In October 2012 McKenna had the incredible opportunity to participate in recording an episode of the Mormon Channel's "We Will Stand" series. I have included the link if you would like to listen to the session. It was episode 19: Work and Self-Reliance. The Mormon Channel: Work and Self Reliance. Sister Christine VanWagenen who has been serving on the General Young Women's Board with Sister Dalton and the other members of the General Young Women's Presidency was the one who called and invited McKenna. She is an incredible woman and we are so blessed to know her. She had McKenna and I, along with the other young women and their mothers come to her home on a Sunday afternoon to extend this invitation. She told McKenna that her name had been prayed about by not only herself, but by Sister Dalton. That she was supposed to be a part of this project. It was such a spiritual experience just being in her home and discussing what Sister VanWagenen wanted each of the girls to do to prepare. We left feeling inspired and uplifted... and McKenna felt a tremendous responsibility to study the scriptures and prepare.
The day of the taping we arrived early at the Conference Center and were escorted back to the area that the recording studio and other areas for taping videos and devotionals are located. Sister VanWagenen spoke to each of us and asked McKenna and I to share with her what we felt one of our greatest spiritual gifts are. Of course I could name a million things I felt McKenna has been blessed with, but I loved the answer she gave about herself. She said that she is a "care-giver". Christine smiled and told her that she feels that is one of the things she has been blessed with as well. She then told McKenna that some people see that as a burden, but that she sees it as an attribute of the Savior. I loved that. We then shared what McKenna had been enduring health wise while trying to prepare. She told us that each and every girl involved had experienced something similar... yet different... and that she knew that the adversary had been trying desperately to distract and discourage them. To keep them from sharing a message that the world needs to hear. Work hard. Be self-reliant. Prepare while you are young to be a blessing to your future family when you are grown. It was an incredible day that we will remember forever. Another blessing that came from this... McKenna met other girls like her self. Girls that are viewed by some as "over-achievers" and "Molly Mormons" that don't ever do anything wrong. And the others girls mentioned it to me as well. Katrina (in the black and white) kept saying... "Wow. there are other girls like me. Sometimes I feel really alone. I have lots of friends... but I don't feel like I fit." Sister VanWagenen had them exchange cell phone numbers and is planning a post-recording-get-together at her home so they can all discuss what they learned and how it has blessed their lives. I think she wants to make sure these girls stay in touch so they can continue to help one another. This strengthened all of our testimonies... and made me so proud of my girl. I am so grateful that McKenna is making such good choices in her life. Even the things that are harder for her... she is trying to improve on and do better. She is such a good example to me! Thank you Sister VanWagenen for this incredible opportunity.
