Finding the Good...

I came from a low point. Through a series of events that are still going on, I’ve managed to uncover things that I love to keep me going. I’m a 16-year-old writer, journalist, and secret-keeper. I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its full truth. I love Jane Austen, classical music, and comedy. I have a goal to search for things that help me grow, and right now, I’m on a journey to find the good in my life, all for the purpose of being irrevocably happy.

Inspiration

Today, my Laurel advisor, a very sweet British lady named Sister Dozey, gave a lesson about feeling the Holy Ghost. I woke up late today, missed out on sacrament meeting, and my day was lacking spiritually. I felt overwhelmed by sleep since last night was the dance and I had stayed out late with my group.

I wore my creme dress and a black cardigan. Unfortunately, my hair was a disaster from the night before, but a messy, curly ponytail did justice to the brief amount of sleep I received. I felt far from pretty, definitely. As I sat against the wall, a brief strand of sunlight searing through the iced windows, I felt comfort again. I forgot that I was tired, and it never crossed my mind from that point that I looked unwell. I situated myself patiently and waited for the lesson.

Sister Dozey told a story that I feel comfort in sharing…she told about how when she was fourteen years old, she began to wonder how God felt about her. She wanted to know if she was of any worth. She didn’t feel like anybody loved her, and wanted that spiritual confirmation that she was important.

For months, she prayed fervently. Each day and each night, she was on her knees in soulful prayer, asking God if He could send her His love. Months into her prayers, she woke one night around 2:45 in the morning and sat upright in bed, fully awake. It surprised her about how she was so attentive when normally she should be so sleepy.

Suddenly, in words that echoed through her room clearly and loudly like a bell, she heard the voice of the Lord say to her, “You are of infinite worth.”

Calm. That is what she felt. Calm, comfort, peace, love, emotion…she recalled leaning against her bed at that moment, unable to sleep, soaking in the love that she felt. She told us that there was nothing greater than that, and it changed her life forever. That Spiritual confirmation overwhelmed her, and still does to this day.

How strongly I felt the Spirit then, it is hard to say. My arms were tingling. I knew, like I said, in my heart that every word she spoke was complete truth. It a lovely, perfect happiness that overcame me.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

Pray. Pray daily, pray nightly. If you do not know how to pray, then I must tell you: there is so right way to pray, not when you don’t know. You should take a moment by yourself, close your eyes, and talk to the Lord. After your prayer is done, wait patiently. Just because you do not hear the voice of the Lord does not mean he’s with you—he is with you, pay attention. I promise that you will be comforted.