November 14, 2010

Today I finished reading the rest of the Conference Ensign from May, earlier this year. There were about three or four talks that I read, and my favorite, by far, was President Uchtdorf's talk from the Young Women's meeting called Your Happily Ever After. He related life and the plan of salvation to the common fairy tale stories of "once upon a time" that are so familiar in our culture. I love the plan because of all that it offers. I have always had the sense that I can have a "happily ever after" ending by following the plan and being obedient. He pointed out that the hero or heroine in every story always has some sort of adversity they have to endure and overcome before they can reach their happily ever after, and so it is with us on this life's journey. In fact, "adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way." We are allowed to experience "challenges, and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy." That's how it's done, and that's why I am so grateful for adversity... because by going through it, it enables me to grow, develop, recognize, and experience true joy on the other end. I really loved his reminders of our precious divinity throughout this talk. I felt loved and treasured, prized, as I read. I am absolutely committed to "following [my] Heavenly Father's map" because I am hoping and dreaming for my own happily ever after. I love this statement: "You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your 'once upon a time' is now." What a fantastic talk. It really is one of my, if not the number one, all time favorites! I am so thankful to know of my divine worth and the reward of eternal life that is laid out for me if I but choose to follow the path that leads to it. That's where you'll always be able to find me, is somewhere on that road to eternal life, to my mansion in my Father's kingdom.