I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, love me and love all of us - even when we are not very lovable, even when we do stupid or unwise things from lack of judgment or from deliberate lack of obedience. I know that we came to earth to learn, to gain experience - and yes, to learn from experience. I know that we have many resources to help us to succeed - because They want us to succeed. The great Plan gave us agency to choose our way. But we need help and I am grateful that we have help. I am grateful to know that the scriptures contain God's truth and teach us what we must know. They teach us that we need to pray, that our Father hears our prayers, and that if we continue to pray in faith, we'll get answers. I know that we must put our trust in Him, and continue in patience, realizing that our timetable is often not the same as His.

I know that we have prophets to lead us and give us counsel and instruction and guidance. I am grateful for what we can read and what we can hear from ward, stake and general conferences and from our Church magazines and other publications. I KNOW the Gospel is true and I know that the true Gospel is here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw and heard what he heard. I know that he was the instrument to restore the Gospel and the Church that Christ organized when he was on the earth. I know if we are in church when we should be, if we read the scriptures and pray for understanding, and pray in gratitude for our blessings, and try to live the way we know to be right - all of that will help us in our journey here and help us to return to our Father's home when that time comes.

I know that agency allows us to make choices that bring heartache, sorrow and misery sometimes - to ourselves, and to those who love us - and to others sometimes. I also know that happiness comes from making right choices - and that we are not really happy unless we are trying to make right choices. Part of our experience here on earth is to find that joy.

I feel that it was part of the plan that I come to earth before you and feel blessed to be the mother and grandmother in this family - blessed beyond what I could ever have deserved. But I am so grateful to be part of the same family - of some of the best people in the world. We are all brothers and sisters, after all - and I am grateful to know that too. I love you all more than I can express.

Anne W. Fisher
Family Letter
March 28, 2010