Your Happily Ever After

My thoughts on President Uchtdorf's talk "Your Happily Ever After"

I read this long ago and thought I had marked up my copy, but I didn't so I have had to reread it. Darn! ~smile~

"Trial is part of the journey"
If there wasn't more truthful words written!
I remember listening to a documentary on how they made steel and he said something like this. "Steel is a mixture of elements and molecules that don't show their true character and strength until put under pressure. You don't know how strong they are until they are put to work." I've always thought about that in relationship to me and my character.

Another thought that comes from reading about Cinderella, etc all having trials is that any story needs to have a conflict that the hero (or heroine) needs to go through and come out the other end. Of course fairy tales all have it wrapped up in a pretty pink bow at the end, but EACH STORY has some sort of trial. We are NOT going to get through this life without a trial--NO WAY!

"In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

My life lately has been an example of just this. I know joy because I have known sorrow. I have learned so much as I have walked through the trials of the last few years.

"My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength."

As parents we wish to make a smooth path for our children, but they won't learn if we do. But that doesn't prevent us from coaching, guiding and helping from the "sidelines".

"It is our reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how our life's story will develop."

My mom use to say, "it is what it is." We can't change it, but we can change our reaction to it.

"Let me repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in whether or not you arrive at your own 'happily ever after.'"

No life is free from adversity!!

"Stay true to what you know is right"
"God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way."

I hope my children read, hear and live this. I know that some are not listening to us (we don't know anything and today is SOOOOO DIFFERENT than when we were teens) so I can only hope they are listening to the Spirit and listening to Heavenly Father.

But President Uchtdorf understand some of our plight:
"Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life. "

and gives us hope:
"I promise you that future generations will be grateful for you and praise your name for your courage and faithfulness during this crucial time of your life."