Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

The other, a primary song:

When Christ was on the earth,

He promised he would send

The Holy Ghost to comfort us,

Our true, eternal friend.

Sometimes thorny ways get a bad rap… Mostly because of the image associated with it. I mean, who wants the prickly, pokey parts of life? However, over the past couple of years (and again this very week), as I have walked the thorny paths of life I have learned about friendship with our Savior and the Holy Ghost. 

It has been a pretty brutal month for me with full-time work and added full-time school. After 14-hour days of homework, 8-hour work shifts, and 5 tests, I failed in my objective. It was painful. Failure doesn’t feel cozy. It’s pretty prickly. 

However, looking back over my week, I can see the exact people placed in my path to help me endure the thorny path. The companionship on the thorny path is holy and sacred. Members of the Godhead are with you along the way. Often on the path, you also get to meet angels who are inspired by your Heavenly Friends to help too. 

As I was standing at work stressed out of my mind worrying about how I would finish everything, my friend walked up and asked how my progress was going. I expressed concern for meeting my deadlines and she immediately jumped into action. She found a way for herself and other coworkers to cover for me so I could go home and study. After  about 6 hours of homework, the umpteenth tear-filled breakdown occurred. It was 2 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Typically I would be at work, but since my coworkers sent me home, that’s where I was. Suddenly I heard a knock at the door — a neighbor had stopped by to drop off a slice of tres leches cake that she just thought I would enjoy. Another time, when I was stuck and frustrated on an accounting problem, an accountant brother called at just that moment to see how my coursework was going. Best of all, on Saturday the week before, the temple matron reached out to see if I might be willing to serve in the temple this weekend. She could not have known that I would fail in a big way only 12 hours before the assigned shift started. Through each of these moments, I came to know that God was in the details of my life and was meeting my needs through other people. 

Through the process, when I got stuck I would pause, look up at a picture of the Savior, or pray earnestly. My prayers changed and I became so honest and direct about how I was feeling. I felt the guidance of the Holy Ghost. 

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

After I found out the news of failure, I was blessed to receive a priesthood blessing almost immediately. The Spirit filled my heart with peace. As I drove home between Salt Lake and Provo, I had an experience with the Spirit that helped me once again to feel God’s love. 

To me, the thorny way has provided a closeness with the Godhead that I didn’t know I needed. I have come to know my Savior and His goodness. I believe in Christ. I believe He walks with us on the path. I believe the Spirit embraces us with warmth and comfort. I believe that Heavenly Father is in the details of our life and that He never leaves us to walk the path alone.

So instead of avoiding the thorny path, I invite you to — when you are going through struggles and trials — open your eyes and find out if you can see Them. They are there. 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

For any who have been following my story, you might recall that just one year ago, my life wasn’t looking so hot. At that time I was sick as a dog, falling out of the hospital bed with a team of doctors feverishly surrounding me trying to figure out what was going on. I was unable to even go to the bathroom by myself. Under those circumstances, I felt discouraged and ready to give up. It felt like there was no end in sight, and certainly no light at the end of the tunnel. 

Now looking back, I can see so many of the good things that I would have missed out on if I would have chosen to quit. So today I write to anyone who is having a hard time. Maybe you feel alone or frustrated, overwhelmed or afraid. Perhaps you feel that no one notices you or even cares. I plead with you to hold on. People always told me that it would get better… Well, a year later I’m here to tell you that it does get better. It doesn’t happen all at once. Life isn’t a picnic, I won’t lie to you, but life has good and beautiful parts that are awaiting juxtaposed with the darkness, sorrow, and opposition. 

Don’t get me wrong. My life isn’t perfect or easy, but I realized today that I am happy — or at least have happy moments. In those circumstances, that was an emotion that I thought I would ever be able to feel again. I feel moments of peace. I feel moments of joy. I have moments when I smile for no reason at all. I feel hope for the future. I feel loved. I feel remembered by God, my friends, and my family. I feel safe. 

For every tear of sorrow and sadness that I felt during that difficult time I have been blessed one hundred fold. My trials didn’t magically disappear and I still get to work on them every single day, but I can see growth. It is truly the best gift God could have possibly given me. 

More than anything, I wish I had a magic solution to share with everyone. Just do this and this and you will be happy again. Unfortunately, I don’t have that. However, I can wholeheartedly endorse refusing to quit. Simply don’t quit. You keep walking. There is hope and happiness ahead. As Elder Jefferey R. Holland said:

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

“Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as ‘hope for a better world.’ For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of ‘good things to come'” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” October 1999).

