Don’t let the whirlwinds drag you down. These are your days—to stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been given the opportunity to teach priesthood meeting on the fourth Sunday of every month. My lessons each month are based off a different talks from the General Conference, that are assigned to me to teach from. And I have decided that I would go ahead and share my lessons on my blog each month as well, in each post I will include a link to the original talk where you can read, watch or listen to it online. And with this post as well as any of my other posts, please don't see it as me trying to be preachy, because like they say usually those teaching have the most to learn, which is definitely the case for me.

Todays lesson comes from Elder Neil L. Andersen's talk called "Spiritual Whirlwinds" from last month's (April 2014) General Conference.

Click this link to Listen, Read, or Watch: Spiritual Whirlwinds by Elder Neil L. Andersen

In his talk he was speaking to the youth of our church about the importance of preparing for the spiritual whirlwinds that they may be faced with in the world around them. Like a physical whirlwind or tornado, spiritual whirlwinds can come at us from any direction and with no warning, and they are not likely to come in calmly but in full force. So we must prepare ourselves now and build upon a firm foundation that will allow us to weather through the storms that are coming.

In Doctrine & Covenants 88:91 in reference to the Second Coming of the Savior it says "And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people." It is this commotion that we must prepare ourselves for, so that we will not allow the fear to overcome us. Because if we have prepared we will have a firm foundation to stand upon while the storms whirl around us.

Brigham Young said, “It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise.” So if we look at the growth of the church in recent years we can clearly see that we have made great strides as our missionary efforts have increased and Temples have risen up all across the world, the Gospel is spreading into many nations. But with that growth it is important to recognize that satan's power and influence has also grown. He is everywhere all the time, he comes in through our thoughts and actions, he comes in through our media and daily interactions.

So now more than ever we must build up our defenses and strengthen ourselves from the ongoing influence he has over all the world. While we often fear the prophesied earthquakes and wars we tend to overlook the spiritual whirlwinds that are here now, which can be just as devastating to our lives and the lives of our families. And all to often these attacks to our spirituality go unnoticed and if left unattended they can lead to a spiritual death.

As the adversary works to destroy us he uses every resource available to him to find his way in, to our hearts and our minds. So we must also use every resource available to us to build ourselves and others up. Satan is the master of temptation and manipulation and as such he has always used sin and transgression to damn the progress of our spiritual growth. While Sin and temptation have always been a part of this world since the creation of Adam and Eve, it has never been so prominent and acceptable as it is in the world we live in now. Not only are we bombarded by it from every direction in our daily lives, we are often made to feel like an outsider or mocked for our choices to not take part in something that is against our beliefs and standards.  

As we move forward in life we are constantly faced with choices and decisions that can have a long lasting effect on our lives and spirituality. But as we go through life not every spiritual whirlwind is going to enter into our lives as the result of a bad choice or wrongdoing. Sometimes they just happen because we are mortal and we don't have full control over our lives and the course it takes. These spiritual whirlwinds may come in the form of illness, loss of a loved one, or as the result of others choices and actions. But regardless of the source they can still be just as devastating to our progress. As they can take away our hope and faith, leaving us with no desire to move forward, but as we face these trials in life, and trust in God these can have the opposite result as they strengthen our faith and buildup our hope.

In First Corinthians 10:13  it says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." In this scripture we are promised that there is no temptation or sin that we can not overcome and escape and that we will not be given more that we can bear. Though I know from personal experience it often feels like we are faced with challenges and problems in our lives that we can not bear or overcome. But if we trust in God and our savior Jesus Christ they will provide away for us. 

If we falter and are brought down by the temptations in Satan's spiritual whirlwinds we can still overcome the sins we have stumbled on in life, through the atonement of Jesus Christ. He has made it possible for all of us to go through the process of repentance and return to our Heavenly Father's loving embrace. 

In Elder Andersen's talk he says that "In nature, trees that grow up in a windy environment become stronger. As winds whip around a young sapling, forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate the roots to grow faster and spread farther. Second, the forces in the tree start creating cell structures that actually make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These stronger roots and branches protect the tree from winds that are sure to return." And that "You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree. You are His son or His daughter. He made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds in your youth, like the wind against a young tree, can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead."

So despite the hardship and trials that we face in life we need to keep moving forward in life and use these experiences to strengthen our spirituality so we can be better prepared as we continue to face the challenges and trials of this life. We need to build ourselves up on a solid foundation, and let our Redeemer Jesus Christ be the foundation upon which we build. So that when the storms of life begin to beat down on you it will have no power to bring you down.

Elder Andersen then quotes, President Thomas S. Monson who has said, “Where once the standards of the Church and the standards of society were mostly compatible, now there is a wide chasm between us, and it’s growing ever wider.” of which Elder Andersen pointed out that "This chasm, for some, stirs strong spiritual whirlwinds."

