, Max, Wasatch Adaptive Sports and Trails. I would like to do much more cycling but it's getting too hot to go anytime but early morning and it's been hard to find someone who’s available to take me out in the mornings. If I had my own power assist off road hand-cycle I could meet up with my old mountain biking friends and ride with them before it gets too hot in the early morning when they ride. I am now able to drive so I can drive to where my friends are or with Wasatch Adaptive Sports or Trails are meeting as long it’s not too HOT and they will help get everything ready before and after the ride.
 My body is like a cold blooded animal, and I don't sweat anymore. I have always disliked any temps above 75 degrees, but now direct sun light can overheat me at temps above 65 degrees and I become very tired and weak. One of the many challenges that I’ve had to face is accepting the fact that in order for me to do anything I have to rely on the help of others. Oh how I wish I could just take myself riding and not have to worry about taking time from other people’s busy schedules, but that is not ever going to happen. So, when people are able to make time for me I’m very grateful for their help as it allows me to experience things that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.

Here is a picture of Max and I on a ride testing out the bike bungee. The bike bungee allows Max (or other able bodied bike riders) to help me up steeper inclines:

Here are a couple other pictures of me on a road hand cycle in Bear Lake and an off-road hand cycle in Park City:

On April 22, 2017 I was able to participate in the Salt Lake Marathon thanks to the University of Utah’s Trails program. Without all of their volunteers and without my friend Max, I wouldn’t have been able to participate. The marathon was hard, but it was also fun at the same time. The marathon was 26.3 miles and I finished in 3 hours and 50 minutes and that was with the help of Max pushing me up some of the steep hills. I’m so grateful for Max and for the help that he provides to me so that I can participate in many of these sports. Reflecting upon my experience, it was really great to have all of the roads closed so that you didn’t have to worry about traffic. Because of this I was able to coast down the hills at higher speeds not worrying about cars. My favorite part of the marathon was coasting down the hills at up to 28mph.

I am currently in the process of trying to purchase a sit ski of my own and a power assist off-road hand cycle (think mountain biking). These two pieces of equipment would help make my life much more enjoyable as they would allow me to continue to participate in adaptive sports. Having my own equipment gives me the opportunity to get out more often and go at more convenient times (when my friends and family are available). When I’m borrowing the equipment I’m limited in the amount of times I can participate in the sport, I’m restricted to specific days/times, and the equipment is just too small for my body and pretty outdated.

After a lot of paperwork and prayers, I was blessed to receive a grant for $4,000 from the Kelly Brush Foundation and $3000 from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). However, the off-road hand cycle alone costs over $13,000, which leaves me $6,000 short. My family and I are working on trying to put together a fundraiser so that we can raise the additional $6,000 I need for the power assist off-road hand cycle. It is also $7,000 for a Tempo sit ski, so in all, I would need to raise a total of $13,000 to try to purchase these two pieces of equipment. If you or anyone you know would be willing to donate please visit our fundraising website at https://www.gofundme.com/adapative-sports-equipment-for-jeff. We appreciate all the help we can get because if we don't come up with the $13,000 we will loose the grant funding!

Here is some information about both of these pieces of equipment:

The Nomad hand-cycle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4uuUcvKPts (http://sport-on-usa.com/nomad) will be available in September and is close to the Explorer III. You sit up in the Nomad and bend over in the Explorer III and that is the main difference. Paras can bend over Quads need to sit up so I'll need the Nomad. These are built in Poland and the Explorer III has been improved over the years. So the Nomad will take advantage of all those improvements learned from the Explorer III. The Nomad cost $13,000.00, but as I said above, I was blessed to have two grants to help pay for it. One from http://kellybrushfoundation.org/ for $4,000.00 and one from http://www.challengedathletes.org/ for $3,000.00. So that’s $6,000.00 short of what I need.

The Tempo Dualski (http://www.dualski.com/en/tempo-dualski-2/) is the best Sit-Ski made and its Made in France. None of the Programs in Utah have one. I am hopeful that I can to do all I can to get one as it will fit my specific needs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNj4EEt8IAY
For the Tempo and all the polls with skis on them and other things needed to use the Tempo it costs $7,000.00. I don’t have any grants to help offset the costs like I have on the Nomad hand cycle However, it needs to be ordered before the end of August to take advantage of the of season discount, and to receive it before the ski season.

