Just days prior to visiting the LDS Employment Center, I knelt down and offered a mighty prayer.  I knew that the Lord understood how I had given my whole heart and energy to my husband and our nine children who were now all grown. I knew that He knew I had not wasted time in front of the TV or computer, and that He knew about all the volunteer hours I had given at my children’s schools. But I was in need of employment. 

I thought, “How can I ever get a job without good computer skills?” My husband had always done the computer work because he enjoyed it. “Who would hire me?” The thought then came to me that I had helped run a business. I had negotiated contracts, planned and executed sales tours, assisted my former husband in our business with research and collections and marketing strategies. I had done customer and public relations and had put together trainings and presentations. So I got ready and went to the center as if I was going for a job interview.

As I met with the manager of the LDS Employment Center, I was encouraged in my desire to find self-sustaining employment, then I was asked if I’d like to interview for a position with the Deseret Industries. I was going to laugh at the idea, but the Spirit in that room was so strong that I listened. I learned how Deseret Industries would pay me for working while I went through some computer training. As she spoke, I felt as if it were a sacred moment and an answer to my prayers.

The very next day, I was offered an opportunity for employment; but even better, I was given an opportunity to find me again. I had been dependent on a husband’s skills for almost 30 years. I had been through two difficult marriages, and had just had a third marriage end with an annulment. I was also recovering from hip surgery and the death of my sister. I felt like a failure and was just barely hanging on. I suppose I was so used to the survival mode that I was living in that I didn’t realize how serious my condition was.

With a referral from my bishop, I went for my first interview at Deseret Industries. Once again the Spirit came into the room. It was so powerful that I could not stop the tears of gratitude from flowing. I knew that I was doing exactly what the Lord wanted me to do.

My Father in Heaven led me to a place where I could begin to once again discover who I really was. DI has an environment where I could be taught by the Spirit as I performed simple tasks. I felt safe there. I felt the Spirit there. It is a place where I found healing and the courage to move forward.

I loved meeting and working with associates from many different cultures and life situations. I learned many lessons I didn’t even know I needed to learn. The training I needed was facilitated and the staff at DI continually encouraged me along.

The original plan was for me to only stay at the DI for three or four months, but I stayed for ten. When the time came for me to look for a permanent position, I was scared to leave. Thank goodness for the Advanced Placement Program, where I learned how to present myself in an interview and was provided sincere support in my job search. It made the transition do-able. I especially loved the morning video conferences. I took notes and felt motivated. I forced myself to push through the difficult moments in my job search. And then, I landed my dream job. It was the job I had wished for on that first day I met with the manager of the LDS Employment Center. I never thought it would ever be available to me. I found it on LDSJobs.org.

My prayers were answered through a visit to the center. I thank everyone who serves at LDS Employment Resource Services, the missionaries and staff. I thank Deseret Industries and its managers. Thank you. I am blessed. I am renewed. I am happily employed!