Hi I'm Lane

My mother and grandmother joined the church before I was even born, so I have always been a member of the church. However, I remember the first time I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost confirming the truth to me as a young child. I had just come home from church and was sitting in my room alone, looking over some picture cards I had received in Sunday School. It was a picture of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he suffered for our sins. The verse underneath read "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done". At that moment I felt a wonderful sensation come over me, and I started crying, knowing that Jesus was real and that He had done something very special for me. I will never forget that experience. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of all of His children, including this little Aussie kid! He answers our prayers and loves us deeply. I have felt that love in countless ways throughout my life, during times of happiness and times of great sorrow. As I have studied and learned more I have also come to the realization that Heavenly Father has a plan for our happiness, and that He speaks today through living prophets, just as He did in ancient times. I know that He called Joseph Smith to be His prophet in these last days, and to restore His Gospel back to the earth once more. This knowledge was strengthened when I interrupted my medical studies to serve a full-time mission for the Church in New Zealand. I consider that all of the blessings I now enjoy -- my beautiful wife and incredible kids, and work opportunities -- came as a direct result of my missionary service.

When I was a teenager, my mother was asked to teach an early morning scripture class for teenagers, that I became a part of. I vividly remember the hours of preparation she put into each class, and the love that she had for each one of those youth. I also remember the tears that she shed, feeling that she sometimes wasn't "getting through", and the exhaustion she felt preparing her lessons each day. Well, years later it was my turn! I was asked to teach an early morning class for the youth in our congregation, including my own 2 teenagers. It was a great challenge, but also a rare privilege to get to know these youth inside out. And I've learned that I'd better practice what I preach! Raising a large family has been a humbling experience, especially when they were young. We've often felt overwhelmed and driven to our knees to plead for Heavenly Father's help. And yet, my family has been the source of the most spiritual and loving moments of my life, and seeing them grow to become independent and wonderful adults has brought more joy and satisfaction than anything else in my life. I can't imagine where we would be without the teachings of Jesus Christ and His church.