Sister Venessa Turek Sake Conference
June 25, 2017
Today at our Stake Conference we had an amazing sister, Venessa Turek, share a great message on hasting the work of salvation. She began by quoting a talk by President Russell M. Nelson, titled, “A Plea to My Sisters.” She shared the following. “Thirty-six years ago, in 1979, President Spencer W. Kimball made a profound prophecy about the impact that covenant-keeping women would have on the future of the Lord’s Church. He prophesied: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” My dear sisters, you who are our vital associates during this winding-up scene, the day that President Kimball foresaw is today. You are the women he foresaw! Your virtue, light, love, knowledge, courage, character, faith, and righteous lives will draw good women of the world, along with their families, to the Church in unprecedented numbers! We, your brethren, need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God! Venessa then went on to share a very special personal experience. As an aside, Kerstin knows Venessa because she lived in Kerstin’s ward in San Antonio. Her husband, Matthew is an Anesthesiologist in the Air Force (he is currently serving as a Bishop in the Orange Grove Ward here in our Stake). The Turek family have two sons (one biological and one adopted). They wanted to adopt additional children so they went back to the adoption agency they used for adopting their son. In March 2017, a lady, Taylor was pregnant with twin daughters and saw their request to adopt children. Taylor was struggling with cystic fibrosis (CF) and knew she didn’t have long to live. Her husband had recently died of a heart attack. There was a 50% chance that the twins would also have CF. Taylor wanted a special family to adopt her “girls” (the term Taylor and Venessa used to talk about the unborn twins). Taylor’s was a physician. She had a sister who also had CF. She didn’t have any other family available to adopt the girls. She When Taylor saw the Turek’s name she was impressed to reach out and contact them. An eternal friendship began. Vanessa shared with Taylor that if she was the Mom carrying these twins it would not matter that there was a chance of them having CF. She would still have the babies because she did not believe in abortion. Taylor asked Venessa many questions. She wanted to know what type of movies her girls would be allowed to watch; what TV shows they would be allowed to watch; would they be read to each night; what schools they would attend; would they have healthy meals; and what would their lives be like in the Turek family. Venessa shared that in their home they ate meals together; had family home evening every Monday night (she had to explain what that meant); they didn’t watch or read inappropriate things. When Taylor asked what church, they attended Venessa paused and said the LDS church. Taylor said she wasn’t familiar with that church and then Venessa paused again and said, “the Mormons.” Taylor was a little hesitant because what she had heard about Mormons. Taylor said that she already had an impression that the Turek’s should take the girls so she was moving past this concern. Vanessa talked with Taylor on several occasions and talked about family, the gospel and Jesus Christ. Venessa came to appreciate more and more the strength of this sweet Mom (Taylor) fighting for her life and wanting the best for her girls. Taylor had softened towards the church and was very interested in the gospel. Vanessa shared her testimony often. Taylor and Vanessa spent hours every day texting with each other. Taylor immediately stopped all of her pain medications the minute she found out that she was pregnant. She wanted the girl to have their best chance and didn't want them to suffer at all with withdrawals. She suffered herself instead. She had many nights where she couldn't sleep and many times where she was in complete physical agony. Vanessa tried her best to visit with her during those times. Tayor would tell Vanesa all of the funny and happy stories that everyone else already knew. Vanessa loved hearing about her wonderful marriage with Sean and her happy memories with her siblings especially her twin, Carrie who also had CF. The two of them dreamed about life with the girls. They talked about what open adoption would look like and they joked that in issues that really matter they were identical but when it came to extracurriculars not so much. Taylor is a tomboy that loves adventure. She snowboards, skateboards, etc. Vanessa didn’t do any of those things. The Turek family was so excited about having two girls coming to their home. They picked out names; had their bedroom decorated; and cute girl clothes and blankets all ready for their new additions. They even had ward members make blankets with the girls’ names on them. In May, Taylor really started getting much worse. There were a lot of prayers and fasting for her and the girls. The