springdellgirl

He Had The Bluest Eyes

Being parents of a teenager is hard. Like seriously hard. It makes those toddler years seem like pie in the sky. Every day with a teenager is like walking through a minefield. Things are going along great and then KABOOM!! Something sets them off, or sets you off, and the battle is raging once again. As a parent you hope that you are setting a good example for your children, that you are instilling in them morals and values, that all these good things are getting through to them. If you are religious, you hope and pray with all your might that they are developing a relationship with the Savior and feeling of his Spirit and influence in their lives. Some days you might see signs of it and some days you wonder if they are "getting it" at all.

Awhile ago we heard that Elder Jeffery R. Holland was coming to speak at our Stake Conference. Exciting news!! We, as a family, talked about how special this would be...what an amazing experience...to have an apostle of the Lord come to our very Stake Center to teach us. We prepared ourselves...praying, reading/listening to his talks etc. We were very excited to be taught by this wonderful man.

We knew that it would be an important meeting for the youth. They were asked to sit up front in the chapel, along with any new members etc. and while the rest of our stake sat back in the overflows. I was so excited for Reilly to have this opportunity to see an Apostle and to feel the strength of his testimony, and to feel the love that our Savior has for her. I prayed and prayed that this would be a special experience for her. My prayers were answered.

As it was Stake Conference the usual stake business was conducted. One of the things that they do is recognize any of the youth who have earned their Young Womanhood Recognition Award for the girls or their Eagle Scout Award if they are boys. These hard working and diligent youth are called by name and asked to stand and be recognized by the congregation. I had forgotten all about this. What a special moment it was to have Reilly's name be called and for her to stand and be recognized in the presence of an apostle of the Lord. Reilly said that he looked at her and smiled at her.

Elder Holland spoke to the youth and bore a powerful witness to them and I hoped and prayed from my seat far back that Reilly was paying attention to his words and was feeling the Spirit. After the meeting was over Elder Holland requested that the youth come forward so he could shake their hands. One by one they came, shook his hand, and spoke with him. It reminded me of the Savior ministering to the children. As we waited for Reilly to come find us, we again hoped and prayed that this day would have an effect on her.

When she did come find us, she was beaming and teary-eyed about the whole experience. She felt the Spirit so strongly as he spoke to her. She said, "Mom, he had the bluest eyes." How grateful I am for the opportunity that our strong-willed and beautiful daughter had the opportunity to not only be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord but to also be able to speak with him and gaze into his eyes. I am grateful that our whole family was there; to be taught and blessed by him. The kids were so excited to see Elder Holland, as were Tyler and I, but I am thrilled beyond belief that Reilly had the special experience that she did.

Later that night, as I headed out of town, Tyler called me to say that Reilly had posted something special on Facebook...on the Stake Young Womens page...without a word to us. He just happened to see it.

This is what it said:

"I will remember this Stake Conference forever. It was amazing to be able to be recognized for finishing my Personal Progress with him there. I remember being so scared to have everyone look at me, but when I stood up, Elder Holland looked right at me and smiled at me, and my fear just melted away and made me feel so warm and loved. I also loved it when he said, " I bless every man, woman, and child that can hear my voice." The spirit just hit me and I could feel the Savior and Elder Holland's love for me, so strongly. And I was brought to tears. The opportunity to shake his hand did bring me so much joy and it meant so much to me."

The Lord does hear and answer our prayers.