Do we need a support system?

Over the past few years, our family has experienced some difficult trials and with that has come some amazing spiritual growth, but also some very difficult emotional struggles as well. Thankfully, I have the gospel of Jesus Christ, which teaches me where to go for my source of strength and to find answers. BUt with that great blessing comes a requirement of me, and that is that I must act in faith, believing Christ and in his Atoneing sacrafice which is the only way, I can be whole, happy and complete, and worthy of returning to my Heavenly Father. I know that as a mother, and a parent he guides and directs me to nurture and teach my children, I have felt that influence and guiding spirit, over and over. I am far from perfect, but my faith in him is strong, and I know he has entrusted to me these special spirits of his, for me to help on their journey, it is a sacred trust and one I hold dear. He obviously knew I could do this or I would not have this responsibility. It is a powerful thing to pray as a mother, and watch the blessings of heaven unfold before your eyes. In no way can I accept credit for what I have done, knowing it is only through the Lords help that I can do what I have. I have also been blessed with an amazing family. I have a worthy husband who loves me and his children, and is my greatest joy and love of my life. Having been born of goodly parents, I never had to search for the gospel, it was handed to me, loving taught to me, and shown how to live by two very loving but yet imperfect parents, people just like me. I regret how often I was critical of my parents, their choice of how they approached me, such as the hours of lectures, etc. But the fact that they took the time to teach, and the fact that I always had them there, to listen, offer advice, even unwanted advice, even with as much as 3000 miles apart, confirmed their love for me. They showed me in everyway, their love for me, as they prayed for me and my family, loved my children, fasted with us, and as my father taught my husband how to use his priesthood and offered each of us numerous priesthood blessings. They were not only our parents, but our best friends. How greatful I am for them, their example of love, and how alone I often feel without them. Now as a parent of adult children, I understand finally what they were trying to do for me, and my biggest regret is that I didn't see it sooner, that I wasn't more kind, appreciative, and loving toward them. That I didn't savor every second, even the uncomfortable ones with them. Its just one of those lessons, I guess sometimes we can not understand until we have lived that part of our lives. With all this in mind, and as I have struggled with the trials of the past few years especially, I have often questioned myself and why I have struggled so hard. Through a child with a disability, lost work, moving, marital struggles,abuse, divorce, death, more loss, adoption...some of the most difficult things a human can experience, as listed in multiply conference talks, and by professionals, I in my life have experienced them all and some. I always recognized the Lords love and turned to him for support, answers, and always received the blessings I needed to do what I had to do. So what was missing? As of recent, I realized, it was the need for a support system. Those special people, that you talk too and they listen and offer, honestly ideas that you already knew, but had forgotten, or you head was to swirling to remember. Often it is the kind words, of I understand, I'm here. I do have those people in my life, unfortunanly they just all live far away. So as I began to pray about this I have trusted the Lord with my burden, and asked that he help me to find that. I know its there...and YES its important. Recently I shared this with one of my daughters who does not share my views, which is fine, but I also know its because she has never been without her own support system, only blocks away... And so as I pondered this, and considered what she said about this, I began to pray more and study. Here is what the Lord reminded me of and helped me to realize.

1. Mary, the son of Jesus was visited by an angel and told of her bearing a son, Jesus. An angel also visited Joseph to explain to him what had happened so he would not fear and believe her. Joseph was her support system.

2. Elizabeth who was Marys cousin and childless was blessed with child, she too had the spirit confirm to her, of Mary and the christ child. Because her husband, did not believe he was made dumb and unable to speak until the birth of John the Baptist, because he lacked faith. John the Baptist paved the way for the Savior, and testified of him. He was a form of a support system. Elizabeth and Mary were each others support system.

3.Once the Savior was was here, he did have friends,and he refers to his friends in the scriptures, some of who were his apostles, that supported him and Gods cause. And while he was betrayed by one of them, there were still others who loved and stood by him, until the very end of their lives. As he hung on the cross he asked "why hast though forsaken me?" for at the moment, he experienced the feeling of being totally alone...alowing him to experience the lack of a support system and his ability to understand our pain,when we feel totally alone.

4.As Joseph Smith prayed and saw God the father and his son Jesus Christ, the only people who did believe him at first were his family, and then friends, and so on. Yes he has mocked, beaten, spat at, and all, but he too had a support system. Never did he stand alone in defense of his testimony or in his trials, which were many. But his family was his first support system.

5.As the pioneers crossed the plains, they did it in companies, not individual families. They would have perished had they tried it alone.

6.In our church today, we have visiting teachers and home teachers, that are our extended support system through the church, even when we many not be active and attending. It is evident to me, that the Lord did not send us here to have to experience life by ourselves in anyway, not only did he bless us with the constant gift of the holy ghost and the blessing of the Savior in our lives, but also each other. And he reminds us "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your GOD"

It isn't even possible for us to reach the Celestial kingdom without being sealed. So even that we can't do alone. If we are living as we should, and staying in tune to the spirit, we then will feel that still small voice, that says, "call....she is having a rough day" or asking a Relief Society president if she knows of anyone who needs extra help, or just step in and do something when we know of someone who is hurting,or maybe we just observe the child walking home alone, and offer a ride, or the widow next door that would enjoy a visit and maybe some cookies. Or the daughter that is overwelmed, that we listen too, and just say, I know how you feel, I love you, you can do this! We all need that support system, even our mothers and fathers, they too are not perfect and the Lord knows that, and thats why again today in conference our prophet reminded us, to help and serve one another, in our families, neighborhoods, church and said we need each other, we are the Lord hands. How grateful I am for this knowledge, and hope and pray I can better be of service to others, but also recognize that in my life at times of trial or need, I too, may be in need of some help from others, and thats OK too, for in that, I know my prayers, and the cries of the heart are being cared for by a loving heavenly father, who sent me his Son Jesus Christ, and he sent me loving Christ like hands to lighten my burden, lessen my load, and show me his perfect love. I will contiue to pray for that love and support system, because I can not do this alone, and I have faith that the Lord WILL answer my prayers, he always does! And I will know where to find those who can help me on occasion when my load seems to heavy to bear. I will also continue to pray for my children that they may have others who will support them in their times of need, especially when I cannot, because I too have watched the miracle of answered prayers, as they shared their stories with me, and I know that too is an answer to a mothers prayer. He is mindful of us all, and loves us so much, and our Savior knows every pain and sorrow, and joy we feel, because he too has felt them, I know this to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.