The Esssentials, Linda Reeves

As a young mother, Linda Sheffield Reeves felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for four small children and the things she thought needed to be done — keeping the house clean, preparing meals on time, staying caught up on laundry. Her husband, too, felt burdened with balancing the demands of work, Church callings and home life. Together, they determined to fast, pray and go to the temple and ask the Lord what they needed to change.

Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Brother Melvyn K. Reeves and Sister Linda S. Reeves met in their ward in Pasadena, Calif., and have been married 38 years.

After weeks, even months, of petitioning the Lord, the answer became clear: They needed to make personal and family prayer, personal and family scripture study, consistent temple worship and weekly family home evening their first priority.
"I cannot quite say enough about the difference this made in our lives," she said. "Was our house always clean? Did the laundry and dishes get done in a timely manner? Sometimes, but the blessings of increased spiritual strength and testimony, love and kindness in our home and confidence before the Lord have been worth every effort."
The experience not only taught her to put the most important things first, but was yet another example of the faith she had developed in Heavenly Father.
"We knew the Lord would help," recalled Sister Reeves, who was sustained March 31 as second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.