So today I want to add my witness that there are good things to come. There is respite. There is hope. There is healing. There is joy to be had. If you are in a hard spot, keep going! And if you are on the other end of a difficult trial, stop remember and look back to see how far you have come. 

Wherever you are, please don’t give up.

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

The building was all locked up with the exception of one entrance. Sunday School classrooms were closed. Ushers stood at the door greeting each member of the congregation. People were directed to sit at specific pieces of tape that were on the pews exactly 6 feet apart. During opening and closing hymns, music played over the organ so beautiful and sweet. Church members, however, were not to sing along in worship. We were to sit quietly and ponder. Prayers were not  given at the pulpit, but rather on a separate microphone that was sanitized by a man sitting on the front row. Even sacred ordinances were accomplished differently. 

There were some funny moments, too, as we can be a quirky bunch of folks. Although we were instructed not to sing, some members were belting the music at the top of their lungs. Even though the priesthood holders were careful to wear masks and gloves as they prepared the sacrament, they would randomly reach up and adjust that mask before breaking the bread. (Not to worry; this was quickly corrected and no one was harmed in the making of this meeting!) When directed to sit in a specific spot, some people still sat where they wanted. Some masks were Halloween-themed with skulls on them. It was comical, but it was clear that we were all a little out of our element and trying to make things work. 

Yet even with all the changes, what struck me as amazing was how deeply reverent and Spirit-filled the meeting seemed. Messages were varied depending on who spoke. The bishop taught about the ways the Lord, through His prophet, had prepared us for times as these. Another member expounded scripture and taught us from the lives of Book of Mormon prophets.  Going back to the simple elements of the gospel really helped me to focus on our purpose to worship and unite in faith. 

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

That purpose was illustrated well for me by one of the speakers. He shared the story of a man who had an ox pass away in the field. Seeking wisdom and counsel, he sought out the wise man of the village. In their discussion, the man vented about how this was the worst thing that could possibly happen and his farm would be lost. The wise man listened and said, “Maybe, maybe not.” The villager was frustrated and went home and was complaining to his family. Suddenly he looked out the window and saw a horse. He was able to capture the horse and his gardening went faster and more smoothly than it ever would have with an ox. He returned to the wise man and told him this was the best thing that could ever happen. Again the wise man said, “Maybe, maybe not.” The next day, the villager watched as his son fell off of the horse and broke his leg. Again, he was angry and thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen to him. A few days later, all of the able-bodied men were called to war except for the son who had broken his leg. 

The moral of the story is that sometimes we think in extremes. We feel that something is either the best or the worst thing that has ever happened. For me, I thought not going to church and the temple was that worst thing — but being there in that meeting feeling the Spirit, and really simplifying the gospel in my life and in my personal study, has turned out to be for the best. As I have taken time to be on temple grounds, I have found more peace than I can ever remember. God can make hard things great and great things hard, but with Him we can learn that all things are working together for our good. 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

Before this whole floor-cleaning thing had begun, I was determined to do it myself. I wouldn’t let another person clean up after me because that would be weird. However, a confident, determined, and calm man assured me that I shouldn’t block him from blessings. That sentiment really caused me to pause and think. 

Was I actually preventing others in my life from receiving blessings because I wasn’t willing to accept help? It was as though the Spirit slapped me across the face. Yes, I was being stubborn! Not just in that moment, but in several moments. Even when I really needed help over the past year, for a moment I could remember several times when I had completely denied people the chance to serve or be kind. 

This led me to think of times when I had with sincerity approached friends or family members to help them in some small way. Some had allowed me to do so and it had really made my day brighter. Others followed my own pattern of behavior and stood in the way of those moments. I can understand the latter better than I care to admit, but switching roles was eye-opening for me. 

I invite you to stop and take an inventory as well. When was the last time someone complimented or served you? How did you react? Did you say thank you? Did you brush off their comment and say something good about them? What about when someone did something nice for you like sending a gift or participating in an act of service? What was your response then? 

Then-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed this very topic in a Christmas devotional once. He talked about how good at receiving gifts children can be. They just eat them up and thank you so warmly and genuinely. He said:

“As we get older, however, our ability to receive gifts with the same enthusiasm and grace seems to diminish. Sometimes people even get to the point where they can’t receive a gift or, for that matter, even a compliment without embarrassment or feelings of indebtedness. They mistakenly think that the only acceptable way to respond to receiving a gift is by giving back something of even greater value. Others simply fail to see the significance of a gift—focusing only on its outward appearance or its value and ignoring the deep meaning it has to the sincere giver” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Good and Grateful Receiver,” December 2012 Christmas Devotional).