He then continues with an example about how the world's definition of marriage been the topic of change and and progression. But despite the changing of the world's definition of marriage that we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, need to look to the doctrine found in 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World.' And that despite changes to civil laws of man we need to uphold to God's moral laws. 

While I think many of us will agree that this is an uncomfortable discussion to have, Elder Andersen asks why do continue to talk about this?  And he replies with a quote from Paul who said “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” And that as "Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to teach our Creator’s plan for His children and to warn of the consequences of disregarding His commandments."

And that "While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not. In the very beginning, God initiated marriage between a man and a woman—Adam and Eve. He designated the purposes of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults to, more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured. Families are the treasure of heaven."

And because families are the treasure of heaven I think it best if focus on that for a moment, because despite our differences and our struggles in life we are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father which makes us all brothers and sisters. So we need to learn to cherish that bond so that not only will it be the treasure of Heaven but also something we can cherish and strengthen in this life. I am sure we have all heard the phrase hate the sin and love the sinner, well I don't think that is possible. If we let hate into our hearts it will only spill over into other parts of our lives. So i feel it is important to just love the each other, and to do so without judgement or stipulation. By doing so not only will we strengthen each other but we might better understand each other as well. 

The Savior of mankind described Himself as being in the world but not of the world. We to must live in this world and as we learn to accept others for who they are and better understand each other, while remaining true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ we can strengthen our foundation.

Elder Andersen says "Of special concern to us should be those who struggle with same-sex attraction. It is a whirlwind of enormous velocity. I want to express my love and admiration for those who courageously confront this trial of faith and stay true to the commandments of God! But everyone, independent of his or her decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration.

He also speaks of the Savior's teaching in that he 'taught us to love not only our friends but also those who disagree with us—and even those who repudiate us. He said: “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? … And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?”"

And that the Prophet Joseph Smith warned us to “beware of self-righteousness” and to enlarge our hearts toward all men and women until we feel “to take them upon our shoulders.” In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry.

h also quotes President Monson who said, "‘You have to stand alone.’ Hopefully...we will stand together in being true to God and to the teachings of His living prophets.”"

Elder Andersen said "if you have a question about counsel from the leaders of the Church, please discuss your honest concerns with your parents and leaders. You need the strength that comes from trusting the Lord’s prophets. President Harold B. Lee said: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to … learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes. … It may contradict your political views … your social views … interfere with … your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, … ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you …’ (D&C 21:6)."

What are some of the tools and resources that we have available to us that can be used to protect us against the spiritual whirlwinds of life?

• Reading from scriptures. (The Book of Mormon along with all our other scriptures.)
• Building up our testimony and lean the testimony of others when ours is not strong enough.
• Going to church and being actively involved in our wards and stakes.
• Attending the temple and living up to the covenants we have made there.
• Stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
• Build more firmly your foundation upon the rock of your Redeemer.
• Treasure more completely His incomparable life and teachings.
• Follow more diligently His example and His commandments.
• Embrace more deeply His love, His mercy and grace, and the powerful gifts of His Atonement.

As you do these things, Elder Andersen said "I promise you that you will see the whirlwinds for what they are—tests, temptations, distractions, or challenges to help you grow. And as you live righteously year after year, I assure you that your experiences will confirm to you again and again that Jesus is the Christ. The spiritual rock under your feet will be solid and secure. You will rejoice that God has placed you here to be a part of the final preparations for Christ’s glorious return. The Savior said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” This is His promise to you. I know this promise is real. I know that He lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Hey Brother," "You've got to Stand for Something" to "Carry On"

Just wanted to add a quick disclaimer: This is not a blog about music although this only the third post on my new blog and it just happens to be the second one about music. But this blog is about my life and experiences in it and it just so happens that music has a big influence on my life. So while I am writing about music my intent is to share how it is a part of my life and the influence it has on me.

So I had a rough day the other day, I had started making plans for one thing and starting to look forward to the changes it would lead to, but as often is the case things did not go as planned. So once again I was facing another failure and as usual I was disappointed with myself and bummed that what I had hoped would be a good day to celebrate became another reason to be down on myself. And afterwards I had a short drive ahead of me back home, while my first thought was that of giving up at least for the moment and to break my diet. Which I have been doing quite well on over the last two months I have lost over 40 pounds. But while I was trying to decide if i should between Krispy Kreme Doughnuts or Cheesecake Factory or both i had the radio on and the song Carry On by a group called Fun. I have heard this song before but the following lines really stood out to me as I was driving down the street, losing faith in myself.

If you're lost and alone

Or you're sinking like a stone.

Carry on.

May your past be the sound

Of your feet upon the ground.

Carry on.

Carry on, carry on.

