Sunday will Come

 I recently was told by my surgeon at Huntsman that she would like to place me in "survivor care."  It was then explained to me that I would be followed by a provider who would continue to monitor me and keep an eye out for any new signs of cancer because as of this year, I am a cancer survivor.  Her use of the term "Survivor care" struck a chord deep within my heart and as I have been reflecting on her choice of words Elder Wirthlin's words came to my mind, "Sunday will come."

"Sunday will come" was given by Elder Wirthlin in his Oct. 2009 conference address.  As I re-listened to his words he spoke about his father, his mother, his sister, and his wife Elisa.  All who had left deep impressions upon his life and shaped the man he was to become.  They were his joy with him stating "Elisa was my greatest joy..."  He spoke about each of their passings and as he reflected on his precious memories of each, he shared a tidbit that President Hinckley had shared at his wife's funeral, "it is a devastating, consuming thing to lose someone you love.  It gnaws at your soul."  Elder Wirthlin then shared how his wife's passing was his "greatest sorrow."  He then gave insight to the "lonely hours" he had spent thinking about “the eternal things... and the comforting doctrines of eternal life..."

He went on to talk about the resurrection and what he had learned from the scriptures and the prophets about the resurrection.  He then made this statement which touched my soul, "I think how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.  On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark.  Frightful storms lashed at the earth.  Those evil man who sought His life rejoiced.  Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse.  On that day they stood triumphant...Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair.  The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.  On that Friday the Apostles were devastated.  Jesus, their Savior--the man who had walked on water and raised the dead--was Himself at the mercy of wicked men.  They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.  On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.  It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.  I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world's history, that Friday was the darkest.  But the doom of that day did not endure..."

Elder Wirthlin then spoke of the Lords glorious resurrection and all the beautiful events that followed.  He then commented, "Each of us will have our own Fridays--those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces.  We will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again.  We will all have our Fridays."

I have had many of those Fridays Elder Wirthlin just described in which I became a survivor.  The darkest for me were when I became a domestic abuse survivor, a suicide survivor, a survivor of infertility, an abonnement survivor and lastly a cancer survivor.  I found peace in Elder Wirthlin's testimony, “But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death--Sunday will come.  In the darkness of our sorrows, Sunday will come.  No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.  In this life or the next, Sunday will come..."  During my darkest hours when hope was dwindling away, my own personal Sunday came through the loving embrace of my Lord and Savior.  When no one else came, He came.  He has provided my "survivor care" even when in anger and bitterness I pushed Him away.  He patiently waited for me to return, never giving up on this wayward child.

My husband and I lost our babies many many years ago and many years ago I lost my brother and parents.  Like Elder Wirthlin I have precious memories of them, and I too “miss them greatly”."  Quoting Elder Wirthlin:  "the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death.  He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind...We will all rise from the grave...Because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished.  On that day we will know the love of our Heavenly Father.  On that day we will rejoice that the Messiah overcame all that we could live forever..."

Elder Wirthlin then shared another thought from President Hinckley concerning "the terrible loneliness that comes to those who lose the ones they love, he also promised that in the quiet of the night a still, unheard voice whispers peace to our soul: "all is well..."  I have felt that peace and I know "all is well."

There are many who are enduring their dark Fridays and with Elder Wirthlin I bear witness that all may know, "that no matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come."  So, hang in there my friends and know that you are never alone and because of our Lord's great love for us He has wonderous Sundays planned for all who reach out to Him and open their ears to hear, “all is well.”