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

I believe that Elder Uchtorf is right: it does take grace to accept gifts, as well as remembering the focus of the giver. Since that moment, I have been trying to repent. There are times when I am better at it than others, but I have a renewed desire to receive compliments, gifts, etc. with more dignity and grace, and then to pay it forward in a different way on a different day either to that person or someone else. 

After all, Elder Uchtdorf further reminds us:

“Every gift that is offered to us—especially a gift that comes from the heart—is an opportunity to build or strengthen a bond of love. When we are good and grateful receivers, we open a door to deepen our relationship with the giver of the gift. But when we fail to appreciate or even reject a gift, we not only hurt those who extend themselves to us, but in some way we harm ourselves as well.” 

Don’t we want to live surrounded by others in a strengthened bond of love? Don’t we desire to have deeper relationships, and to help and bless others rather than to hurt or cause pain? I believe that as we practice receiving kindness with grace, we can have all of those gifts that Elder Uchtdorf mentioned. We can one day be the person scrubbing the floor with a smile on our face.

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

Spencer W. Kimball once said:

“You are building your life; . . . it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations” (Spencer W. Kimball, “The Davids and the Goliaths,” October 1974).

Sometimes with so much happening to us and so much negativity all around us, it is good to remember that we can choose our responses and our attitudes. There is much that we can control and do even when so much feels out of our hands.

In my own life there are a few things that really seem to help. First, choosing to focus on the good instead of the negativity in the world. Yes, there has been rioting and looting, but there have also been volunteers cleaning up the messes that they didn’t create. Yes, there are brutal actions being made by some law enforcement officers and citizens, but there are also policemen standing silently as they are taunted and having rocks thrown at their heads, and people standing up for truth and good. Many of us are now having open conversations with those of differing opinions on important topics.

One story that strengthened my faith in humanity came from a friend who ran out of flour during the pandemic. In need, she turned to her ward, posting on Facebook simply asking if anyone had some they could share. It took no time at all and quite suddenly she found herself in possession of ten pounds of flour. Going from lack to abundance so quickly was humbling. Soon she was posting asking people to stop sharing their flour.

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

Surely my friend was very thankful to a God who answered her prayers, and to the hands that helped it to happen. James E. Faust once said that a grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. The second way we can be more optimistic is by choosing to count the daily blessings in our lives. Recently I asked some friends what blessings they had received through the past few months. They mentioned the following: more time to spend with their family members, increased compassion for others around them, greater satisfaction in outdoor activity, getting to know neighbors, learning about family history, meeting extended family members, developing talents, etc. Personally, I have had many reasons to celebrate the past six months. I find myself in a solid relationship with a good man. I have lost 45 pounds since March. I am becoming healthier mentally, physically, and spiritually.

There is certainly a bunch of bad and hard happening all around us. Yet there is also a bunch of good. My invitation to all of us is to stop and notice the positive things in our lives by focusing on them and remaining thankful for what we do have. The world won’t change for good overnight, but our view of the world can be very different from day to day as we change our focus. Instead of focusing on the negativity, we can choose to see the good in humanity. We can choose to recognize quiet strength in others. We can choose to be thankful receivers as we notice blessings in our lives and the lives of others. We can choose to be optimistic even in 2020.

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

One by One, by Walter Rane

We live in such interesting times. Many of our daily routines are altered and changed. The tasks we are called to complete may be more or less enjoyable than our typical day to day. We may even have moments when we feel alone or disconnected. Amid all the changes, we do have one consistent thing upon which to rely: we have the Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel. 

What does it mean to have the Savior Jesus Christ? To me it means that we have an all-knowing, completely relatable and understanding best friend. We have someone to talk to no matter the time of day or night. We have a companion to laugh and cry with. We have someone to surprise us with good blessings. In short, it means we aren’t really alone in our isolation. 

Christ Himself had many moments alone. These were times when his circle of friends grew smaller. Surely there were moments when He looked around, like many of us, and found no one there. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained: 

“Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew’s words: ‘All the disciples [left] him, and fled.’ Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’s mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior’s life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey back to His Father continued without comfort or companionship” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were With Him,” April 2009).

