Corinne Barney - Valley View Ward - Nauvoo Histosric Sites Mission

My husband and I had been married 40 years and were living in Oklahoma City when he passed away.
The stress and sadness of that caused me to suffer from adrenal fatigue. The fatigue was so severe that I
had to quit my job and I could do very little. For hours at a time, I felt like I was paralyzed and felt like I
didn’t have enough energy to move a finger. I slowly recovered over a period of more than two years. It
was such a time of grief and isolation since I didn’t have enough energy to leave the house very much.
As I gained energy, I started working one and then two days a week as an ordinance worker in the
Oklahoma City Temple. That was such a blessing. After four years I desired to serve a mission, and I was
called to the California Los Angeles Mission. I was so excited, yet frightened at the idea of living in Los
Angeles!
My mission felt like a perfect fit for me. I loved living next to the beautiful Los Angeles Temple, working in the Family History Library, teaching English as a second language to the young foreign missionaries, and playing the organ for a Spanish Ward. Living in Los Angeles was wonderful (perfect climate, exotic tropical plants), yet challenging (traffic, sirens, endless city) compared to Oklahoma. When I went home, I was so happy to experience the peacefulness and quietness.  Shortly after my mission I wanted to remarry, so I tried online dating and found Frank Barney. I sent him a message reluctantly, because he lived in Los Angeles, but we felt an immediate connection, and I knew
from the very beginning that he was the right man for me. I didn’t want to move away from my home,
but it seems that Heavenly Father had prepared me to live in Los Angeles. We served one week a month
in the LA Temple until Covid-19 closed the temple. That was exactly where I had lived, and I knew
people there, and was familiar with the stores and neighborhood. That was very comforting.
Frank and I have desired to serve a mission together from the time that we met. We have been called to
the Nauvoo Historic Sites Mission and could not be more excited. We also feel humble to have the great
responsibility of feeling the Spirit to meet the needs and expectations of each visitor.
I have a testimony of the restored Gospel, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that we are led
by a prophet today, President Russell M Nelson. I am so thankful for our savior, Jesus Christ and His
atoning sacrifice. I know that he loves each of us with a perfect love. I am so thankful that Heavenly
Father has directed my life to once again have a companion, and to have such a full life, and for the
opportunity to serve another mission.