Which One?

            Have you found yourself wondering, trying to figure out how to make the best choice? It's insane, isn't it? But I always think that God has given us agency, the ability to choose for ourselves, not just to make a choice but to learn from it most importantly. 

            Previously, I'd been thinking of things to consider in making a choice. I'd been stressing myself out. My mind was preoccupied and could hardly hear the still small voice. I thought to myself, "Making a choice is not hard, but why can't I decide? I paused for a while. A clear thought enlightened me when it refreshed my mind with these words, "what makes a decision-making hard is to actually stand for it, for what you know is right." While pondering about this, I came across a talk from President Thomas S. Monson where he said, "Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny".. truly it is! 

            Then an article blew my mind when I read parts of it. It says, "Making choices is an inevitable part of our life. Given a choice between two things, we normally tend to choose the one that looks better in our sight. Making a choice between two things becomes difficult when both the things seem to be equally good." It's funny to think because this was exactly the same situation that I was in for a while before I actually made a decision, something that will make my happiness eternal. It's incredible to think that our Heavenly Father has truly blessed us with the ability to choose for ourselves, a gift that as we use wisely, may lead us to eternity.

                            

Who is Your Friend?

     One day, I found myself thinking about friendship and the true meaning of it after my companion and I had our companionship study one morning. After that study, I often asked myself, "Who is my friend... and what are the things that he's done to be my friend?" Seeking for answers, I came across a talk by Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Council of the Twelve, in the Ensign January 1973 issue. Here's an experience that he had had that teaches a lot about friendship.. He said:

 
  "For a few moments enjoy with me some very simple yet powerful recent conversations I’ve had in seeking the true significance of friendship. I asked an eight-year-old girl, “Who is your best friend?” “My mommie,” she replied. “Why?” “Because she is nice to me.”

    A priest-age young man was asked the same question. “My bishop.” “Why?” “Because he listens to us guys.”

    A 19-year-old girl: “My Gleaner teacher.” “Why?” “She is always available to me, even after class.”

    A 13-year-old boy: “My Scoutmaster.” “Why?” “He does everything with us.”

    A prisoner: “The chaplain.” “Why?” “He believes me. He even believed me sometimes when he shouldn’t have.”

   A husband: “My wife.” “Why?” “Because she is the best part of me.”

     I've thought that "friends" are truly special... it's not the word that defines it but it's their actions that gives meaning to it... actions that can even give light to a word.

     In the New Testament, in John Chapter 15, we read about Jesus Christ being our friend:

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

     I know that He is not only our Savior and Redeemer, but our Eternal Friend as well. His love is infinite. His atonement is real. He understands everything that you're going through.      

He can lift you as you reach for His hands.

     Let's accept Him as a Friend as we are to accept our Facebook friends.