I appreciate a gospel perspective on this subject, which is often different than what I'm learning in my social work classes at school. In my own experience, when a family member needed immediate help all four behavioral hospitals around here were full and had waiting lists. I agree with Barbara that these services are under funded. I appreciated the comments by Julie, Barbara, and Pamela. Excellent subject to address. Thank you.
JulieMay 16, 2015
Bless you, sister! Two out of my six children have experienced this to some degree. My oldest son ended up on the streets for nearly a year at one time. I now have a daughter who is on the same path. What I have experienced is that the enemy is real and we fight darkness with Light. The account of Alma the Younger's parents has come to mind many times. Alma was deep in darkness. Like our children, I believe he had been hijacked and held hostage, in a sense by the enemy. We have our agency and sometimes make choices that eventually cause us to seemingly lose our agency. Satan's deception is treacherous. They fall into bondage and can't seem to get out. But it was Alma's parents who prayed and fasted the experience to him that inspired his mighty change of heart. Alma had no intention to change at that time in his life. So many times I have used this powerful principle. When I can't reach someone directly, either because of spiritual or physical distance, or both, I go to the Father, who can reach them for me. This involves Mighty Prayer--with every particle of my being and all the energy of my soul. This kind of powerful prayer is always effective, in whatever ways the Lord sees fit. It has made the best out of these circumstances for us. It gives our struggling children advantages and opportunities that can help them heal. I saw my son eventually come back to himself, receive the Melchizedek priesthood, get married and stay sober for longer than he ever had. He did eventually relapse and passed away in an accident. But we felt so blessed and grateful that he could experience this joy and progression here on earth after a life that likely would've deteriorated otherwise. It has been slow and painful at times, but we have great hope through the atonement. Their progression does not end here. As they turn to the Lord, whether on this side or the other side of the veil, they can be redeemed. We experienced that with our son. These souls who struggle so are often the brightest and shiniest--they are a threat to the enemy and so they are under attack. This is very evident with my two. Don't lose hope and don't let the enemy of your soul destroy your peace. We are entitled to great gifts and blessings if we but ask. These are powerful privileges!
Barbara Ann Gleason RobertsMay 15, 2015
This article suggests that there are "often" sufficient resources available for caregivers, families and individuals impacted by mental illness. Unfortunately mental illness is unattractive, uncomfortable, and repulsive and doesn't fit nicely into a service project, home/visiting teaching route let alone community services. Society has chosen to place the treatment and care of such inflicted souls into the morass of the legal system vs medical system, with prisons, jails, involuntary incarceration, terribly underfunded medical and social services and homelessness being the inadequate, insufficient default resources. Church and government services are for the willing and capable. There is nothing for the unwilling or unable. Only the Savior offers sufficient balm to make walking this painful journey possible.
Pamela Morgan SmithMay 14, 2015
Dear struggling sister,
I SO feel for you as I’ve known other mothers in this exact same situation. Their children were addicted and mentally ill, and these mothers, like you, could of course not just “let them go”. These are their babies!! Knowing the following may help you.
Are you aware that Joseph and Emma’s youngest child (the son who was in utero when Joseph was martyred and who was born in Nov. of 1844 and named David Hyrum) struggled with mental illness from the time he was in his early 20’s? He was known by all who loved him as “the sweet singer of Israel” because of his wonderful singing voice and ability to write beautiful poetry. Though he married and had a child, the illness progressed until he could no longer live at home and was put into a facility (Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane) in Elgin, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago. He lived there until his death at age 59.
Knowing this makes it abundantly clear to me why Emma chose to never leave Illinois, and her struggling son. Just know that even Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, and his wife Emma, an Elect Lady, had a child who would grow up to suffer with mental illness. The Lord loves your son, perfectly, and he will be perfect again one day.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/706866/David-Hyrum-Smith--He-was-the-sweet-singer-of-Israel.html?pg=all
Comments | Return to Story
S KayMay 16, 2015
I appreciate a gospel perspective on this subject, which is often different than what I'm learning in my social work classes at school. In my own experience, when a family member needed immediate help all four behavioral hospitals around here were full and had waiting lists. I agree with Barbara that these services are under funded. I appreciated the comments by Julie, Barbara, and Pamela. Excellent subject to address. Thank you.