The last grant that I received has been by far the biggest grant and it will help make a huge impact on my life. I received an independent living grant for $32,000 from the Utah State Office Rehabilitation. This grant was used to adapt my truck so that I can drive it and eventually will be able to get in and out of it by myself. I’m always so amazed that the cost of things to assist the disabled is always so outrageously priced. Without this grant we would have never been able to have this done. This past year the Northern Utah Mustang Owner Association (NUMOA - https://numoa.com/) raised $6,000 and donated this money on my behalf so that we could add a lowering seat to the passenger side of my truck so on long trips or at other times I can also be a passenger and not just a driver. I’m so grateful for NUMOA and their generosity towards me.

When I was looking into the possibility of getting this grant for my truck everyone told me that it was impossible and there was no way that I would be able to get one. I tried anyway and we filled out the forms and did everything exactly the way it should be done and I ended up being one of the grant recipients. God truly had his hand in making this possible. Having my truck modified so that I can drive it will be a great blessing to me and my family as I will be able to be more independent.

We applied for the truck grant a year ago and then found out that we received the grant in September so it's taking a long time, a whole year, to go from applying for the grant to the truck being finished.

Performance Mobility (http://www.performancemobility.com/locations/utah/) did their best to win the bid so that they could convert the truck for me. It's been really nice working with Performance Mobility; I'm grateful for all their efforts and for them working out each little detail for a perfectionist like me. We finally received the finished truck at the end of May. At first there were a few hiccups and adjustments that needed to be made, but after they adjusted things to fit me properly, driving the truck has been pretty easy. 

It’s taking me a lot of practice in order to learn how to get in and out of the truck. Getting in the truck has been going well. The very first time I tried it went great, but I haven’t been as successful most of the time.

Here are some pictures of me and the modified truck:

After I'm able to get in and out of the truck on my own without someone "standing guard", my ultimate goal in all of this is that I am hoping I will be able to go to work for a few hours every day. I am also hoping that I will be able to be more involved at the shop. I’m so grateful for Ron and his efforts to continue to do his best to keep the shop running. If I can be there a few hours a day hopefully we will be able to hire someone else to work with Ron so that the amount of business can be increased to where it was before I was injured.

One thing that has been particularly difficult for me lately is that I miss associating with some of my friends and family. When my accident first happened I received such great support from family and friends and I was able to visit with a lot of them, but as time has passed the visits and help have decreased. It’s frustrating, but the reality of things is that I need the same help and support that I did when I first came home from the hospital. I realize that people are busy and we all go about our lives living the mundane of everyday life, but if you ever get a spare moment to visit or give me a hand it would really be appreciated!

My Story: Given at Stake Conference, Spring 2017

Good afternoon, I am thankful for this opportunity to prepare for this talk and reflect upon my life. I pray that the Spirit will be with us as I talk about my experiences with love and service. It's been a long time since I had the opportunity to talk. The subject I was asked to share with you today is Love. Loving those we serve and those we serve with, being loved by those that serve with us and those that serve us.

I would like to give a very condensed view of my life and some of the opportunities I've had to love others and opportunities I have had to be taught and loved by those I have served with and those that have served me. I am not going to use names because I don't want to become too emotional.

I am going to start with reading a few scriptures.

Matt. 22:37-39

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

D&C 107:99-100

99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.

100 He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand.

I read these scriptures and it seems to me it's an easy choice. Love and serve and it brings great joy, or not be counted worthy to stand.

Over the years I have committed sins of omission. I have learned from my mistakes and I continue to learn and improve as life goes on. We are not just responsible for what we do; we are also responsible for what we don't do.

I was born under the Temple Covenant and raised in the gospel by loving parents, family, leaders and teachers. I was taught by example how to work hard and be honest. I felt loved and I learned also to love and appreciate those around me. When I was 18 my Bishop asked me about serving a mission. I told him I was not going to go and if he wanted me to continue attending church he would not ask again. At that time I didn't see how I could teach others something I didn't know for sure myself. I had faith and hope that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true, and I had felt the spirit, but I guess I just wasn't sure.

Annette, my sweetheart and eternal companion, and I were married in the temple when I was 21. Our first child Brandi was born two years later. Our second child Ryan was born three and a half years after that, and our last child Cherie was born three and a half years after that. We went to Church because it was what we should do, or to set an example for our children.

