10:00 AM

February 5, 2012

This morning at 10:00 a.m. I was participating in one of my most relaxing pastimes: lying in bed whilst listening to Conversations with Sheri Dew and Ruth Todd. If you've read my blog over the past year, you'll remember that Conversations is a podcast on the Mormon Channel featuring LDS people with either an inspiring story or unique perspective. My choice for today was the story of Connie Gunnell. I first listened to her interview while on a tour best taking my Jeru friends and I home from our adventures in Egypt. I'm just as impressed today as I was back then.

Summary
Connie Gunnell had the perfect life, as she described it. She grew up on a dairy farm in Cache Valley with nine other siblings and wonderful parents. She was blessed to marry her returned missionary high school sweetheart at the ripe old age of 19, and the two started a beautiful, happy life together as students at Utah State. However, Connie was only 21 years old when her husband was killed in a car accident, along with seven of his classmates and a professor. The group was driving back to Utah State from a field trip when a tire blew and sent the van rolling at approximately 80 miles per hour. The event was unexpected and tragic. It left Connie full of questions, grief and loneliness. For the next two to three years after the accident, Connie described her life as "going through the motions" and not really sure where to pick up the pieces. This podcast, hosted by Ruth Todd, delves into Connie's personal struggle with faith, hope and her will to move forward.

Simply put, Connie's story is one of pain, healing and growth. Widowed at 21, she teaches people what it really means to endure through faith in the Savior.

Each time I listen to this podcast I feel another layer of faith and hope added to my spirit. I feel motivated to be a little more obedient and a little more patient amidst my afflictions.

Click here to check out the podcast.