These are my thoughts on Rachel

Today I was reading a talk by Elder Spencer J. Condie. In his talk, he tells the story of Rachel, and how she was unable to have children. This was obviously a painful and difficult trial for her and one point she even exclaims to Jacob "Give me children or else I die."

Elder Condie says of these feelings, "In this age of one-hour dry cleaning and one-minute fast-food franchises, it may at times seem to us as though a loving Heavenly Father has misplaced our precious promises or He has put them on hold or filed them under the wrong name. Such were the feelings of Rachel."

I have personally seen and experienced this kind of frustration in my own life in the lives of those I love. But Elder Condie continues by reading Genesis 30:22, a scripture that he calls "four of the most beautiful words in holy writ."

"And God remembered Rachel."

I agree. More comforting and beautiful words could not be said in a situation such as Rachel's. Even in her most painful moments, God remembered her and blessed her with a son and later another. Her promised blessings were not forgotten.

I have a note in my scriptures that I wrote when I originally heard this talk in 2007. It says simply, "And God remembered Nikki." It's a reminder to me that no matter how forgotten or ignored I may feel, the Lord will remember the promises He has made to me. Recognizing that we will all go through these times when our patience and faith will be tried, Elder Condie closes his talk with these reassuring words:

"When heaven's promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go.

And just as God remembered Rachel, God will remember you."