When I was 28 years old going to Church was taking time and callings would take even more time. I needed to know for sure if the Gospel was true if I was going to continue spending time going to church and serving in callings. So I started reading the Book of Mormon. It took most of the year to read. I remember the night that I finished. It was after midnight, I was out in the front room by myself, and I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true and if my sins could be forgiven.

The Spirit came over me like it never had before. I felt joy like never before. I knew that the Book of Mormon was true. I knew that my sins had been forgiven. From that time forward I went to church and served in callings because I wanted to.

Shortly after that I received a calling to serve as an executive secretary in the Elders Quorum presidency. The Elders Quorum president was a very good example. He helped me learn many things, but most of all was that he cared about me, those we served with and all those we served. He moved away to North Carolina and a few years later he was called as a Bishop and later as a Stake President. 

The next Elders Quorum President called me to be his first counselor and I had a very good experience serving there also. I remember one experience that goes with the subject of the talk, loving those we serve and those we serve with. We were in a presidency meeting and the second counselor asked how you can love those you serve. We spent the rest of the meeting trying to explain how we love those we serve. Some examples of this are when you care about and have concern for others, when you respect them, or when someone improves or succeeds and it brings you JOY. He just didn't understand and he moved away a few weeks later. I hope he was able to learn to love those he serves.

The next example I would like to share with you is when I was serving as a ward clerk. You need to know that this Bishop treated the Executive Secretary and Ward Clerk as Councilors. Our opinions were asked for and respected. It was the first time I was part of a Disciplinary Council. After we finished the interviews and were discussing the facts, I just didn't feel worthy to judge another. I expressed my feelings and the bishop suggested we pray about my feelings and he offered the prayer. I was so overcome with the Spirit, of Love and Joy; it took some time for me to control my emotions and to continue on. I was blessed to serve with this Bishopric for four wonderful years.

The next opportunity I had to serve was with the 14 year old scouts and my son Ryan was one of them. There were about 12 boys. Three were inactive and some others didn't like camps, but they would rather play video games. We were going to the East Fork of the Bear camp. I was excited because if the entire group had mountain bikes we could bring the bikes and ride instead of walk to all the different activity areas.

I worked hard to convince them to come and to get bikes that worked for all of them. Everyone was able to attend that camp and we all had a great time. We grew to respect and love each other.

The next opportunity to serve was as a stake and ward missionary and then as a stake and ward mission leader. Two times in each calling in two different wards and stakes. I served for ten years and I grew to appreciate, respect, and love all those I served with and had joy as they grew in the Gospel. As we met new contacts and got to know those that we helped feel the Spirit, it was easy to love them and experience joy as they progressed in the Gospel. I never had the opportunity to experience every step from non-member to the temple with the same family. I did get to experience all the steps with different individuals and different families. I experienced great joy as they were able to feel the Spirit and grow in the Gospel.

Using the example of Lehi in the Book of Mormon when he taught that the children of God exist that they might have joy, Elder Oaks spoke of the great truth that is "fundamental to our philosophy of life.”

"The kind of joy referred to in the scriptures is not the happiness we experience in temporary rushes of pleasure such as we enjoy in our worldly activities and experiences. The joy that is the purpose of our existence is intense and enduring. We may properly say it is eternal."

"Overarching all of these is the joy we experience in many forms of service to our fellow man," he said. “All of those worldly activities and experiences are only mortal or temporary examples of the joy of creativity.”

 I'd like to quote a few lines from a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf called The Joy of the Priesthood.

"Yes, there is always something imperfect in any situation. Yes, it is easy to find things to complain about. But brethren, we are bearers of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God! Each of us had hands laid upon our head and we received the priesthood of God. We have been given authority and responsibility to act in His name as His servants on earth. Whether in a large ward or a small branch, we are called upon to serve, to bless, and to act in all things for the good of everyone and everything entrusted to our care. Could there be anything more exhilarating? Let us understand, appreciate, and feel the joy of service in the priesthood. Through this power, He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Let us embrace and understand the wonder and privilege of the priesthood. Let us accept and love the responsibilities we are asked to fulfill-responsibilities in our homes and in our Church units, no matter how large or small they may be. Let us constantly increase in righteousness, dedication, and priesthood service. Let us find the joy of serving in the priesthood!