JulieMay 16, 2015
Bless you, sister! Two out of my six children have experienced this to some degree. My oldest son ended up on the streets for nearly a year at one time. I now have a daughter who is on the same path. What I have experienced is that the enemy is real and we fight darkness with Light. The account of Alma the Younger's parents has come to mind many times. Alma was deep in darkness. Like our children, I believe he had been hijacked and held hostage, in a sense by the enemy. We have our agency and sometimes make choices that eventually cause us to seemingly lose our agency. Satan's deception is treacherous. They fall into bondage and can't seem to get out. But it was Alma's parents who prayed and fasted the experience to him that inspired his mighty change of heart. Alma had no intention to change at that time in his life. So many times I have used this powerful principle. When I can't reach someone directly, either because of spiritual or physical distance, or both, I go to the Father, who can reach them for me. This involves Mighty Prayer--with every particle of my being and all the energy of my soul. This kind of powerful prayer is always effective, in whatever ways the Lord sees fit. It has made the best out of these circumstances for us. It gives our struggling children advantages and opportunities that can help them heal. I saw my son eventually come back to himself, receive the Melchizedek priesthood, get married and stay sober for longer than he ever had. He did eventually relapse and passed away in an accident. But we felt so blessed and grateful that he could experience this joy and progression here on earth after a life that likely would've deteriorated otherwise. It has been slow and painful at times, but we have great hope through the atonement. Their progression does not end here. As they turn to the Lord, whether on this side or the other side of the veil, they can be redeemed. We experienced that with our son. These souls who struggle so are often the brightest and shiniest--they are a threat to the enemy and so they are under attack. This is very evident with my two. Don't lose hope and don't let the enemy of your soul destroy your peace. We are entitled to great gifts and blessings if we but ask. These are powerful privileges!
Barbara Ann Gleason RobertsMay 15, 2015
This article suggests that there are "often" sufficient resources available for caregivers, families and individuals impacted by mental illness. Unfortunately mental illness is unattractive, uncomfortable, and repulsive and doesn't fit nicely into a service project, home/visiting teaching route let alone community services. Society has chosen to place the treatment and care of such inflicted souls into the morass of the legal system vs medical system, with prisons, jails, involuntary incarceration, terribly underfunded medical and social services and homelessness being the inadequate, insufficient default resources. Church and government services are for the willing and capable. There is nothing for the unwilling or unable. Only the Savior offers sufficient balm to make walking this painful journey possible.
Pamela Morgan SmithMay 14, 2015
Dear struggling sister, I SO feel for you as I’ve known other mothers in this exact same situation. Their children were addicted and mentally ill, and these mothers, like you, could of course not just “let them go”. These are their babies!! Knowing the following may help you. Are you aware that Joseph and Emma’s youngest child (the son who was in utero when Joseph was martyred and who was born in Nov. of 1844 and named David Hyrum) struggled with mental illness from the time he was in his early 20’s? He was known by all who loved him as “the sweet singer of Israel” because of his wonderful singing voice and ability to write beautiful poetry. Though he married and had a child, the illness progressed until he could no longer live at home and was put into a facility (Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane) in Elgin, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago. He lived there until his death at age 59. Knowing this makes it abundantly clear to me why Emma chose to never leave Illinois, and her struggling son. Just know that even Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, and his wife Emma, an Elect Lady, had a child who would grow up to suffer with mental illness. The Lord loves your son, perfectly, and he will be perfect again one day. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/706866/David-Hyrum-Smith--He-was-the-sweet-singer-of-Israel.html?pg=all
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