Many of us are missing those who stand by us the most. We are missing the comfort of consistency. Jesus felt that as well. We read in Isaiah 63:5:

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

If you are thinking no one understands, I believe Christ really does get it! He has truly experienced all that we will ever feel or endure. He can be our rock to keep us free from fear during the storms of life. Even more amazing is that He experienced everything first so that we would know how to do it too. He also gave us the gospel path. 

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

What does it mean to have His gospel to rely on? To me it means that we have a map of how to proceed in life even when all of the road signs and markers are unclear. It means knowing what God expects of me. It means knowing how and where to serve. This knowledge means I have a purpose and focus for my life at all times even in uncertain times. 

Hosanna has a duel meaning. On the one had, it expressed praise and adoration. On the other, it acted as a cry for the Lord to save us and to do so now. Isn’t it so applicable that the Hosanna shout was given at a time when we need the Savior the most? We praise and we plead for guidance and love from our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

However, I had the thought, so I knew I needed to try to act. It seemed impossible. Social distance and go on a date seem to be two very different directives. How could I make them both work at the same time? Several years previously I had a roommate that drilled into my head “A date is a two-hour opportunity to get to know a child of God.” With that simple definition, I now had the idea to use technology. 

To say I was nervous to make the suggestion would be an understatement. I had no idea how it would be received. Think of it: “Oh hey, nice to meet you! We can’t really get together because many businesses are closed and even parks are off limits right now, plus I don’t allow strangers into my house… Let’s do a video call and see how this goes!”

The response was very positive and suddenly I found myself on video calls with several people. Others invited me to join them in an online board game while we would chat. It was amazing what could be accomplished. Real conversations with excellent questions started to form. I began to see some benefits of getting to know someone during this separation. 

Dallin H. Oaks taught:

“The best way to avoid divorce from an unfaithful, abusive, or unsupportive spouse is to avoid marriage to such a person. If you wish to marry well, inquire well.” (Emphasis added.)

With these new calls, I had the chance to ask questions both silly and deep. I could see their reactions and learn how they felt about things. Those that couldn’t carry on a conversation were easy to eliminate. I began taking time to figure out which questions gave me the most information. I had some excellent opportunity to get to know God’s sons. 

Since dating this way didn’t take a bunch of preparation on either of our parts, it became easy to have simple conversations and moments together on a regular basis. President Oaks further stated:

“Simple and more frequent dates allow both men and women to ‘shop around’ in a way that allows extensive evaluation of the prospects. The old-fashioned date was a wonderful way to get acquainted with a member of the opposite sex. It encouraged conversation.” 

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

Another benefit was the honesty of really seeing people in their true form. I could go on a date while wearing sweats, and I sometimes answered my video calls without wearing make up. We all got the chance to see what we would really be getting ourselves into. The interactions also allowed me to feel like I got to really know someone before I met them in person. The foundation felt more solid. 

Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying this is the wave of the future regarding dating. I am saying where the Lord commands, He also provides a way to accomplish all things — even dating. This story is still unfolding. I don’t know the ending yet, but I do know that God is certainly in the details of our lives. He answers our prayers and He gives us gentle nudges as we do our best to follow through on what He is asking us to do. 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

After the ordinance was complete, we went around in a circle and shared one positive thing we had learned that week during the crazy. My heart was touched as people shared their thoughts. One person spoke of how thankful they were for a living prophet and how their testimony was stronger than ever of that principle. Another talked about how technology had blessed lives and allowed work to progress. Someone else addressed the power of connection, the importance of ministering, etc. 

While everyone learned something different, it was evident to me that the Lord was speaking to each one of us. We were all a living witness to how we had each taken the chance to hear Him this week. The meeting was so spiritually uplifting and warming to the soul. Peace penetrated my heart. 

Later in the day, I tuned into a virtual meeting where my bishop and ward members beautifully testified more of the Lord’s love. They spoke of thoughts from Come, Follow Me and their testimonies of how the gospel blessed their lives. Once again, I felt the Spirit testify to me that these individuals had prepared and had heard the voice of God in their lives. 

President Nelson recently invited us all to hear the Lord’s voice and learn how God speaks to us. He said:

“My dear friends, today I wish to share with you a special invitation. There are a few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to ‘Hear Him!’

 

Today, this most-important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us.

 

In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him? #HearHim.”

To read more of Ashley’s articles, click here.

