I must admit that I am an avid reader. So much so that I have on more than one occasion been called a bookworm. When I was a child, (when I first started really reading) one of my favorite book series was Choose Your Own Adventure. In these books, there were many moments of decision. The reader would have to make a choice of action, which would send him/her to a designated page to continue the story. Each choice made had a drastic effect to the outcome of the adventure story.
Like these children’s adventure books, we all have moments of decision in our lives. In these moments the choices we make have a drastic effect on the outcome to our own life story.
Some of these important choices we can make while we are young so that when the moment of decision comes, the choice is already made.
Some of these decisions include:
- What moral standards will I live by?
- Whom will I serve? (The Lord)
- Where will I marry? (The Temple)
- What habits do I want to break and/or establish?
However, other important choices must be made right then in the years of young single adulthood, like:
- What education should I gain to provide for my future?
- Whom should I date?
- Whom should I marry?
Knowing the importance and impact these choices will have in our lives, some young adults try to avoid making them, but that in itself is a choice.
“Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us from making a choice that involves change. Thus, an opportunity may be missed. As someone once said, “When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that in itself is a choice.” – Choices, President James E. Faust, Liahona, May 2004
Yet, our Father in Heaven tells us that we have no need to fear. He has given us the tools necessary to be able to make the right choices with confidence, and peace. What tools are we given?
First, He has given us the great example of His Son Jesus Christ. By looking at the Savior’s life and following His example, we can know the sort of life to live. When we know the general sort of life we should live to receive happiness, we definitely know what sort of choices we should make to keep in line with that sort of life.
Second, we have the Holy Scriptures and a Living Prophet who are given to us that we may receive guidance and direction in every aspect of our lives.
Third, we have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost to be our companion to guide and direct us in our lives. When we are in tune and obedient to His still small voice, we never have to fear making the wrong choices.
Now, sometimes we do make mistakes. The Lord knew we would. That is why He sent His Only Begotten Son to bring about the Atonement. Alma explained this in the Book of Mormon when he taught:
“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.” Alma 7:11-13
In knowing all this, let us take new courage in facing these most important choices in our lives by applying all the tools that God has given us to ensure our happiness and eternal joy.
