Mallory's Story

Mallory called me last night and shared this story with me and I had to put it down in writing for posterity.  What a beautiful story and blessing / miracle for Mallory.  These tender mercies happen to all of us and I'm happy that Mallory recognized this one and shared it with me.

Mallory's story:

"A few years ago, while I was at BYU, I took a religion class taught by Hank Smith.  One day I wasn't able to attend my usual class time so I decided to go to an earlier section instead.  It quickly became clear why I needed to be there that day.

At the beginning of every class, Brother Smith would ask if anyone had questions - anything from the assigned reading to personal scripture study or life in general.

That day, a little BYU freshman raised her hand and asked a question I had never considered before:  "If Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ already know everything that has happened and everything that will happen, then why do we pray when we or people around us are going through something hard?  If prayer won't change God's will, then why bother?"

I had always been taught to pray about anything and everything, but in that moment, if I had been asked this question I didn't have a good answer.

Brother Smith responded by sharing a story from a stake conference he had attended.  He said he arrived late and walked in while a woman he had never met, was already speaking.  She was sharing an experience from an event in her life where her daughter had been tragically murdered.

Following her daughter's death, she began having a recurring dream.  In the dream, she would come to the edge of a cliff.  She knew she was supposed to let go and step off, but every time, she couldn't bring herself to do it.  Then one night, the dream changed.  She once again stood at the edge of the cliff, but this time she was able to let go.  As she began to fall, panic started to set in - until suddenly, she was caught by a net.

But, this was no ordinary net.

Each thread was glowing.

As she looked closer, she realized that every thread in the net was a prayer someone had offered in her behalf.  Some threads were thin and delicate.  Perhaps prayers from strangers who had heard her story.  Others were thick and strong, representing the prayers of those closest to her.

In that moment, she understood something powerful:  prayer had not changed what happened, and it would not erase the hard days still ahead, but when she stepped into the unknown and felt like she was falling, she realized she was not alone.

Brother Smith then said he didn't have a perfect answer for why we pray if prayer doesn't change God's will, but maybe that isn't always the purpose of prayer.  Maybe prayer is less about changing God's plan and more about strengthening us to endure it.  Maybe those prayers become the very thing that catches us when we fall or have faith to step out.  Whether from a stranger or someone who loves us deeply, every prayer matters.  We may not be able to change God's will, but we can ask Him for the strength, peace and support to bear it."

What a beautiful story and certainly something for all of us to think about.  I've had prayers said in my own life about serious things I was going through.  The event and outcome didn't change but my ability to have faith, step off the cliff and find peace in the love of others and my Savior helped me through the challenges I was facing.  

Thanks, Mallory, for sharing this with me.