I’ve Been That Duck

Sometimes God teaches us through the most unexpected experiences.

For me, one of those lessons came from a duck.

Not just any duck—but a Common Goldeneye. Before that day, I didn’t even know what a goldeneye duck was. I don’t remember ever seeing one before. Yet that small, seemingly insignificant bird became one of the most memorable reminders I’ve ever received of God’s love and the infinite power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

An Unexpected Lesson at Pyramid Lake

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is taking my sons to Pyramid Lake in Nevada for our annual fishing trip. The lake is famous for its Lahontan cutthroat trout, and every year we look forward to spending a few days together on its beautiful shoreline.

On our second morning, we woke well before sunrise to claim a good fishing spot.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had different plans.

The wind roared across the lake, turning the water into crashing waves. After about an hour of casting into the wind without much success, we decided to move. We drove a few miles to another location, hoping the conditions would be better.

The wind had calmed somewhat, but the fishing still wasn’t promising. We packed up again and prepared to leave.

That’s when we noticed something unusual in the water.

A duck.

At first, it looked injured. It was swimming awkwardly, flapping its wings, and struggling to move.

My son waded out toward it. The duck tried desperately to escape, but suddenly stopped, as though something invisible had grabbed hold of it.

When my son gently picked it up, we discovered why.

A one-ounce fishing lure with a large treble hook was embedded in its foot. Fishing line was wrapped tightly around its body and neck, and the other end was snagged on a tumbleweed along the shore.

Every time the duck struggled, the line only tightened.

There was no possible way it could free itself.

Without help from someone stronger than itself, it wasn’t going to survive.

I’ve Been That Duck

Standing there on the shoreline, I couldn’t stop thinking:

I’ve been that duck.

More times than I can count.

There have been seasons in my life when no amount of determination, effort, or willpower could resolve the situation I faced.

I remember moving during my junior year of high school. Everything familiar disappeared overnight, and I felt completely out of place.

I remember the heartbreaking loss of our son.

During those dark days, people ministered to our family in countless ways. They brought meals, watched our children, offered priesthood blessings, and simply mourned with us.

One morning, I walked outside to feed our dog and discovered he wasn’t in the yard. A neighbor came over and explained that they had taken him home so we wouldn’t have one more responsibility to worry about. They told us we could come get him whenever we felt ready.

It was such a small act.

But in that moment, it meant everything.

When I had nothing left to give, God saw us—and He sent help.

I remember being a poor college student, wondering how we were going to pay our bills. Without asking anyone, anonymous financial help arrived at exactly the right time.

Again, God saw us.

I remember when our car broke down in the mountains of Tennessee, miles from the nearest town with no cell service.

We were stranded.

Then, complete strangers stopped to help.

One of them even loaned us his own vehicle so we could find assistance.

He didn’t know us.

He didn’t owe us anything.

Yet once again, God saw us—and He sent help.

God Never Loses Sight of His Children

Jesus taught:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?… Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6–7)

If God remembers the sparrows, He remembers us.

If He noticed one duck tangled in fishing line on the shore of Pyramid Lake, He certainly notices us when we feel trapped, overwhelmed, or unable to rescue ourselves.

That truth is beautifully illustrated in two different stories found in the scriptures.

Sometimes We’re Like Alma the Younger

There are times when we become trapped because of our own choices.

Alma the Younger understood that kind of bondage.

Though raised by faithful parents, he rebelled against God and led many others away from Christ.

Eventually, he found himself overwhelmed by the consequences of his sins.

He described being “racked with eternal torment” and “harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins” (Alma 36:12–13).

Nothing he could do would erase his guilt.

Then, in the depths of despair, he remembered something his father had taught him about Jesus Christ.

“O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.” (Alma 36:18)

Everything changed.

He later testified:

“I could remember my pains no more… yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.” (Alma 36:19)

Alma couldn’t save himself.

Only Jesus Christ could.

Sometimes We’re Like the Traveler to Jericho

Not every painful experience is the result of sin.

Sometimes suffering comes through no fault of our own.

Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

A traveler was attacked by thieves, beaten, robbed, and left half dead on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho.

He wasn’t suffering because of rebellion.

He hadn’t chosen to be attacked.

He was simply wounded.

Unable to move, he waited for someone to help.

Several people passed by.

None stopped.

Then the Samaritan arrived.

Jesus tells us:

“When he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds…” (Luke 10:33–34)

The Samaritan didn’t wait for the injured man to stand on his own.

He came to where he was.

He lifted him.

He carried him.

He paid the full price for his recovery.

In many ways, the Good Samaritan is a beautiful type of Jesus Christ.

When life leaves us wounded by grief, illness, betrayal, trauma, or loss, the Savior comes to us.

He meets us where we are.

He doesn’t wait for us to heal ourselves first.

Christ Still Sends Help

There are moments when all of us become that duck.

Maybe we’re tangled by sin.

Maybe by addiction.

Maybe by grief.

Maybe by depression.

Maybe by shame.

Maybe by circumstances completely beyond our control.

Satan wants us to believe that because we’re struggling, we’re beyond repair.

But the Lord declares:

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10)

God has not forgotten you.

Just as He sent help to that duck…

Just as He sent an angel to Alma…

Just as He sent neighbors, strangers, friends, and quiet miracles into my life…

He sends help to us.

Sometimes that help comes through family.

Sometimes through priesthood blessings.

Sometimes through inspired friends.

Sometimes through promptings of the Holy Ghost.

But every act of rescue ultimately comes because of Jesus Christ.

The Duck Flew Away

Back on the shoreline, we gently turned the duck upside down to calm it.

We carefully cut the fishing line from around its neck and body.

Then we removed the treble hook from its foot.

Finally, we placed it back on the water.

It didn’t hesitate.

It immediately swam away—free, alive, and unburdened.

I’ve never forgotten watching it disappear across the lake.

That image has stayed with me because it reminds me of what the Savior offers every one of us.

Freedom.

Healing.

Forgiveness.

Hope.

Jesus Christ has already paid the price.

His hand is already outstretched.

He stands ready to lift us when we can no longer lift ourselves.

The Lord promises:

“He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)

And He rejoices over every soul who returns to Him (see Doctrine and Covenants 18:13).

If God cared enough to rescue one duck tangled in fishing line on the shore of Pyramid Lake, how much more does He care about you?

He sees you.

He knows your burdens.

He understands your wounds.

And through His Son, Jesus Christ, He offers healing, hope, and the promise that no one is ever beyond His reach.