Dear Sister Allport,
Hello! I was so, so sorry to hear from Sister Tate that we had yet another misunderstanding in setting up a Visiting Teaching appointment with you. Please know how much I was looking forward to seeing you! I know the importance of the Visiting Teaching program to our Heavenly Father and have a strong testimony of the strength and love it brings to the sisters in our ward. Please accept my apology and know that you and your husband are always in our prayers!
I hope this letter finds you well and eager for the Holiday season. I didn’t want the month to pass without being able to share an interesting experience with you. A few weeks ago we had an appointment set up to meet with you and I was prepared with the message. Earlier that morning, I had prayed to know what kind of message could be of help and comfort for you. I opened the November Conference Issue Ensign to a talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook entitled “Let There Be Light!” I would encourage you to read it if you haven’t already as it gives us so much to think about in terms of how we relate and fit in to the world around us. The most touching part of the talk for me was in the beginning where Elder Cook relates a story about the Second World War. During the bombing raids conducted over London, black outs were instituted to make it harder for the attacking bombers to find a target. Lights were turned out and windows were draped with the hope of finding safety and protection in dangerous conditions.
While reading, I found myself thinking about how the world today is filled with so many awful things. Everywhere we turn, there is evil. We do so much to keep the filth out of our homes and our minds and still, at times, it finds a way in. As Elder cook suggests, it is as if we are in a blackout, constantly striving to keep the spirit and protection of our Father in Heaven in our homes and hearts while Satan is an ever-present danger. I will admit that I often feel “on guard” and a sense of hopelessness for the rest of the world, considering its present state.
I finished the article and prepared to leave to visit you, these thoughts weighing on my mind. The parts of the article that made the most impression on me weren’t very positive and I thought, “What kind of message is that to bring into a sister’s home?” We loaded into the car and as we headed out, I remembered I needed gas. Circumstances from the previous day had prohibited me from getting it then and now I really needed gas. I said a little prayer to make it to the gas station. No sooner had I closed my prayer when I noticed the check engine light had turned on and the car was slowing down. I was on quite a large, busy road and attempted to pull off and get out of harms way. As I turned into a nearby parking lot, I lost control of the car and a portion of the front end slid into a deep hole. I heard a loud crunch and the car lurched, but then stopped short of turning onto its side. It all happened so fast, I was scared and wasn’t sure what to do other than burst into tears. I dialed my husband’s number as a woman pulled up along side me. She asked if we were okay, what she could do, who she could call in order to help. I just cried. She went into the car dealership (whose parking lot I was in) and brought out a man to help. He helped us out of the car as another man stopped to offer a tow rope he had in his trunk. A third man brought bottles of water and cookies for Ben. I was talking with one of the men, trying to think straight and figure out where the nearest towing company was located when he looked over my shoulder and said, “Oh look. Here’s a tow truck now.” I turned to see a tow truck, already loaded with another car, pulling over to the side of the road. The man jumped out and said, “It looks like you need help. I have a load already but I will stay until another truck arrives for you.” We waited only a few minutes for another truck, during which time a fourth car stopped just to make sure we had everything we needed. As my car was being pulled out, one of the men from the dealership said, “You know, I have worked here six years and you are the zillionth person that has been pulled out of this nasty hole. But never before have so many people stopped to help as they have for you today….”
Immediately to my mind came the visiting teaching message. Complete strangers, in an evil world, had just filled me with comfort and relief. And suddenly I knew the meaning of what I had read earlier. Yes, our world is a difficult place to live. But our Father in Heaven knows that. And although there are many evils which we blackout, the hope and peace that the gospel brings to each of us should never be dimmed. There is so much good to be found here and upon it should be our focus. The light of Christ can be found in so many people, regardless of religion or circumstance. The Savior said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
How thankful I am for Elder Cook’s message of hope and light and protection, and the opportunity I had, first hand, to see the goodness in the world. I am thankful for the light of Christ and for our brothers and sisters in this world who honor it. I know my Father in Heaven loves each of us so dearly and that as we do all that we can to follow Him, his angels will strengthen and protect us.
With Love,
I will admit that I wasn't sure why I needed to send this letter to this particular sister- I felt a little weird doing it- but I just had to. Two days later, I had a voice mail from her. She was crying and needed to thank me for the message my letter had brought. She said it was just what her heart needed. What a powerful example of how our Heavenly Father knows the needs of our hearts and the work he accomplished through Visiting teachers!