And finally, let us deepen our faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let us take upon ourselves His name and commit each single day to walk anew in the path of discipleship. Let our works make our faith perfect. Through discipleship we may be perfected one step at a time by serving our family, our fellowmen, and God."

The next Opportunity to serve came when I was called to serve as the second counselor in the Bishopric. After I was called there were two weeks before it was to happen. Those two weeks were filled with many highs and lows, self-doubt, gratitude and other emotions. The first Sacrament meeting after I was set apart I was sitting up on the stand looking out over the members of the ward and I felt love and concern for every member of the ward. It was like I was a parent and they were my children. I could feel the love of our Father in heaven for them when I had the opportunity to set them apart for their callings or give them blessings when they needed them.

I continued to feel that way until I was released. I had so many opportunities to feel great joy as I served in the Bishopric. All of the Bishopric members were different; we each had our strengths and weaknesses. That's what made it such a great and joyous experience working together, serving each other, and serving all the ward members.

There isn't time to tell you about all the great and joyous experiences I had serving in the Bishopric. I truly experienced love and concern for every member of the ward and great joy when they had growth and success in the Gospel and life in general.

After serving in the Bishopric I was called to serve as the High Priest group leader. I had the same love and concern for those I served with and members of the quorum as I did for the Bishopric and ward members when I served in the Bishopric. I was also able to start doing family history. This in turn brought great joy as I was able to do the temple work for my ancestors and relatives. I also experienced joy when I and members of the group leadership and quorum grew in the Gospel. I appreciated when a member of the presidency or quorum thanked me for helping them in some way.

Here is one of my favorite scriptures.

Alma 17:1-2

1 And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.

2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men.

When I read this scripture I feel joy and hope that those I have served with would feel the same love for me as I feel love for them.

To those of us who profess to be disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ, He gave this far-reaching instruction:

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

So over this same period of time from age 28 after I read and prayed about the Book of Mormon, I also was able to enjoy working with my hands in the Auto Body field and riding mountain bikes and road bikes three or more times a week. I also enjoyed skiing, snowboarding, and traveling with Annette and our family and friends. All of these things did bring happiness and satisfaction. But they didn't have the same joy as serving in the Gospel.

On August 24, 2015 we were in Steam Boat Springs, Colorado for a mountain bike vacation. I was taking it safe and going slow as I checked out a new trail I had not ridden before. I was going around jumps to see the landings before I tried them. I crashed by riding too slow off a five foot drop in the trail without seeing it. I don't remember it. I came to when my friend Josh that was riding ahead of me hiked back up the trail because I didn't show up at the next trail crossing. I told him I could not move and didn't know what had happened.

I told him that I wished he was a worthy Priesthood holder so he could give me a Priesthood blessing. I told him to take pictures and to turn off my satellite tracking app. I also told him not to call Annette, just go and pick her up at the condo and tell her then. I was calm; I was not afraid or upset.

The next time I came to was in the $45,000.00 helicopter ride to the hospital in Denver. I remember looking at the gray ceiling and thinking that they should have a camera under the helicopter with a video monitor on the ceiling.

That next time I came to I was talking to the surgeon. I was told that I broke my neck at C6-C7 and there was only a 1 in 200,000 chance that I would be able to use my hands and lower body again. I was given some choices in what he could do for me. I told him to do what he thought was best for me. I told the surgeon I didn't want to go into surgery without a Priesthood Blessing.

The Hospital Chaplin was called who was a Mennonite Priest. He was a very nice man and he came and talked to me several times during my stay in the Denver hospital. He told me that he was having a hard time finding someone to come from my church to give me a blessing. After trying for 3 hours a Bishop and an Elders Quorum President came and gave me a blessing. Shortly after that Annette and Josh arrived from Steamboat Springs and my parents that were in Winter Park, Colorado arrived at the hospital. We were going to trade condos with my parents on Wednesday. This whole time from the accident until I woke up after surgery I was calm and only remember what I just shared with you.

My friend Josh hasn't been active in the church for many years. When I came to after surgery I asked for Josh to come in and I told him the Gospel was true. I also told Annette and my parents a few things. It was like I had been given a truth serum. During this time from the accident to after surgery I had ministering angels with me. I realized that my life was going to be different and I would not be able to do most of the things that I enjoyed doing. I wondered about what I would be able to do and then I realized that serving others and sharing the Gospel brought more joy than all the other activities I enjoyed and the work that I loved. 

