Learn to Choose

Let me tell you a story. It may or may not involve dogs. Again. My companion, Sister Maneha, and I were driving down this road to try and find someone. We didn't really know where we were going. We had the address to the house, but were so confused as to which house it actually was. We saw a little driveway, so we decided to turn down it, because that was definitely going to help us find our way. Well, two dogs came running towards the car. We didn't know what to do. It gets better. One of them, a big black lab, jumped up and put his paws on the driver's side window. That's where I was. It terrified me. This isn't all. They both started running around the car. I tried to slowly back up, but I didn't want to run them over. We were stuck. Eventually, the owner came outside. I rolled down the window and said sorry. He asked if we were lost. I don't know how he could tell. He told us that we were on a private lane and asked who we were looking for. Well, turns out, he was the one we were looking for!

artwork by Greg Olsen

I bring this story up, because this is how life can be at times. We don't always know where our life is heading or where to go. Because we have the freedom to choose, we might take a wrong turn, and find ourselves not knowing what to do. Things that we shouldn't be surrounded by, make there way over and it can be hard to escape. The important thing to remember is that we have help. We have the example of those around us. We have the scriptures and prophets to lead and guide us. The greatest example we have is Jesus Christ. He can help us escape from these wrong turns we make in life. In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Lehi tells of this, "Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^call things are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27). We don't have to be held captive. We can choose to follow Jesus Christ. And even though we may still turn off the path, we can always make our way back. He is waiting for us, with open arms. He loves us and wants us to return to Him. He wants us to be happy, to have liberty and eternal life. We just need to choose to follow Him. He will lead us to where we need to be.

Thanks for reading. Until next time...