“The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Psalm 145:9

Months ago, I received the joyful news that my oldest daughter and her husband would welcome a new little one to their family in May 2020. It was a long way off, and I had no idea, at the time, all that would transpire before baby actually arrived, but I was happy and excited for all of us. I was also scared. I didn’t experience the same fear, so many years ago, when my own babies were ready to come into the world, but now, I worry much more about new babies and the dangers in selflessly bringing a new spirit to this crazy world. I feel admiration for the strength and faith of my daughter, who welcomes children to her family, at great physical and emotional cost to herself. Her pregnancies are complicated, and physical difficulties make recovery slow, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice. Oh, how sweet is the reward!

As I stumbled through the holidays in 2019, with my Mom’s shocking terminal cancer diagnosis, struggling to take care of her and grasp the sudden change in all our plans, I had this beautiful and sweet blessing to anticipate. Often, I found myself pondering the circle of life—how Mom would return to Heaven just before this little spirit came down to earth. I thought of my grandpa’s death before my son was born, Dad’s passing, not long after his grandson, who shares his middle name, joined our family. The older ones completing their journey, and the babies beginning theirs. I feel the connections. We are still family. Our sealing, in the temple of God, binds us together eternally. I could feel my mom watching over my precious daughter, as I prayed all night while she was in labor. I felt the joy of family, gone before, celebrating the start of a little one’s journey here below. Amid my worry and fear, I felt the comfort and joy of knowing there’s a plan, a Master Planner, and angels to help us carry out those plans.

“The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live.” David A. Bednar

During the last trimester of my daughter’s pregnancy, our world was tossed into further turmoil by a world pandemic. I don’t know any expectant mothers, or grandmothers who were waiting to go help take care of them, who didn’t feel immense concern about the conditions in which their precious little ones would be born. Everyone was steering clear of hospitals and doctors’ offices, attempting to avoid contact with any who might be infected with, or carrying, COVID-19. However, we all know, babies don’t concern themselves with any of that, and they don’t wait.  They come when it’s time. I had to make a conscious effort, many times a day, to turn it all over to God, trust His goodness and His plan, and let Him carry it for me.

“Throughout time, even and especially during difficult times, prophets have encouraged us to remember the greatness of God and to consider what He has done for us as individuals, as families, and as a people…

“By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged. By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.” Dale G. Renlund

My daughter, who has three other children, and has experienced a variety of birthing situations, from homebirth to hospital, was planning to have her baby at a birthing center, which was in the process of being built and halted during lockdowns. The alternate plan was a birthing center farther away. She needed help, during the birth, with her three young children. They don’t have family close by, and with everyone asked to avoid other people, gatherings, leaving their homes, etc., it was stressful to plan for the delivery. My youngest daughter and I, who’ve been healthy and careful, were on call and ready to come, quarantine or no quarantine, but we are a 9-hour drive away. I prayed about this for months, along with fasting, pleading for help for my daughter and her family, hoping we would be able to be there in time to help, we’d be well enough to safely go to them, and the timing and location would all work for the blessing of this faithful, precious family.

Though the pandemic caused fear and complications, many blessings came from the adjustments which had to be made. My daughter’s husband worked from home during the last months of the pregnancy, allowing her to be off her feet a little more, as she threatened early labor a few times. Though being confined in the house, with two active boys and a toddler, pushed the limits of patience and resources, it allowed her to slow down and get through the entire pregnancy. When she scheduled her midwife appointment, close to her due date, after having contractions off and on for weeks, we decided to come that day and stay until she delivered.

We left early in the morning, arrived by afternoon, and had great fun with the kids as she and her hubby went off to the appointment—with bags packed and hopes high that all those contractions were producing results. We received the good news that she was, indeed, in labor, making progress, and would stay the night to have the baby! I was humbled and filled with gratitude for the miracles—answers to our prayers—in this amazing timing. The children felt safe with us, slept in their own beds, and would see their new baby the following day.

Though labor took longer than we expected, much longer than her other labors, at 6:40am the next morning, I cried with joy when the text finally came, “We have a baby girl!” Those five little words brought months of worry and anticipation to an end; another child of God had joined our family! It’s almost too much sweetness to bear. 

I’m feeling grateful and hopeful today for the opportunity to join with millions of people across the earth to fast and pray to our Father in Heaven to heal our hearts, our bodies, our families, our lands, and our governments, and to help us learn from experiencing this global crisis. I’ve felt strengthened by messages from our dear Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, and other apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, reminding us there’s hope in Christ, and as we hear Him, we are blessed with peace and comfort. I have never looked forward more to General Conference, coming up next Saturday and Sunday, April 4th and 5th, and hearing the words of the Lord, for us right now, spoken through His Prophets and Apostles. 

In my scripture study this week, in The Book of Mormon, Mosiah chapters 23-24, I read about the people of Alma. So many of the words in these chapters spoke directly to me and the situation we find ourselves in.  These people, who’d converted and made covenants with God, though they were faithful and trying to keep the commandments, faced difficult trials. After escaping the king, who was trying to kill them for their faith, the Lord brought them to a good land where they prospered, but then had further struggles.

“Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

“Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

“For behold, I will show you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God…

“And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.” Mosiah 23: 21-24

 When the people were afraid of their enemies, their leader, Alma, “exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.” The people of Alma relied on the Lord, and were spared from destruction, but were brought into bondage and persecuted by their task-masters. The people cried to God for relief, but even that wasn’t allowed, so they poured out their hearts to him silently, and “he did know the thoughts of their hearts.”

The interesting part, to me, is that they were not immediately rescued from their situation. Instead, God said he would “ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs…and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”  

These covenant people were strengthened “that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” I’m always struck with that description: cheerfully and with patience. That’s not easy! I try to understand what the Lord wants me to learn, what He wants me to do in witnessing how He rescues me and lifts my burdens, however, my patience and cheerfulness have definite peaks and valleys!

Eventually, the faith and patience of the people of Alma were so great, they were miraculously delivered from bondage. Even that took enormous faith, as they gathered all their flocks and grain to escape, while the Lord caused a “deep sleep” to come upon their enemies.  I imagine that would have been pretty stressful to simply believe God would keep their enemies asleep while all these people packed up, with their animals, and headed out into the wilderness—another scary thought right there. I can also imagine their humble gratitude as “they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God.”

As a covenant daughter of God, I see the parallels in this story with my own life, over and over. Right now, I continually remind myself not to be afraid because the Lord is our Deliverer. I work on having faith as I continually pour out my heart to our Father, who hears and answers in the way that will best bless me, and who visits me in my afflictions. Though I don’t understand and worry about those I love, I try to be patient and cheerful, and I feel Him easing my burdens. I know I’m not alone. I greatly rejoice at the many miracles I’ve seen in my life, and the lives of those I love.  

As I gratefully join millions in fasting and lifting our voices in prayer and thanksgiving today, I stand as a witness that our loving Father in Heaven is calmly in charge, knows what is happening, and will use all our experiences for our good—to teach us, refine us, and bring us back home to Him.