Rae lay on her air mattress, staring at the colorful pages of scripture she had decorated and taped to the door of the closet. Each one was special at the time of its creation, deserving to be illuminated in big, beautiful script and bright colors…but now they meant nothing. Nothing meant anything at this moment. Just over two months ago she had left the man she'd been with for 14 years; walked out on him, their dog, and their beautiful house. She'd driven an hour and a half to her cousin's apartment, where she'd made herself a small space in the spare bedroom with an air mattress and end table, next to the pet rabbit. She'd left because he was abusive, but she'd also left to be with another man – a man that had shown her what it meant to be truly loved, cherished, and respected. When she had left, life felt so promising. Unfamiliar and a little scary, but promising. She was with the man of her dreams, and he had introduced her to his faith – a beautiful faith that provided so much hope. She had become friends with the sister missionaries and began attending a church that felt like home the second she walked in. But then everything started to fall apart. First, she'd been denied baptism because she was involved with a married man. That was understandable, and something she couldn't really be mad about. But then, her love took full responsibility for this denial and reduced his affections, claiming that it was more important to him that she get baptized. She admired this, but it was difficult to see the logic in it when he was her joy…and it was difficult to be excited about her new faith when her family members were so opposed to it. Then Covid hit…and her love moved back in with his family…and her sister missionaries were sent home…and her church closed its doors…and she lost her job. And now here she was…in a new town, with a new faith, no friends, no church, no job, and what felt like no family since hers didn't understand her recent life choices. Rae rolled over and closed her eyes, figuring her best option was to sleep as much as possible until this whole nightmare was over. … A ding awoke her. Irritated at her escape being interrupted, Rae grabbed her phone and opened the messages. "Can we meet today?" It was the new sister missionaries. They had been pestering her for a few weeks now. She couldn't handle their cheeriness. Didn't they understand what she was going through? And how could they possibly be so excited about life when the whole world was going to shit? None of it mattered. Hope had been shattered. Life had been permanently altered. Happiness was no longer possible. "No," she responded. "I'm not in any shape to be meeting with you right now." "Can we give you something to read?" They asked. Rae let out a long sigh. She doubted it would do anything for her, but whatever. "Sure," she replied, rolling her eyes, and dropped her phone on the bed next to her. It dinged again a moment later, and she reluctantly picked it up. "Doctrine & Covenants 121" What in the world was that? She hadn't heard about that yet at church. "It talks about suffering," The next message read. Hmm. Rae opened her church app on her phone and clicked around until she found the referenced scripture. The first line was exactly what she had been asking for several weeks now: “O God, where art thou?” It continued with lamentations, anger at God, a deep feeling of despair, hopelessness, and abandonment. The man writing the passage was languishing in a cold, desolate jail cell while his family and friends were being severely persecuted for their faith. The prayer of complaints went on for several verses, and then God answered: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” Rae read that line over and over again. “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment…endure it well…thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” Rae's eyes flitted up to the passages on the closet door. She read them all again, one by one, remembering how she had felt when she'd created them. Hopeful. Loved. Cared for. This was just a small moment in the grand scheme of things. That realization didn't make it hurt any less, but it made her remember that everything happened for a reason, for the good of those who believed in God, even if she didn't completely understand it right now. That's when she remembered something her love had told her – Satan works extra hard against those who are on the right path. Satan is the one who doesn't want you to be happy. She might be in pain right now, but she wasn't going to let Satan win. Not after she had made it this far. Switching back to her messages, she typed "I will meet with you."

Once upon a time, in a small town nestled in the heart of a beautiful country, there was an unexpected turn of events. The town, which was once thriving with economic prosperity, found itself facing a severe economic decline. The main industry that sustained the town's livelihood had collapsed, leaving a trail of financial despair in its wake. As the economic decline took hold, the consequences began to ripple through the community. Families struggled to make ends meet, businesses closed their doors, and unemployment soared. The once-vibrant streets now seemed empty and desolate, filled with a palpable sense of hopelessness. The social fabric of the town began to fray. People grew frustrated, and tensions rose among neighbors. The lack of opportunities and financial strain created a sense of despair, leading to increased crime and social unrest. It seemed as though the town was mired in a never-ending cycle of problems, and the future looked bleak. The political leaders of the town recognized the gravity of the situation and realized that they needed to take immediate action. They came together, setting aside their differences and personal agendas, to find a solution that would uplift the community. They devised a comprehensive plan that focused on rebuilding the economy, fostering social cohesion, and restoring hope. The first step they took was to invest in infrastructure projects that would create jobs and stimulate economic growth. They rebuilt crumbling roads, renovated public spaces, and initiated construction projects that provided employment opportunities for the townspeople. The infusion of activity brought a renewed sense of purpose and optimism to the community. Simultaneously, the political leaders implemented social programs aimed at bridging the gap between different segments of society. They organized community events, where people from all walks of life could come together, share their stories, and find common ground. These initiatives fostered a sense of unity and reminded the townspeople that they were all in this together. But the true turning point came when the leaders focused on education and skills development. They established vocational training centers and educational scholarships to empower the youth with the tools they needed to succeed. The town's young minds, once burdened by the weight of economic decline, now saw a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. As time went by, the town began to transform. The economy gradually revived, new businesses emerged, and the streets once again bustled with activity. The social fabric, once frayed, was now tightly woven with bonds of compassion and understanding. The success of the town's revival became a symbol of hope and inspiration for other communities facing similar challenges. People from far and wide flocked to witness the remarkable transformation and learn from the town's journey of resilience. The story of this small town serves as a testament to the incredible power of unity, compassion, and determined leadership. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we can overcome our struggles and emerge stronger than ever before. It shows that with the right vision and collective effort, we can build a brighter future, no matter how dark the present may seem. In the end, the town's tale of economic decline, social and political problems, and failures became a story of triumph—a story that inspired people to believe in their own potential and work together to create a better tomorrow.