Church News Jill McAuley discusses finding purpose and identity in faith beyond ability
Jan 20, 2026
Jill McAuley, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, transformed her life after becoming a quadriplegic at 18. She shares her journey of rediscovering her identity as a child of God, finding purpose in her struggles, and experiencing spiritual freedom through grace. Jill discusses the importance of service, both given and received, and how trials have helped her grow. She reflects on embracing peacemaking and forming a deeper relationship with Christ, revealing how her scars contribute to her sacred identity.
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Meeting That Led To Being Shared Publicly
- Jill McAuley wrote a personal letter to Sister Kristen M. Yee after meeting her at a conference and later had her story shared at BYU Education Week.
- The experience made Jill feel seen by God and affirmed that the Lord can use ordinary people to bless others.
Identity Beyond Physical Change
- After her accident, Jill initially felt like a stranger when she looked in the mirror and asked, 'Who am I?'.
- The Spirit taught her that her primary identity is a child of God, which became the foundation for rebuilding her life.
Ask 'Why Me?' With Intent To Learn
- When asking 'Why me?' change the intent to seek God's answer and act on it to transform the question into purpose.
- Do trust that God allows personalized trials to build spiritual capacity and then actively seek the purpose through prayer and study.
