From my perspective, you have always been the more spiritual person in our family. While I may have studied the scriptures more and held more big church callings, it was you who seemed more attuned to receiving direct revelation from God.

• It was you who received and acted on the prompting to come home from your mission.
• It was you who felt inspired that our current home was meant to be ours.
• It was you who so strongly felt your grandmother’s comforting presence on the other side of the veil during your time of trial and need.
• It was you who felt impressed that we needed to adopt a baby girl.
• And it was you who, when I was ready to give up, reminded us to doubt our doubts because you knew it was God who had revealed that someone else was meant to be part of our family.

Even though I had no spiritual manifestation myself for these life changing experiences, I trusted you because I saw how close you were to the Spirit and how receptive you were to promptings from the Holy Ghost. I trusted your faith every time.

The Call Came That We Had Been Chosen

And then the call came that there was actually a baby for us, for our family.

It was exciting—the small miracles that unfolded. The news came just after you bore your testimony. Your parents happened to be at our house, ready to care for our children so we could leave immediately. We found affordable flights leaving in just a few hours. Everything aligned perfectly, and it felt like heaven’s hand was guiding it all.

Yet, when the reality set in as we sat on the airplane heading across the country, I was scared. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to love that baby as my own. I worried she might have physical challenges or differences that my imperfect, mortal self would struggle with. I feared she might face trauma or mental challenges that would make her life different and would bring additonal challenges to us as parents.

As we traveled across the country, I prayed—earnestly asking God if this truly was the right decision to add this person to our family? If I would be able to love this child as my own and fully embrace her.

He answered me.

He comforted me with a feeling of overwhelming peace, assuring me that yes, this baby girl was meant to be part of our family, that I would love her completely, and that she would be a blessing not only to us but to many others. I knew that by raising her in a home that taught the fullness of the gospel she would be able to grow up with faith and be able to go on and do many great things in this world.

And yes, while there have been challenges in raising an adopted daughter—and there will continue to be challenges and trials for both us and her (especially as she becomes a teenager ). I cannot deny the spiritual confirmation I received on that plane that night. It was real, it was powerful, and it came from God.