Elizabeth Smart speaking at the Why Forgiveness Event with Hasani Pettiford and Mark Goodman as the other speakers. Held on 11/30/17 at North Point Community Church.
Super Sonico I do too! You have a beautiful sweet voice Elizabeth! Nobody really likes their voice I think because it doesn’t sound like they think it does.
Her voice is soothing and calming. Her story is so beautiful. I am so Happy for her that she didn’t allow her past traumas affect her present life and future plans. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
Rape does not take one’s virginity or one’s chastity. Rape is not consensual sex, it is an act of assault and battery and violence. What is also criminal is it taking 8 years for the court case to be heard.
None of this was Elizabeth's fault, she was the victim of this crime. She is a strong woman and she has helped other victims who were in the same situation as she was.
Being fooling and victim by evil men never be their fault. To those used to blame in every victim are evil and part of a fake religion and fake doctrine
this is so involved she got me into my hopefull pink socks any other words could u give me living thru something similar? a pink hat was with the socks
the anguish & heart stopping story of Elisabeth Smart. I am so saddened by the entire story,- but extra sad, later the smart family split up,- and Edd went away to live his life in his own seperate ways. Wonderful Elisabeth has a lovely little family of her own,- and she looks truly happy in her family photographs,- it's a miracle she survived the cult like capture , and is now ready to move forward with her new found hope and happiness. The moral to this story is ensure you secure you're homes well ,- don't forget the CCTV cameras, and not all immanuels are Jesus ,- but I can't help but think of the indoctrination of young Christian minds to believe that a man claiming to be a servant of God could profoundly stun a well brought up Christian girl and her to believe she was a special remnant of God's promise to his people. She was truely believing her name was shear ja.( Shearja+ excuse spelling) ( A boy's name in scripture I think) I can only imagine with horror what else she was led to believe true or false,- a courageous woman.
That takes courage, for Elizabeth to stand in front of millions of viewers and say how she feels. A brave young woman who survived that man and the horrible things he did. May God continue to heal you and your heart as you continue with your life....⚘💕👱♀️💕⚘
Biblically, she is not an angel. Angels are beings created by God as angels. No person becomes an angel. It is God who kept her during her captivity. Harp playing is also not an indication of being an angel.
What a wonderful public speaker....so articulate and gentle with her inflections...she is amazing in her recovery. More than that she is doing so much good for others through her experience.
The immense amount of love I have for Elizabeth is unparalleled, what a strong and resilient woman! I am elated she got the happy ending she deserves and I can't wait to see where the rest of her life takes her.
Elizabeth, you are so very Brave and well spoken... To Forgive gives you Freedom you so desrve! Your name is perfect bc you Are Smart! God Bless You 🙏xxx🌹xxx
I want to stop letting my trauma hold me back, too. I've had to fight for so many years to manage it with the help of only my fiancee and I've had to fight to be heard. I hope to one day be heard and receive some kind of justice, but in the mean time, I want to be happy. I know it won't affect my abuser whether or not I do, but I know it will affect me and my family positively if I can just try to get through it all.
I’m so sorry for what you went through and what you continue to go through. You are strong because you are still here and I am so proud of you. I hope you get justice, but more importantly I hope you are able to heal and be happy. Sending you love 💕
How enormous your heart must be to be grateful that your abuse wasn’t so bad because other people have it worse. What a compassionate gem of an angel she is.
A sweet, brave and courageous young woman. I hope she knows just how much of a positive influence she truly is in our world. Beautiful girl. She looks just like her father Ed 👍🏼🌸
What I appreciate most about her is the fact that she does not pretend that “faith in God” or “prayer” etc... just made everything ok and healed her and therefore that’s all any other victim/survivor needs in order to move on and have a full life etc... (And I don’t mean to say that in any way as a dig against faith, prayer etc...) but She has just always recognized that she was only able to heal and reclaim her childhood and her life in such a full and profound way because she is one of the lucky people in this world who had and always has had an enormous support system, including a loving and stable and unconditionally loyal and supportive family to help her through and who had the ability and resources to find and provide her with the outside support she needed as well. Not only did she recognize that she had that vital support and those vital resources but, because she is such a compassionate and empathic human being, she has always been equally aware that she was so very fortunate to have had those things when so many victims/survivors simply do not, and thus will never have the opportunity/ability to heal, recover and reclaim life as fully and as powerfully as she has been able to and continues to do. Therefore, being such a compassionate caring person, and recognizing and knowing all of that, she decided to become a warrior, a champion, an advocate, and an activist to fight for and create support, resources, and support for those who may not already have it and may not have the access or ability to seek it, so that they may have a chance to heal and thrive as she has. She truly walks the walk! When she got to the peak of the mountain after clawing her way from the bottom she knew it was her duty to turn around, reach back, and extend her hand to those behind her, knowing that she would have never been able to stand where she is without the hands that were available and in reach during the times when she needed them. So, to me, she is the definition of CHARACTER!
