PathwayConnect has helped open Janalie Freeman鈥檚 eyes to the extensive power of the Savior's Atonement
鈥淎re you being a Nephi? Are you being like Alma and Amulek right now?鈥�
Janalie鈥檚 sons stop their arguing for a moment to respond to their mother.
鈥淢om, Alma and Amulek couldn鈥檛 always work together all the time!鈥�
鈥淐ome on and be a team! I know you can do it.鈥�
Janalie Freeman smiles as her boys run off to play in the sunny heat of Mesa, Arizona. Her children and husband, Richard, mean the world to her, especially after all they鈥檝e been through. They鈥檝e fought many battles together over the years, so Janalie knows she can always depend on them for love and support.
Since she鈥檚 joined PathwayConnect, Janalie has learned how she can receive a greater presence of heavenly support as well. Homework assignments and gatherings have helped her recognize the magnitude of Christ鈥檚 love for her. Consequently, her testimony of the Atonement has experienced a dramatic boost.
Now it鈥檚 easier for Janalie to see where an 鈥渆ncompassing source of healing鈥� can be found. This is a much-needed addition to her knowledge of the gospel, because learning how to heal is something that Janalie has had to do her whole life.
Pushing Through the Pain
Janalie has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was 12. Much to her dismay, doctors told her that having children would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Five children later, Janalie still feels pain from the disease, but she finds a way to endure it.
鈥淩heumatoid arthritis takes its toll daily,鈥� says Janalie. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 able to go on youth trips with my friends or attend school regularly, and later, even having children was difficult for me. I often can鈥檛 do things other moms can, like open a bottle of apple juice. I have learned to push through the pain.鈥�
What鈥檚 more, shortly after they were married, Richard received some surprising news of his own. They visited an audiologist鈥檚 office for some tests after Richard noticed some hearing loss, and the results were rather shocking.
鈥淗e completely failed a hearing test at 21 years old,鈥� says Janalie. 鈥淗e was later diagnosed with a brain tumor.鈥�
The Right Time
Multiple tests, surgeries, and various medications took up much of Janalie and Richard鈥檚 married life and brought them down a path they weren鈥檛 planning for. However, even through the most difficult times in their lives, they still felt 鈥渦nited in the gospel鈥� and believed that the gospel was a 鈥渟ource of strength.鈥�
Twelve years later, Richard鈥檚 strength had improved immensely. Janalie felt blessed that her husband was healing, but she still hungered for something more.
鈥淭hroughout the last year, I felt like something was missing in my life,鈥� said Janalie. 鈥淢y husband鈥檚 health was doing well, so I sought out an institute course. I felt like I needed to dig deeper for something even more meaningful.鈥�
It was at institute that Janalie found out about PathwayConnect. After seeking advice from a few friends, Janalie enrolled in the program, and soon came to realize it was the missing piece of her puzzle.
PathwayConnect would be a huge blessing in her life, but she was truly doing it for her family. She knew her higher level of education would be beneficial to them as well.
鈥淢y husband鈥檚 health issues raised my eyes and helped me realize that if anything happens to him, I don鈥檛 have a way of providing for my kids,鈥� says Janalie. 鈥淭hose thoughts have always been in the back of my mind, but they鈥檝e been more prevalent lately.鈥�
Learning How to Heal
Through the scriptures, PathwayConnect taught Janalie how far Christ鈥檚 Atonement truly reaches. She鈥檚 used it throughout her life, but now she realizes that the Savior鈥檚 sacrifice can heal so much more than our mistakes.
鈥淭hrough PathwayConnect, I鈥檝e realized that it is the power of the Atonement, Christ鈥檚 perfect example, and the priesthood that heals me. Christ didn鈥檛 just suffer on the cross for my sins; He suffered for my physical, broken body, too,鈥� says Janalie.
The gathering has been a crucial contributor to Janalie鈥檚 understanding of the Atonement. It鈥檚 a place where she feels comfortable sharing her feelings about the Savior with others.
鈥淭he PathwayConnect gathering is something to be treasured. It鈥檚 such a heavenly way to be teaching and learning,鈥� says Janalie.
Growing closer to her classmates has helped Janalie grow closer to the Savior. Her flourishing relationship with Christ has motivated her to utilize the Atonement, so one day she can stand before her Creator in a physically and spiritually perfected state.
It is through the Atonement that one day this mortal body of mine will be pain-free and whole.
鈥淚 have relied on the Atonement throughout a lot of struggles of my life, but it still seemed like a smaller aspect of the gospel. Now, I realize that it鈥檚 like the blanket that covers everything. It is so encompassing. It is through the Atonement that one day this mortal body of mine will be pain-free and whole,鈥� said Janalie.
After PathwayConnect, Janalie plans to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in
