by Amy Moyes
My testimony of Relief Society came when I was 24 years old. I had taken my two small children to my parents’ house while I picked up a final copy of divorce papers from my lawyer. I felt like my world was falling apart. Instead of picking up my kids, I drove to my home and sat alone in my living room, afraid to open the envelope. I had been inactive in the Church for the past few years but prayed always. That afternoon I asked for help. I told my Heavenly Father I couldn’t get through this alone.
A few minutes passed, and there was a knock on my door. When I opened it, a woman stood in front of me and introduced herself as the Relief Society president. In the four years I’d lived there we’d never met. She asked if I was OK. I’m embarrassed to say I couldn’t speak. The tears I’d been holding back poured out. This poor stranger walked in and hugged me and held me and told me everything would be OK. I don’t know how long we stood like that. Eventually I was able to explain that I had to read through the final draft of my divorce documents, sign them, and get them back to my lawyer so that they could be served.
She sat with me, listened to me, cried with me, and told me about her own divorce several years earlier. She understood what I was feeling and did more to help me than she will ever know. Before she left she told me why she came to my home that day, at that time, and the tears came again. She had been home cleaning when she had the frantic feeling she needed to meet me. She thought about calling, but again had a strong feeling that she should get in her car and go to my home. I am thankful she was in tune with the Spirit and so thankful she listened. I knew at that moment that I would never be alone. I knew that my Father in Heaven knew me, loved me, and answered my prayers. My testimony was strengthened. I went back to church and later met my eternal companion. I do have a testimony of the Relief Society, and I’m thankful for every sister that has allowed the Lord to work through their hands.
