Edified: Insights for LDS Women
Episode 27, "Holding Onto Light in Times of Proving"
With special guest, Ellen Logan

As a teacher, it is my responsibility to assess my students so I can determine how well they are mastering the standards for 7th-grade language arts. To do this, we use a combination of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are frequent and informal, and they are meant to inform me if my students are prepared for the summative assessment that follows each of our units of study. In a sense, every day provides me with some form of formative assessment. 

The coolest thing about formative assessments is they aren’t permanent. They’re preparatory. If a student doesn’t master a particular standard the first time, we remediate and they can try again. They can do this as often as necessary--right up until the summative assessment. 

In a way, mortality is kind of like a series of formative assessments. 

Elder Bednar mentioned how 2020 has given us all an opportunity to see where we are in our spiritual and temporal preparations. It has given us a chance to see where we’re strong, and where we need some work. 

In this episode, I have invited a very special guest to share her thoughts with us about how our spiritual preparation can help us hold onto light during times when we feel surrounded by darkness. 

Ask anyone who knew Ellen when she was a baby, a toddler, a little girl, and even as a teenager, and they would say that she was warm, bubbly, happy, and just a virtual ray of sunshine wherever she was. Ellen was among the first group of sister missionaries to serve a mission after the age was lowered. She served her mission in Chile, and then came home and returned to BYU-Idaho, where she served as the Relief Society president of her student ward. Ellen is now preparing for her internship as a recreational therapist and is a nanny to my daughter, Raechel’s, son, Dax. 

About five years ago, Ellen was blindsided when she experienced a season of severe depression. Nobody saw it coming. What she discovered during this period of darkness was just how crucial it is to build up a store of gospel light. Ellen is the first to clarify that you can't just pray away depression. It's a real condition and often requires professional help and/or medication. But like the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which Elder Bednar discusses in his talk, Ellen found that her store of oil, or spiritual light, was a critical ingredient in helping her face unexpected darkness. 

Episode Chapters:

7:30  Ellen shares her insights from Elder Bednar's talk.

11:10  Ellen talks about her battle with depression.

14:20  Ellen shares how being prepared spiritually continues to help her in her struggle with depression.

18:17  Ellen gives advice to those who have a loved one battling it right now.

24:50  Ellen shares more advice to those who struggle with depression

28:15  Find out what edifies Ellen.

DO ONE THING:

Light the world by prayerfully sharing a quote from Elder Bednar’s talk with a friend or family member. If you’re on social media, then you can take this a step further by sharing a quote and bearing your testimony about the principle taught in the quote. 

Resources:

"We Will Prove Them Herewith" - Elder David A Bednar
Visit www.melindarmorgan.com
Follow me on Instagram @melinda.r.morgan
Music: "Keys of Moon" Be Inspired

Have a great week, everyone! 
Until next time :-)