For the next two weeks in the Denver hospital I was happy and whenever I was alone at night with a doctor or nurse I asked them about their beliefs and shared the Gospel with them.

All those I shared the Gospel with were open to share their beliefs with me and open to my beliefs. One was a member of the church and he had not been active since he left home to start school as a nurse. He married a Jewish girl and they had two kids. I was able to talk with him three different nights. He told me that his parents were going to be glad that he had met me. The reason I enjoyed my time in the hospital was because I cared about those I was sharing the Gospel with more than myself. That's a good way to be.

I was flown home to IMC on 54th and State. I was able to have several more gospel discussions and several spiritual experiences during the next 3 months that I was there. One of the experiences that stand out most to me is when we had been there for several weeks and we hadn't been able to take the Sacrament. I remember what joy I received when I took the Sacrament again; I hadn't realized how important it was to me and what I had missed.

I stayed positive the majority of the time I was there, working hard to do all they asked of me. The therapists told me that I was the first quadriplegic they worked with that was positive and that all the others were depressed and angry. I returned home two days before Thanksgiving. It wasn't long before reality hit me hard. I started feeling sorry for myself and having self-worth issues. Without the love and care of family, friends and others it would have been and would now be so much harder. I don't know if I could make it without their love and care.

It is very hard being paralyzed. Family and friends that love and care for me make it worth trying to go on. Slowly over the last year I am getting back to myself. And I am getting ready to do what brings me joy: serving others, sharing the Gospel, and loving those I serve and those I serve with.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said;

Love is the very essence of the gospel, the noblest attribute of the human soul. Love is the remedy for ailing families, ill communities, and sick nations. Love is a smile, a wave, a kind comment, and a compliment. Love is sacrifice, service, and selflessness. Without the pure love of Christ, Mormon counsels, "[we] are nothing." My prayer is that we may follow Mormon's counsel to "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that [we] may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him."

I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet and Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, his Son, and that they are two separate Beings. I know that Joseph interpreted the Book of Mormon from Gold Plates. I know that the Book of Mormon is TRUE. I know that life is Eternal and the Atonement is real. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is TRUE. I know that to feel Love and Joy is why we are here.

I share this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Lord, I Would Follow Thee (pg. 220)

1. Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee-

Lord, I would follow thee.

2. Who am I to judge another

When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden

Sorrow that the eye can't see.

Who am I to judge another?

Lord, I would follow thee.

3. I would be my brother's keeper;

I would learn the healer's art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother's keeper-

Lord, I would follow thee.

4. Savior, may I love my brother

As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon,

For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother-

Lord, I would follow thee.

Some Outdoor Fun

We are so happy to report that our dad has been able to have many fun experiences in the snow this winter. Who knew he would be back on the slopes so quickly?! Here are a few links to show you some of the things he's been up to:

About this experience Jeff says, "This was a Blast, I am looking forward to improving on the Bi-Ski!

Brian knows what he is doing and has to work hard when I am on the Bi-Ski!"

"This is the first video of me on a Bi-Ski. It's much more difficult to learn than the Cart-Ski, but I will be able to do much more as I progress!"

https://youtu.be/AB0lV3ranGg

"This is the first video of me on the cart-ski. It was fun, but it can't do much more than this. So I am going back to the Bi-Ski."

https://youtu.be/IZH3sbpKsRM

We are thankful to everyone who has made this a reality for our dad. All of the volunteers, supporting friends and family, and anyone else who has given a hand to make this possible. Being back on the mountain has been an exciting thing for our dad and it’s great to see him smiling and loving life!

The Blessings of the Healing Power of Christ in Your Life

Hey Everyone, Brandi here...
A few weeks ago I gave a talk in sacrament meeting and although I prepared about a 20 minute talk I had to condense it down into 7 minutes.  I felt like my dad's blog would be a good place to post my entire talk so here it is....

