He Lives, He Lives, He Lives by Allison Kimball

In the summer of 1992 we attended a stake conference in which Elder Russell M. Nelson was presiding. I don't remember the circumstances of his visit (perhaps the stake presidency was reorganized) nor do I remember the theme of his talk--memory is funny that way.
I do remember these words: "He lives." He paused and looked out over the audience.
"He lives," he repeated as he choked back his emotions.


Once again looking into the eyes of all present he said a third time "HE LIVES!"
The words were simple, but the Spirit touched my heart in a way that forever imprinted itself upon my soul.





I thought about those words many years later as I was lying in a hospital bed once again fighting a serious, but unknown infection. I was alone in my room with a team of medical professionals hovering about constantly poking, prodding, checking vitals and running tests. Visitors were discouraged on the 5th floor, because the patients there were more susceptible to infections from the outside.


As I stared at the ceiling tiles depression began filling my soul. My days were lonely and bleak. How could I be in this place again? My young children needed me. We were all scared because answers were slow. 


My prayers were filled with desperation as I pleaded that I would be healed and that the pain would subside.  As I lay in that uncomfortable bed with what seemed like hundreds of tubes coming out of my body an overwhelming peace and love washed over me seeming to penetrate every cell of my body. 


I knew that I was not alone. I knew the Lord loved me in a way that I had never known before.  He knew my pain, and He knew how to succor me. In those brief moments I felt I understood albeit only to a miniscule degree His pain and agony as He suffered for my sins and for the sins of my children.  I will forever be changed from those moments of pain.

He lives.

He lives.

He lives!


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Thank you, Allison for this wonderful testimony.

It has been such a fun month for me, because I've been surrounded (on my blog at least) by women who I greatly admire and who I consider good friends (even if some of these friend and I have never actually met!)  There are still more posts to come in our Easter Blog Party, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that it has been an honor.

Read more from Allison at Simple Inspiration.


And be sure to enter this week's giveaway from Plum Street Prints
HERE.  I will announce the winner tomorrow!