doctors knew it wouldn’t be much time before Taylor was going to die. They were doing their best to keep her alive so the girls would survive. Taylor told Venessa she was getting sicker and would need another lung transplant as her body was rejecting her lungs. There are medications to take that would slow the process down but she didn't want to put the babies at risk. She sacrificed herself again. Then her kidneys showed signs of failure making her no longer a candidate for a lung transplant. They talked about holding the girls and taking lots and lots of pictures together. Venessa wanted them to always know they were carefully planned for and that they were both on the same page. Two weeks before Taylor was scheduled to come see Venessa in Mississippi, she got very sick. She was unresponsive and she had to be taken to the Emergency Room. On June 15th Matt and Vanessa received a call from Carrie, Taylor’s sister. Matt took the call and softy said thanks for the information and call. Taylor and her girls had just died. We were devastated. A few days later Venessa spoke to Carrie. Carrie told Venessa repeatedly that Vanessa have been a light in their family. She told Venessa again that Taylor was happy and at peace after she finally decided to place the girls in otheir family. She said that as they have been at the hospital 24/7 watching Taylor deteriorate everyone took comfort that Taylor’s fight was almost over and that the Turek’s were going to be stepping up to bat to take care of these potentially sick girls. The Turek’s all had fallen in love and awe over Taylor and knew she was incredible. Vanessa’s Dad said, "Maybe Heavenly Father had to send her one of His best families to introduce her to the gospel and to give her the peace of mind that her girls would be raised and loved well. Then because He always has the best endings He loved her so much that He decided she should get to be with her husband and have her daughters on the other side as well." Venessa expressed that she knew Heavenly Father loves her, and He loves Taylor the same. Venessa also knows Heavenly Father is happy with her because she did all she could to love Taylor and her family. She also love the girls, Anna and Nora and dreamed of their future together. She closed by expressing how the work of salvation will continue beyond the veil where Taylor, Sean, Anna and Nora are now a happy family, all waiting for someone to do their work for them.
It was a great message.
Today at our Stake Conference we had an amazing sister, Venessa Turek, share a great message on hasting the work of salvation. She began by quoting a talk by President Russell M. Nelson, titled, “A Plea to My Sisters.” She shared the following. “Thirty-six years ago, in 1979, President Spencer W. Kimball made a profound prophecy about the impact that covenant-keeping women would have on the future of the Lord’s Church. He prophesied: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” My dear sisters, you who are our vital associates during this winding-up scene, the day that President Kimball foresaw is today. You are the women he foresaw! Your virtue, light, love, knowledge, courage, character, faith, and righteous lives will draw good women of the world, along with their families, to the Church in unprecedented numbers! We, your brethren, need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God! Venessa then went on to share a very special personal experience. As an aside, Kerstin knows Venessa because she lived in Kerstin’s ward in San Antonio. Her husband, Matthew is an Anesthesiologist in the Air Force (he is currently serving as a Bishop in the Orange Grove Ward here in our Stake). The Turek family have two sons (one biological and one adopted). They wanted to adopt additional children so they went back to the adoption agency they used for adopting their son. In March 2017, a lady, Taylor was pregnant with twin daughters and saw their request to adopt children. Taylor was struggling with cystic fibrosis (CF) and knew she didn’t have long to live. Her husband had recently died of a heart attack. There was a 50% chance that the twins would also have CF. Taylor wanted a special family to adopt her “girls” (the term Taylor and Venessa used to talk about the unborn twins). Taylor’s was a physician. She had a sister who also had CF. She didn’t have any other family available to adopt the girls. She When Taylor saw the Turek’s name she was impressed to reach out and contact them. An eternal friendship began. Vanessa shared with Taylor that if she was the Mom carrying these twins it would not matter that there was a chance of them having CF. She would still have the babies because she did not believe in abortion. Taylor asked Venessa many questions. She wanted to know what type of movies her girls would be allowed to watch; what TV shows they would be allowed to watch; would they be read to each night; what schools they would attend; would