December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

On each anniversary of her accident, Emily celebrates a “rebirthday.” She says, “This experience has been like spring,
a rebirth.” Four years after the accident, Emily received her endowment in the Bountiful Utah Temple with her sisters,
Jennifer and Sarah, and their parents.
While still in high school, she visited with struggling children
and their families in the hospital, spoke at fund-raisers
for medical institutions, prepared and served food to the
homeless, and helped collect necessities for
several nonprofit organizations. She is continuing
this pattern of service in college. Although
school, therapy, and visits to doctors consume
much of her time, Emily is determined to live
up to her goal to live every day as if she is on a
mission— “not the two-year or the 18-month
kind—the life kind,” she says.
Lessons of Love
For Emily, the trials she has struggled
through have been lessons in patience, love,
and the importance of an eternal perspective.
She has learned to trust in the Lord and to be grateful for
the blessings in her life, large and small. She says, “By not
being able to do simple things—by wearing diapers and
having feeding tubes in the hospital, by not being able to
walk or talk—I learned that I can do nothing without the
Lord. I have felt the Lord’s love so real, so near. It is incredible.
I don’t know how I can ever repay that kind of love.”
Through her challenges, Emily has come to understand
Dad, was I
always
this happy,
or did it take the
accident to help
me realize it?”
the more important things in life. A short time ago she
asked her father, “Dad, was I always this happy, or did it
take the accident to help me realize it?” Emily recognizes
that her positive outlook is a result of living
close to the Spirit and acknowledging the
Lord’s hand in her life. She also finds joy in
loving and serving others and says, “I think
life is all about one word: love. We have it,
and we need to give it away.”
Giving Back
At the four-year anniversary of her
accident, Emily sought the opportunity
to receive her endowment in the temple.
She says the greatest desire of her heart
is to give back all she can in service to
the Lord for His generous blessings and for the countless
ways He has helped her and her family since
her accident.
Emily says, “I once read, ‘You can be greater than
anything that happens to you.’ And with the Lord’s help,
I believe that is possible.” ■
Aimee H. Hansen is a member of the East Mill Creek Ninth Ward,
Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake.
ENSIGN DECEMBER 2004 35