December 11, 2016
Two weeks ago I was in sacrament meeting when a thought entered my mind, the thought was, "You haven't spoken in sacrament meeting in a while."  Now that was a very odd thought!  And then after sacrament meeting Brother Smith came over to me and asked if I would speak in sacrament.  It was then that I put two and two together.  I'm sure my thought was actually the Lord preparing me so that I wouldn't say no when I was asked. Having had the Lord speak to my mind prior to being asked, if I would have said no then I would be saying no to the Lord and he knows that I just can't do that so here I am.  It has actually been almost exactly 4 years to the day since I last spoke in sacrament meeting.  Zach said I should just reuse the talk from 4 years ago, I'll take a story from it, but I won't reuse it.

Kaisalyn was baptized yesterday and it was a wonderful day.  I  told Zach that I felt like everything was happening in fast motion and I wanted the day to slow down so we could soak up what was going on and the feelings we were having, but unfortunately it didn't.  At Kaisalyn's baptism program during a talk that was given about the Holy Ghost the speaker talked about the different ways we feel the Holy Ghost and how it is different for each of us.

Well, I'm pre-warning you now that when I feel the Holy Ghost I cry and I can pretty much guarantee you that I'll be crying through my entire talk because the topic that I was given is so truly personal to me.  When Zach asked me what the topic was I couldn't even tell it to him without crying.

The topic I was given was, "The blessings of the healing power of Christ in your life".  I know without a doubt that many times over I have received great blessings in my life because of the healing power of Christ and I'd like to share three of these with you.

The first story is about repentance and the healing that can come through that.  Because of Christ's atonement we can repent and become clean again that one day we can live in our Heavenly Father's presence.  I've always thought of myself as a rule follower, I hate breaking the rules so to speak, however I do sometimes make mistakes.  When I was a young adult I did make some wrong choices and these choices unfortunately would have made it so that I could not get married in the temple.  But, through the repentance process and the healing power of Christ I was forgiven for my mistakes and I was able to go to the temple to be sealed to my husband Zach and married for time and all eternity.  This is a huge blessing in my life and now that Zach and I have three beautiful little girls it means more to me now that it did 11 years ago.

The second story I'd like to share is about physical healing.  Some of you may have already heard this story, but it is such a huge witness of Christ's healing power and the blessings that came from that healing power that I have to share it with you.  In 2008 I became pregnant with our first child.  It was a hard pregnancy and I was very ill, especially towards the end.  I was on bed rest and my water ended up breaking 4 1/2 weeks early.  Without going into a lot of detail, I ended up in the operating room as the doctor performed an emergency C-section.  I remember laying in the operating room wondering what was happening, everything seemed to be a blur.  I kept listening for the sound of a baby crying and I wasn't hearing it.  What I did hear wasn't good and it was a nurse telling another nurse to call Life Flight.  It was at that moment that I knew something was terribly wrong.  I didn't get to see Kaisalyn until the life flight crew had stabilized her for the trip to Primary Children's Hospital.  She looked so helpless and sick with all those tubes and wires running in and around her body.  We later learned that Kaisalyn wasn't breathing when she was born and that she was resuscitated twice before being sent to Primary Children's Hospital.

At Primary Children's Hospital Kaisalyn was put on many machines to help her organs work.  A machine was moving her lungs to get her to breath and she was hooked up to several others because none of her organs were functioning properly.  They put her on a contraption they called a "cooling bed".  This was going to reduce her body temperature and in a way try to preserve her from getting any worse.  At 3-days-old Kaisalyn had an MRI of her brain.  Zach and I were told that the MRI showed significant brain damage and that our daughter probably wouldn't able to talk or walk.  This was devastating news and at first we didn't know how to handle it.  I remember us having a family council that night. Blessings were given and prayers were said as we turned to the Lord for direction and comfort.  We were scared of the unknown and were fearful that Kaisalyn might even die and be called back to live with our Father in Heaven.  I specifically remember praying that night and telling the Lord that we didn't understand why this was happening, and asking him to help us through it.

A couple of days later I came down with a fever.  The fever wouldn't go away and I was taken to the emergency room.  It was there that we found out that I had a massive infection inside my C-section wound that was starting to eat ay at my insides.  I again went into surgery for the second time in only a few days.  The doctor was able to get most of the infection out and was able to repair the damages, but I was left with an open wound and it was going to take me four months to heal from the inside outward.  When I first found out about my condition and that I needed surgery I remember thinking, "Why? Why me? Haven't I already suffered enough? Don't I already have enough to go through with all that Kaisalyn is dealing with?".  However, even though it was extremely hard to understand why this was happening to us, one thing remained consistent throughout this trial and that was that we continually turned toward the Lord.

