Who Is This Woman?

The following link => photographs of Kristie provides a chronological view of Kristie's life.  You would think that after four decades of knowing Kristie and living with her for the last 39 years as her husband that I would be well acquainted with who she is and have some concept of her identity.  There are events and concepts, however, that have caused me to look at Kristie and what has occurred in her life in a new light and wonder, "who is this woman?"

This new perception or viewpoint has to do with what is termed "the mysteries of the kingdom".  I concur with Carlfred Broderick's assertion that, "I think we do not understand the nature of ourselves.  I think we do not understand who we are.  Some people call the temple ordinances the 'mysteries' of the kingdom.  When I went to the temple, I thought I was going to learn which star was Kolob, where the Ten Tribes were, and other such information.  But those aren't the mysteries of the kingdom; the mysteries of the kingdom are who we are, and who God is, and what our relationship to Him is.  Those are the mysteries of the kingdom.  You can tell somebody in plain English, but they still don't know in their hearts who they really are."

So it is with Kristie.  My new perspective and respect for her are rooted in the unique LDS tenets that - First, we all lived with a loving Heavenly Father as His spirit children prior to this earth life; Second, we were each endowed with free will and were empowered to use it in the preexistence realm; Third, God respects our agency and does not work by force; Fourth, adversity is essential to our eternal progression because without an opposition in all things, righteousness cannot be brought to pass; and Fifth, marriage and family bonds can be eternal and bring their greatest joy after this life.  These fundamental beliefs have caused me to wonder "who is this woman to whom I am sealed; that in the preexistence she would willingly choose or acquiesce to come to earth knowing that it was her mission to experience sexual abuse as a child and now Alzheimer's - but bravely volunteering nevertheless to endure such?"  

President Joseph F. Smith stated, "He that sent His Only Begotten Son into the world to accomplish the mission which He did, also sent every soul within the sound of my voice, and indeed every man and woman in the world, to accomplish a mission."  While I am aware of Kristie's shortcomings and realize that she was far from perfect, it is being to dawn on me that perhaps I have greatly under-estimated the woman who I married and the significance of her mission on earth.  She has been a remarkable example of unconditional love and how to use humor to ease the troubles and burdens of life.  I marvel at how trusting she has been of me as Alzheimer's has diminished her vitality and acumen.  I only hope that I am as trusting of the Lord and consider the effort to care for her more of an honor than a burden.