they have healthy meals; and what would their lives be like in the Turek family. Venessa shared that in their home they ate meals together; had family home evening every Monday night (she had to explain what that meant); they didn’t watch or read inappropriate things. When Taylor asked what church, they attended Venessa paused and said the LDS church. Taylor said she wasn’t familiar with that church and then Venessa paused again and said, “the Mormons.” Taylor was a little hesitant because what she had heard about Mormons. Taylor said that she already had an impression that the Turek’s should take the girls so she was moving past this concern. Vanessa talked with Taylor on several occasions and talked about family, the gospel and Jesus Christ. Venessa came to appreciate more and more the strength of this sweet Mom (Taylor) fighting for her life and wanting the best for her girls. Taylor had softened towards the church and was very interested in the gospel. Vanessa shared her testimony often. Taylor and Vanessa spent hours every day texting with each other. Taylor immediately stopped all of her pain medications the minute she found out that she was pregnant. She wanted the girl to have their best chance and didn't want them to suffer at all with withdrawals. She suffered herself instead. She had many nights where she couldn't sleep and many times where she was in complete physical agony. Vanessa tried her best to visit with her during those times. Tayor would tell Vanesa all of the funny and happy stories that everyone else already knew. Vanessa loved hearing about her wonderful marriage with Sean and her happy memories with her siblings especially her twin, Carrie who also had CF. The two of them dreamed about life with the girls. They talked about what open adoption would look like and they joked that in issues that really matter they were identical but when it came to extracurriculars not so much. Taylor is a tomboy that loves adventure. She snowboards, skateboards, etc. Vanessa didn’t do any of those things. The Turek family was so excited about having two girls coming to their home. They picked out names; had their bedroom decorated; and cute girl clothes and blankets all ready for their new additions. They even had ward members make blankets with the girls’ names on them. In May, Taylor really started getting much worse. There were a lot of prayers and fasting for her and the girls. The doctors knew it wouldn’t be much time before Taylor was going to die. They were doing their best to keep her alive so the girls would survive. Taylor told Venessa she was getting sicker and would need another lung transplant as her body was rejecting her lungs. There are medications to take that would slow the process down but she didn't want to put the babies at risk. She sacrificed herself again. Then her kidneys showed signs of failure making her no longer a candidate for a lung transplant. They talked about holding the girls and taking lots and lots of pictures together. Venessa wanted them to always know they were carefully planned for and that they were both on the same page. Two weeks before Taylor was scheduled to come see Venessa in Mississippi, she got very sick. She was unresponsive and she had to be taken to the Emergency Room. On June 15th Matt and Vanessa received a call from Carrie, Taylor’s sister. Matt took the call and softy said thanks for the information and call. Taylor and her girls had just died. We were devastated. A few days later Venessa spoke to Carrie. Carrie told Venessa repeatedly that Vanessa have been a light in their family. She told Venessa again that Taylor was happy and at peace after she finally decided to place the girls in otheir family. She said that as they have been at the hospital 24/7 watching Taylor deteriorate everyone took comfort that Taylor’s fight was almost over and that the Turek’s were going to be stepping up to bat to take care of these potentially sick girls. The Turek’s all had fallen in love and awe over Taylor and knew she was incredible. Vanessa’s Dad said, "Maybe Heavenly Father had to send her one of His best families to introduce her to the gospel and to give her the peace of mind that her girls would be raised and loved well. Then because He always has the best endings He loved her so much that He decided she should get to be with her husband and have her daughters on the other side as well." Venessa expressed that she knew Heavenly Father loves her, and He loves Taylor the same. Venessa also knows Heavenly Father is happy with her because she did all she could to love Taylor and her family. She also love the girls, Anna and Nora and dreamed of their future together. She closed by expressing how the work of salvation will continue beyond the veil where Taylor, Sean, Anna and Nora are now a happy family, all waiting for someone to do their work for them.
It was a great message.
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