Kaisalyn was given numerous blessings almost to the point that every time a relative who was a priesthood holder came to visit she received a blessing.  I also received priesthood blessings and we were constantly praying and fasting for strength, guidance and healing.  Even those from other faiths held prayer meetings on our behalf.  There was one priesthood blessing in particular that I remember very clearly and in that blessing Kaisalyn was blessed that she would be able to live a normal and happy life.

It has been 8 years now since all of this has happened and we were truly blessed with a miracle.  At Kaisalyn's 6-month-old follow-up MRI the doctors could not find any damage and currently she is a normal functioning 8-year-old.  What miracles we were blessed with to be able to witness the physical healing power of Christ, twice in only a few months.

The third story is about spiritual healing.  As some of you know, just over a year ago my dad was in a mountain biking accident.  I remember the phone call the day of the accident and my brother Ryan's voice on the other line telling me, "Dad's been in a bike accident and he can't feel his legs".  Our lives changed that day in a way that not one of us could ever imagine.  My dad is completely paralyzed from his armpit line downward.  He can't move his legs or his torso.  He also lost 50% of his arm muscles and he is unable to move his hands or fingers.  My sister in-law, Julee, and I started a blog and the introduction to the blog reads, "We have a long road a head of us and we hope that this blog can serve not only as a place for updates, but also as a journal of strength and remembrance.  We have faith in our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ and we know that through our faith and perseverance our dad will be healed.  Though we have been told that the chances are slim that our dad will walk again, we will be by his side to help him beat those odds.  Our dad will make it through this challenging trial and we will be there to help him every step of the way!"

I think at first we were all very hopeful that although the doctors said his chances of walking again were 1 in 200,000 that he would beat those odds and walk again in this life.  But guess what?  My dad hasn't been healed and to be honest I'm not sure if he will ever be healed in this life.  It's life events like this that play a number on your spirit.  We ask, "Why? Why me? Why us? Why now? Why? Why? Why?"  And it's hard not to get angry and we get upset that things aren't improving.  We feel like we are being ignored and that our prayers aren't being heard. Our family has joked many a time that we can clearly see why people become bitter and angry and start to blame God for all their problems.

However, it's when we invite Christ into our lives and turn to him for support that we begin to know that although life may be extremely tough, our trials are for our good and then we start to think about life in an eternal perspective.  Being able to think about life in an eternal perspective has truly blessed our family.  This trial that my dad faces and that our family is facing is very difficult and as a family we have often said, "There must be something that we are destined for in the hear after that is so great it's beyond our comprehension".  The spiritual healing that we have been blessed with also allows us to see our blessings more clearly and to be grateful for our blessings, especially the ones that have made this trail easier to endure.  So, instead of giving up and being depressed Christ continues to heal our spirits day after day so that we can have hope for a brighter future and this, for our family, the blessing of hope each day, comes from the healing power of Christ.

As I was pondering what to say to you today I read a talk given by Elder Evan A. Schmutz of the seventy in the October 2016 General Conference.  That talk was titled, "God shall wipe away ALL tears!"  Elder Schmutz said, "If I may speak to you individually - all ye that labor and are heavy laden - may I suggest that your personal struggles - your individual sorrows, pains, tribulations and infirmities of every kind - are all known to our Father in Heaven and to his Son.  Take courage! Have faith! And believe in the promise of God!

I'd like to end by reading from Alma 7:12 where it says, "....and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he MAY KNOW according to the flesh HOW TO SUCCOR HIS PEOPLE according to their infirmities.

I want to testify to you that as Jeffery R. Holland said, "Christ is the captain of our soul".  If we have faith in Jesus Christ we will be able to bear all things.  I know that it is through our faith we can experience the healing power of Christ.  This might be manifested in feeling the sweet peace of repentance and being forgiven for our sins, or witnessing a miracle of physical healing, or the healing of our spirits so that we may endure our trials without anger at our circumstances.  I know that the healing power of Christ allows us to be grateful for our trials and through our faithfulness allows our spirits to be healed so that we can lean on the knowledge of the life after this.  I'm so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and all that he has personally done to heal me and my family. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.