I always hated the topic of forgiving a bad person doing something bad to me. And the thing really is that you need to forgive yourself, not your perpetrator. It sounds so unnatural but people do hold on to anger to themselves. You need to forgive yourself and understand that sometimes bad things do happen.
Seems like it's a misuse of the word forgive. From the usage I think what is being described is more like acceptance. I don't think she truly means she forgives them. There is a difference. Now forgiving yourself...yes that makes a whole lot of sense. Because so many do hold themselves responsible on some level when they really shouldn't. It isn't anything they did. It was something that was done to them. But that doesn't mean in order to forgive yourself you also have to forgive them. And you also don't have to forgive them in order to process and accept what happened and decide not to let it define your life or how you feel about yourself.
An observation: Why forgiveness? Event Forgiveness is an answer to a question. Forgiveness is also an ongoing attitude and practice. Well done! Elizabeth.
Such a STRONG,. INCREDIBLE, WONDERFUL, women, human being!! So glad she is doing well, ok, and able to carry on with her life, HELPING other survivors!!!!
she is so courageous! what a beautiful human being; strong soul n sound mind! she chooses with her free will as a mature adult powerful woman to offer her survival and beyond into her thriving, in order also that it may serve some meaningful purposeful valuable transcendent helpful healing greater good. she is amazing. i m in awe of her. i don't know how she does it!? (sigh) bless her n her's!!!! all the best for the intelligent, lovely lady. i find her last name very symbolically poetic as a double entendre crux; upon the **smart** of her wounding, in order to heal; she felt what trauma she was dealt and then yet she chose to not wind up consequently stuck in the suck of the muck n the yuck; n she saw it fit to allow her rising star to shine free.... for herself, of course, and so importantly, and also for all to perceive with eyes to see; as she is a living beneficial model example; she chose to live up to n honor her true name; elizabeth ****smart;**** indeed. wellness wishes n infinite blessings!!!! thank u e.s.!! bravo hero+essa!! **
This has to be THE BEST speech she’s ever spoken. It’s amazing how I can only try to imaging what’s she describing, can’t imagine how it was actually to her... poor Elizabeth girl, now a woman.
She is bless with her family and friends and husband and children. I’m so happy she alive now god bless you.She has very strong soul.🥰😇😍🙏she a survivor. I love this important,inspiring video.💖
Wow!! Is all I can say! What a strong, amazing woman! I'm gonna listen to this again, cause man, I've really learned so much! Gave me soooo much to think about! ❤
She is so inspirational. I absolutely adore her hunor through this as it is my coping skill as well. Her mix of humor and inspiration is truly a grace to this world. 💛
Hearing her story in full from her perspective is powerful. knowing that she went through all of these traumatic things and still coming out alive just goes to show how you can over come things. Even when it seems impossible there’s always that light at the end of the tunnel. I personally am atheist but I love to here other peoples religions and how much faith they have in something. Going through all that I know I would turn away from faith cause how could you not? I’m sorry I’m rambling but at the end she is probably one of the most strongest humans I’ve ever seen genuinely.
She's amazing! I don't think I could b that 4giving. Wanda Barzee is out of prison. I think I would've come after her with my own justice. Thank u Ms. Smart 4 showing 4giveness is possible!
You are so amazing person Elizabeth! You set such a good example for everyone, by being so thankful and remissive. Stay strong and full of love! God bless you
This woman is such an inspiration to so many people. In such a miracle; definitely a blessing that she got free, stayed alive and as we can see stayed sane! Now, this is not to be disrespectful in any way, but one of my favorite lines from ANY movie of all time was "triggered" when she speaks about what she speaks about out about the 36:50 mark. All you have to do is probably Yoougle "It could be worse, it could be raining Young Frankenstein" (maybe without the quotations) and you'll probably find the scene that I often quote when I want to say "it could be worse…"
Your a strong person,your speaking about the incident with crying ,or eye water,Elizabeth your a blessed child ,and I can see u stay positive at peace and ,smiling ,praying gods continue healing you inside and outside ,,praying god may make his face to shine upon you.
It’s horrible but this was meant to happen to her so she could come out of it like she has and help so many other victims. Not only victims but anyone who listens to her speeches. You decide how you will deal with bad in your life. Thank you Elizabeth! You are an inspiration and a hero! God Bless You!
I wish forgiveness was as easy as she says, but when you have PTSD that's near impossible because the traumatic events keep you from being happy by haunting you...
I am so glad Elizabeth was rescued from the clutches of those religious demonic half-humans. That she came out on the other side so beautiful, wise and victorious Elizabeth - your name means: CONSECRATED TO GOD He is truly using you to knock out religious concepts that God did not establish Well done!!
I've been studying the Book of Joshua and the help that Rahab gave the spies. A harlot, a white, she was looked down upon by soo many. But God saw her. As I have learned, no matter what someone's past(mine included) God can and will use it to further His Kingdom
