Everyone Needs a Superhero

I have been delaying writing this post because I tend to lock things

up and keep them away from my thoughts as a coping mechanism but I

have come to discover that it is the least helpful thing I can do. So

here goes nothing. Bear with me as it a bit lengthy but I hope it's

worth it.

I wanted to share my story of a recent trial in my life. This is not a

pity party plea or a fishing for praise, this is my way of testifying

about the atonement. So just remember that.

After a long year of struggle with getting things ready for a mission

I finally was able to submit my mission papers. The day after that, my

dad was admitted into the hospital and shortly thereafter was

diagnosed with leukemia. What a blow that was. I didn't think much of

it at first. It was my dad. He had been in the hospital before and had

come out fine, and I was sure that this was going to be another one of

those times.

With this huge change in my family's life, I was faced with a tough

decision: Do I stay or do I go? So I prayed, that very night, and the

answer was not comforting at all... "Wait for your call and you will

know". You have got to be kidding me!? Wait for my call? My dad is in

the hospital.... My family is hysterical, I feel like I'm the only one

with no emotions because I couldn't cry and Heavenly Father is asking

me to be patient....

So I did. And four slow, long, painful weeks passed, during which I

was in the hospital most of the time, and trying to take care of my family

as much as I could, trying to be more optimistic than I had ever been 
thus far in my life, trying to be brave and strong and supportive. 
And then I finally get my mission call after a mix

up or two.

When I read that call letter and realized that Heavenly Father had

given me exactly what I had asked for (Washington, D.C., ASL) I knew

without a doubt that I had to leave. I had to go. There was no point

in me staying. No good could I do by staying home. I had a

responsibility to come here, to 

The Greatest Mission in the History of Life!

So 28 days later I am on a plane headed to Utah for the Missionary

Training Center and I have never felt more sick in my life. Everything

inside of me wanted to jump out of that plane, wanted to turn around

and run back into my dad's arms. What was I doing leaving him behind?

I knew he wouldn't be there when I got back.

Everyday I waited to hear, every P-day I frantically emailed my

mother begging for an update. I would try and chat with my dad but he

was slipping, fast.

Week 6 in the MTC I finally got the first phone call informing me that

dad was being moved back home, there was nothing more to do, the chemo

didn't work. I tried to put on a brave face for everyone, I didn't

want to be this basket case, I didn't want anyone to know, but when I

knelt down that night to pray, I made sure to let Heavenly Father know

how blatantly pissed off I was.

 I yelled, screamed, cried, kicked,

punch my bed a few times, used an entire tissue box, I kid you not. How

could He do this? How could He take my superhero away from me? The one

person who had never failed me, who had never stopped supporting me,

who had never given up on me, how could He take him from me? From my

family? I was on a mission for heavens sake! I was giving up

everything for God and what does He do in return? He shatters my

world!! I was livid with Him.

A week later I was sitting in class and over the intercom I hear them

ask for me. Sister Phillips grabbed my hand and we walked up to the

front office, knowing what lay ahead. That was the longest walk I can

remember, my legs were like jello, my head was throbbing, heart

pounding. Yet I tried to laugh it off, as my dad would have done. 
I smiled at Sister Phillips, made some stupid corny joke. 
Just like Dad would have :) 

My superhero dad, the one who was supposed to survive an atomic bomb,

passed away on February 12th 2014. That day my life changed forever.

My perspective on the atonement and how it literally can carry us

through anything, completely changed. My understanding of the Plan of Salvation

was so much deeper than it ever had been.

Christ did EVERYTHING for us, suffered through the most extreme pain, 
so that we can be happy. Why? Because He is our savior, redeemer, SUPERHERO and friend.
 He is our eldest Brother who chose to come and save us all, because He loves us. 
It is that simple. 

HE LOVES US

I wish I could describe the overwhelming peace that came from knowing

the plan of salvation. I wish I could instill in everyone's hearts

what it feels like to have unshakable faith in knowing that I will

see my father again.

The Plan of Salvation is real. And it is crucial to our personal

salvation that we study and understand it. There is life after this.

THIS IS NOT THE END!!!

The atonement covers all pains, all trials, all weaknesses. His love

is infinite and boundless. There is nothing that he cannot help us

through.

If you don't know what the Plan of Salvation is, if you don't

understand the atonement, if you don't have a faith in a life after

this please comment or email me. There is strength beyond compare when

you can rely whole heartedly on the savior of the world, who over came

death, overcame the world, so that we can live with our families, and

with god, in His celestial glory forever.

This trial has changed my life and the lives of my family because of

our knowledge of gods great plan of happiness. 

Christ lives, and because he lives, I know my father will live once again with me, and my amazing family. FOREVER! 

In the name of Jesus Christ, I bear my testimony of these truths, amen.

Love, Sister Turley