Share with us the SWEET ASSURANCE you have experienced because you know life's truths. Submit your story along with a picture of yourself, and our team will select submissions each month to feature. We look forward to hearing from you!

By Helayna Goulding, read at the St. George event

I have sweet assurance because I know with the help of the Lord I can do hard things. This year I wanted to do commit to an action that would stretch me, something extraordinary and worthwhile. As I began to think out of the box, I decided I would look to my ancestors for enlightenment. I started reading family histories about amazing women and I found many examples of unbelievable strength and commitment.

As I read, I found a general thread that connected these women: they saw the need to roll up their sleeves and commit to family and God. They were both physically and mentally strong. I decided I would invite my daughters on a 100-mile bike ride. At 59 years old riding 100 miles is not easily done without some training. Many mornings I rebelled, but always heard my husband’s voice encouraging me with a promise. He would say, “Sally, I promise you that the final ride is only the completion of the goal, but the blessings of training with your daughters will be the crowning glory.” He promised I would be able to bond with them and be a greater part of their lives. So, I sent out an invitation informing them of the date, the course and the incentives. To my pleasant surprise I received resounding approval. Each found creative ways of coming up with money for their bikes. We started our weekly rides. Our husbands and family supported us. We were up before light ready to conquer the world and home before the children were ready for breakfast. We called and encouraged family that lived out of state to keep riding. We laughed and cried we prayed and dreamed of the day we would take our 100-mile journey.

One hundred miles is not a great distance if you are alone to ride, but when I consider the support system necessary to allow 6 mothers with 24 children the time to ride it gives me just a glimpse into the divine calling of Brigham Young when he directed the Saints on their trek across this vast nation to the mountains of Utah. We called upon our husbands, mother-in laws, fathers and children to help us make our dream a reality.

The girls gathered from Georgia, Arizona, and Utah. Then the night before our ride we watched the lighting and heard the loud report of thunder as the rain fell in buckets outside. I knew we could ride in rain, but the lighting put fear in me that our bike ride might not come to pass. We awoke to gentle rain and clouds laden with darkness. As we loaded into the vehicles to drive to Bryce Canyon, the mood was hushed, as everyone anticipated the reality of a cold, rainy ride. However, upon arriving and unloading the bikes the rain stopped and the excitement built. After a few last adjustments, we were on the road.

The weather was beautiful, cool, and cloudy, a perfect day to ride. We experienced the majesty of God’s creation as we rode down one of Utah’s beautiful by-ways. We raced with two antelope, saw an eagle soaring, felt the cool misty air and visited our family cemetery. When we were tired, we just kept pedaling! Just like women before us, we kept moving forward when it became difficult.

As I rode and watched my young daughters, I thought how our lives parallel with those that have gone before us. They just keep pedaling, having a sure knowledge of their purpose. They are willing do whatever it takes.

The definition for the word coast means to glide, cruise, or drift, but I can bear witness that we didn’t experience much of that on the trip. Just like life, most of it is uphill with an occasional breather just enough to relax before digging in again for the long haul.

I learned much about myself from this trip, and I have sweet assurance that the Lord will support us during the difficult times of our lives and with his support we can be a part of something extraordinary, something amazing, and something worthwhile.