A Fresh Start

You'll never guess where I am right now. I can't even believe it myself. I have my very own apartment that I am paying for all by myself. I've been working at a gelato shop since coming home and teaching dance in my home. I saved up every little penny so I could move out to Idaho and be on my own. I believe this is a very necessary part of my healing process. When I was living in the home I grew up in, I had fallen back into my old habits. I was staying up late watching t.v. only to sleep in late to get up to watch more t.v. Life had become this cycle of doing nothing to strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father. I didn't read my scriptures any more, hardly ever said a sincere prayer just to talk with Him. The time had come for something to be done. Since I will be starting classes at BYU-I in January, I came to the conclusion that it was time to move to Idaho and get a job and forge my own life. Essentially, it was time for a fresh start to save my relationship with my Father in Heaven.

And it was the best thing I could have done for myself. My roommate is amazing. She's been living here for several months already and she has brought the Spirit into this little apartment so wonderfully. She has pictures of Jesus Christ everywhere and pictures of the temple. She's always talking about gospel topics and expressing her love for the restored gospel. Every night we do apartment prayer and her scriptures are always nearby. It's been a great loving reminder, and whether she knows it or not, she's been the reason my relationship is already stronger. She is such a great example to me and I will forever be grateful for her.

I was reading last night in Tanner's Book of Mormon. {I'm reading a blue copy of the Book of Mormon with my little brother in mind and I'm marking things and writing inspirational quotes, anything that I think will help him on his mission} In 1 Nephi 16:10, Nephi's father Lehi discovers "a round ball of curious workmanship." This is the Liahona, given to the family to guide them to the Promised Land. Within the Liahona are two spindles, one which points the way "whither we should go into the wilderness." I wrote on a sticky note for Tanner this simple question: "What are the spindles that guide you through the wilderness?" Take a moment and answer that for yourself.

I know that God didn't just put us on this Earth to wander around clueless, just as He didn't send Nephi's family into the wilderness to perish. That's not the purpose of this Earth life and I am so grateful for that. Heavenly Father has given us plenty of tools to get back to Him. He has given us prophets, both ancient and modern, to guide and instruct us. As we read the Bible,the Book of Mormon, and modern scripture such as the Doctrine and Covenants and conference talks, we will have a better understanding of what Heavenly Father wants for us. We can also pray to bring our lives closer to His. Prayer is a communication tool. You're not just throwing words out into the wind. When you pray to your Father in Heaven, you're praying to someone who loves you more than you can comprehend. He knows the desires of your heart before you figure out how to vocalize them. If you have righteous desires, He will give them to you.

There are so many more things we've been given that can and do guide us in the wilderness and point us back to Him. We are not alone in this life.