Healing the Sick

Today in Sunday School our lesson was on this talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. It was impossible not to think of and apply my dad's situation to what Elder Oaks is teaching. Since my dad told our family the news that he isn't in remission anymore, I can't describe all of the different thoughts and feelings that have gone through my mind. This statement below summarizes alot.

As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust. I felt that trust in a talk my cousin gave at the funeral of a teenage girl who had died of a serious illness. He spoke these words, which first astonished me and then edified me: “I know it was the will of the Lord that she die. She had good medical care. She was given priesthood blessings. Her name was on the prayer roll in the temple. She was the subject of hundreds of prayers for her restoration to health. And I know that there is enough faith in this family that she would have been healed unless it was the will of the Lord to take her home at this time.” I felt that same trust in the words of the father of another choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He declared, “Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes.” Those teachings ring true to me. We do all that we can for the healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome.

~Elder Dallin H. Oaks

This doesn't mean that things are over. We still have alot of hope that my dad will be around for a long time yet. Miracles happen. I like the quote above though because I know that even if my dad does pass away sooner than we want, we still have faith and hope that we will be able to see him again. I know that is true. I know that it is though our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His atonement that someday I will be able to see all of my family and friends again after we've passed through the veil of this life and onto the next.

This is the entire talk, and even though it is super long, it's definitely worth hearing. If you've got the time (speaking of time, I've got NOTHING BUT TIME since finals are over! yeaaah!) I'd recommend that you listen to it.