I Know Who Sent Them

By Barbara Moon

Utah, USA

woman looking at broken-down car with children

One evening many years ago, my car broke down. I coasted down an exit ramp and barely had enough momentum to turn into a gas station.

I was a young mother at the time. I had my toddler with me, as well as my sisters, ages four and six, who were visiting from Kansas. My husband was away doing Church service, and it would be several hours before he would be home to receive a phone call. I didn’t know what to do.

Just then, a family in a large van stopped and asked if I needed help. They looked trustworthy, so I asked if they could jump my car’s battery. When that proved unsuccessful, they generously offered to drive an hour out of their way to see us safely home. They said they had more than enough room for the four of us in their van.

Once we were back on the road, they told me they were from Idaho and on vacation visiting family in Utah and Nevada. They explained that they had felt impressed to take their large van on vacation, even though their smaller car would have been more economical. As they traveled, they also felt impressed to stop at the same gas station I had pulled into. They said they were grateful they could help because they had followed their promptings.

I feel that this family was truly “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand” why they should drive the big van (see 1 Nephi 4:6). Why should they take that vehicle? Why would they stop at that very gas station? Because God knew a young mother with small children needed their help.

In the 30 years since that day, I have thought of them often and used their good example in lessons and talks. I have tried to live my life so I can notice the needs of others, be worthy to receive promptings, and be willing to go out of my way to bless others.

I still don’t know who they were, but I know who sent them. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, who sees our needs and sends angels, whether mortal or immortal,¹ to help us along our way.