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This picture of our daughter was taken a few years ago. She is now fifteen years old. When she was born, we were surprised to discover she has Down Syndrome. When she was six, we were also told she has severe autism. We love her very much. She has taught us a lot about patience, service, and love.

Why are people born with disabilities? We all have weaknesses of one kind or another. Some people just have less obvious ones. As a class, we discussed this question for a while. The students gave various answers such as it is "a test," "punishment," "so others can learn to serve," "not everything in life is perfect," "nature," and "because it's God's will."

In John 9:1-3 the Jews asked a similar question. Jesus' answer applied to this particular blind man and teaches us one reason people experience trials in life. He had the power to heal the man and could manifest the power of God through him-- just as He has the power to heal us.

I shared three statements with the students. The first two are by Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

“This is a doctrine . . . which reminds us mortals that we do not have all of the data. There are many times when we must withhold judgment and trust God lest we misread, as did Jesus’ disciples when they inquired about the man blind from birth and Jesus gave the immortal reply: ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him’ (see John 9:1–3)” (But for a Small Moment [1986], 94).

And...

“There are clearly special cases of individuals with special limitations in life, which we cannot now fathom. Like him who was ‘blind from birth,’ some come to bring glory to God. (John 9:1–2.) We must be exceedingly careful about imputing either wrong causes or wrong rewards to all such. They are in the Lord’s hands and he loves them perfectly. Some of those who have required much waiting upon in this life may be waited upon in the next world—but for the highest of reasons” (Things As They Really Are [1978], 26).

Then we watched a clip from a conference talk given by Elder Boyd K. Packer found here Ensign, May 1991, 7–9. It is a beautiful and important talk. One thing he says is: __________________________________

“If healing does not come in mortal life, it will come thereafter. Just as the gorgeous monarch butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, so will spirits emerge." __________________________________

I love this image. I'm looking forward to the day when my daughter's spirit is able to emerge. The doctrine of the resurrection is true. We read Alma 40:23 to remind us of its blessing.

We talked about how not only do some experience physical blindness, but many suffer from spiritual blindness. For the rest of the class, we went through verses in John 9 that illustrate different types of blindness.

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I know Jesus Christ can heal us in whatever way we will let Him heal us.