Overcoming My Pain

My husband and I always wanted to go on a mission together. Because I was suffering chronic pain due to a degenerative disease, we decided we had better go as soon as we could rather than waiting until after age 65.

Having lived far away from a temple for 24 years, we hungered to be in the temple day after day. We were thrilled and excited when we received calls as ordinance workers in the Chicago Illinois Temple. But I was also scared and anxious, and I wondered what would be expected of me and whether I would be physically up to the challenge. As we prepared for our mission, I prayed often that I would be able to work at least part time and not be a burden to the other temple workers.

At last the time arrived, and we made the two-day journey to the temple. We were welcomed with joy and enthusiasm by other temple workers, and we met with the temple president in his office. I told him about my health concerns and said I thought I would be able to work two or three hours a day. We were assigned to begin on the morning shift, which concerned me because mornings were the worst time for my pain. During my setting apart, the only thing mentioned related to my health was, “Please bless her so she can do the work.” I worried that the magnitude of my problem wasn’t understood. By the time we got back to our apartment, I was in tears. In our prayers that evening, we pleaded with Heavenly Father to give me health and freedom from overwhelming pain.

I learned many things those first weeks. As I grew to know the other sisters better, I found out that almost everyone had a physical handicap of one kind or another, including two part-time workers who were blind. I watched all these beautiful sisters perform their tasks with grace and poise, and I realized that little miracles were happening all around me.

As I spent time in the celestial room praying, pondering, and listening for counsel and answers, I came to realize that the Lord had called me on a mission to succeed, not to fail. He wanted me to faithfully put my pain and exhaustion into His hands and let Him take care of my problems. For a long time I had assumed total control of my pain management, but as I put myself into the Lord’s hands I began to see results.

Before long, I was awaking each morning enthused about the day ahead. When I arrived at the temple to present my recommend, my pain would diminish. I was so involved in temple work that I did not think about pain, and soon I was working full time. Because I was free of pain for eight hours a day, I began to have more energy and look younger. I felt greatly humbled by the Lord’s love and concern for me.

As I pondered on the power of these blessings, I realized I could have missed all that marvelous spiritual time by deciding I hurt too much to serve a mission. In the later months of our service, we were called to teach other ordinance workers, which brought new and interesting challenges that invigorated us. Far too soon we neared the end of our mission.

I learned a great deal from that experience. The Lord really wants us to succeed in all our callings, and He will help us. To trust the Lord enough to place my burdens at His feet and let Him take care of me has been a humbling and thrilling experience.—Karen A. Anderson, Cedar City, Utah