The guidance of Heavenly Father, through the scriptures and through His prophets, is a source of much strength and courage, said Jeanne Inouye during the General Relief Society Meeting Sept. 25.
A member of the Edgemont 16th Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake, Sister Inouye explained: "We may not be able to do everything, but He will bless us in our efforts to do those things that He has asked us to do."In relating personal experiences, Sister Inouye spoke of how she had expected to finish high school, continue her studies, marry and begin a family. But when she reached her 30s, she was still unmarried. "By then I had come to understand that the promises of my patriarchal blessing might not be realized during my mortal life. During one difficult period, I went often to the temple. On one occasion, I was given a clear message from God. I was told that I did not need to be afraid.
"As I pondered that experience, I understood that my happiness did not depend on the timing of marriage and family blessings nor on the other conditions of my life, but upon trust in God and obedience to Him."
As it turned out, Sister Inouye continued, she did marry when she was 34 and her husband was 37. Today, they have two children, ages 10 and 7.
"One thing I have learned is that motherhood entails difficult decisions," she related. "When our first child was born, I had been working for about 12 years, first as a teacher and later as a lawyer. I wondered whether to continue working. My husband's income was sufficient to meet our needs, but we were about 20 years older than most new parents. I wondered whether we would both survive to raise our children, and, if I were widowed, how I would provide for them."
Sister Inouye explained that after praying over the matter, she sought a priesthood blessing from her husband. "The blessing promised that I would be able to make a decision that would be good for our family but did not indicate what the decision should be. My choice was to become a full-time homemaker."
In speaking of formulating priorities, Sister Inouye said: "Sisters throughout the Church, many in circumstances far more difficult than mine, have prayerfully considered the counsel of the prophets and sought the guidance of the Holy Ghost as they too have endeavored to make wise decisions regarding the well-being of their families."