As I participated in a very home-centered church, I could see it. I could see it for myself, but also for others. It caused me to reflect more on the prophet Joseph Smith, who also had a home-centered gospel study. It was as he personally sought answers that he was lead to pray and had so many things opened to his mind. 

It increased my desire to really take advantage of this gospel study time for myself. Perhaps the Lord has given us so many obstacles so that we could all slow down a little and learn how He speaks to us.

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

At first, I didn’t believe anyone. How could I possibly have missed the earth shaking? I was walking through a warehouse with a dolly at the time, or maybe in an elevator. Was I just totally oblivious? I actually believed that people were making it up or playing a prank on me. That’s when my phone rang and my roommate called to see if I was okay because the house was shaking so badly. I guess that made it more real. For the rest of the day, everyone continued to update me as over a hundred aftershocks come through the Utah Valley. To be honest, I didn’t feel any of those either. 

Later in the day, I noticed lines of cars as the gas station. People were once again acting frantic and frazzled. It seemed that overnight, gas had become the new toilet paper. People had to have it and they had to have a ton of it right now. Patience didn’t seem to exist anymore and people seemed to be very on edge. What was the world coming to? 

As I sat reflecting on all of the world happenings, it hit me that these are the last days. We learn in Luke 21:11:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

In the past week we experienced minor versions of earthquakes and pestilences. (I believe the coronavirus falls into the “pestilences” category.)

Now don’t get me wrong — I don’t think that the end of the world is coming tomorrow. I do think that we have been taught and should be more prepared because the difficulties that lie ahead will be far greater than anything we have had to endure thus far. 

I love what Gordon B. Hinckley said just after September 11th:

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“Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all of the civilized world who look to Him. He has declared, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord’ (Ps. 33:12). Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God.”

In a lot of ways, we are experiencing those very things today and may be in this frenzied state for a while. However, we can trust that God is our Lord and He is looking out for us. In some ways, we can feel so peaceful that is almost as though we don’t notice how bad things are — we just continue with our lives focused on Christ. 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.

His sisters and I continued to try to correct him and sing more of the song to help him learn that it didn’t stop at the one phrase. However, he just kept confidently blurting out the same line over and over, and with such joy. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but the more I pondered it, the more it struck me. The Lord teaches us as much as we can learn. He teaches us line upon line until we gain confidence in one thing. Slowly, over time, we learn more and more, but just like the child, in the moment we are blissful with the portion we do know.

Furthermore, I found a second lesson: that there is value and beauty in just trying your best as you press forward. The fact that a four-year-old child was singing that song made it even more cute and beautiful that it wasn’t complete. How many moments in our lives do we hold back because we don’t have everything perfectly figured out? 

As I thought about it, I realized the number of times in just a few short days that the kids just jumped in and gave it their all in whatever way they could. If they didn’t know how to do something, they just tried the best they could. Drawing, baking, basketball — they just tried. They found joy in learning and getting better. When facing an obstacle, they just pressed on. 

For example, the 9-year-old girl had a vision of a pinwheel in her mind (a recipe a previous sitter had created). She talked about it and asked over and over if we could please create it. She couldn’t really remember anything beyond the fact that it tasted good, and a list of a few ingredients that she believed it contained. So we went to the store and purchased the ingredients. I was skeptical when she described the creation, but I helped her along and followed her instructions. We created some edible type of food. In my mind, it was messy, but in her mind, it was a masterpiece. She was so proud of herself for remembering all of the steps and putting things together in a way that it tasted just how she remembered. 

She overcame obstacles along the way. Her older sister kept telling her it wasn’t possible. “You don’t even know the recipe; why do you want to try?” We didn’t have everything at the house that she needed, so she asked if we could go and get it. She picked out each item with great thought and care. When everything was together, she jumped into action and worked with zeal towards her vision.  

What if we approached life as a child? What if the next time we had an obstacle or opportunity that was bigger than us, we jumped all in and did our best no matter the outcome? What would the results be? Would we teach a lesson with a one-sentence song, or create a new meal for our family? Even if it doesn’t turn out, what do we have to lose in the process? 

Line upon line, we get to grow and create our lives. We aren’t in it alone. There are people who cross our paths for a short time and family who are around a little longer — and most importantly, Heavenly Father really is here watching over us and cheering us on as we learn, grow and progress. I believe He assists us all along the way. It is up to us, for as Patricia Holland said, “We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection.” 

Ashley Dewey

Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.

Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn’t feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.

Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.