And as they began to sink in and register, I told myself that although i was not moving forward today I could keep myself from falling backwards from my goals. So as i decided to try and let my past be the sound of my feet upon the ground, and this let me carry on right past Krispy Kreme and then as I approached the exit for the Cheesecake Factory i just kept on carrying on.

The other line that really hit me in that moment was the following verse:

'Cause here we are

We are shining stars

We are invincible

We are who we are

On our darkest day

When we’re miles away

Sun will come

We will find our way home

While i thought about this part of the song I definitely was not feeling like a shining star or invincible. and while this was not my darkest day and really was only a small stumbling block along my way. I was feeling pretty dark and down on myself, which can lead to further dark days and disappointment. So I was thankful for the strength that this great song offered up to me and though i still have a long ways to go in this life, I know if i seek out even the smallest blessing in my life i will find my way home.

And having a two drive home allowed me a lot of time to ponder and try to find a better outlook on my situation and in my life. And of course being in the car alone i had the radio going the whole way home and being that i was in a pondering mood I found some inspiration in some other songs that helped me to feel slightly better about where i am in life and recognize some of the blessings in my life. 

The next song that stood out on my journey home was an older Aaron Tippen song that i have not heard in some time called You've got to stand for something. This is a song i have heard many times before but again these are the lines that provided inspiration to me today. And that is one thing i love about music is although the song may have a totally different meaning the one who wrote, but it is in the moments of life that we are exposed to it that can define it for us. And best of all the next time you hear you may apply it something completely different and totally redefine it. And in know when my wife reads this line she is going to tell me that this same thing applies to scripture study as well. So i will just fess up now i have a harder time applying the scriptures, but I will make it a goal to start working on that. Okay now that I got my confession out of the way, back to the lines in this song that stood out to me today are contained in these two verses:

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house

If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down

But we always had plenty just living his advice

Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight

When I've heard these verses in the past I usually tend think of my father who is my greatest hero. (More about him in my upcoming Father's Day post!) But today as listened to the words in these verses my focus when straight to the first and last lines, which say again say:

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight. 

So as I pondered I thought about these questions; What is it that I stand for? Do I stand for anything? How can i figure out what it is i stand for? Is what I stand for of value? Is there any purpose to it? And while I would love to say that I pondered long and hard and then the answers all came to me and it was all so clear, they did not and it is not. But it gave me something to think about and perhaps in time i will figure out some of these answers. While most of these answers could simply be answered by the standard seminary answers (Incase any of you are wandering this a LDS/Mormon slang term meaning the basic gospel answers; such as prayer, scripture study, and or going to church.) And yes those answers would apply and for the most part be correct, but in instances like these the answers are much more personal and must be sought out. So for now let's just say that I am doing what i can to seek them out, and hopefully I will find the answers i seek.

And while i just said the answers did not come to me as i pondered, but that is only a partial truth. Because there was one other song that really resonated with me today and it was a new song, well at least new to me it is called Hey Brother by an artist called Avicii. But this time it was not just a line or a verse but the whole song that sang out to me today, here are the lyrics:

Hey brother, there’s an endless road to re-discover.

Hey sister, know the water's sweet but blood is thicker.

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,

There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.

Hey brother, do you still believe in one another?

Hey sister, do you still believe in love, I wonder?

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,

There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.

What if I'm far from home?

Oh, brother I will hear you call.

What if I lose it all?

Oh, sister I will help you out!

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,

There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.

Hey brother, there’s an endless road to re-discover.

Hey sister, do you still believe in love, I wonder?

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,

There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.

What if I'm far from home?

Oh, brother I will hear you call.

What if I lose it all?

Oh, sister I will help you out!

Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,

There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.

What a fantastic song i definitely recommend listening to it if you have not heard it before. While i listened to this song I just could not help but to think what a wonderful family I have been blessed with. I have two parents who would do anything for me and have made so many sacrifices for me and my siblings over the years, not to mention all the other people they have helped over the years. you could not ask for better role models in life than my mom and dad. And on top of that i grew up in home with 5 siblings one brother and 4 sisters and though at we've had minor fights and disputes over the year but when it comes down to it I know they love me and I love them. And as we have all grown and started families of our own we just doubled (well almost Brady will catch up soon enough) the number of siblings as my sisters  have married great guys who take such great care of them and I love them all like the brothers that they have been to me. And all of them (well almost again Brady gets a pass for now) have raised some incredible kids, my nieces and nephews, help give me hope for the future. And Devoney my wife has put up with so much from but she is still there by my side. And though we don't see her family (In Canada) as often as we would like they too have been a blessing in our lives. And while i could go on and on about all of my extended family all of who are great, i will close with mention of my little man Xavier (My son who is awaiting us in Heaven, working on a post with more about him as well.) Though his time was short on this earth he had so much spirit and love to share that he touched (and continues to) the hearts of so many people. 

Okay I know I am going on and on about my family, but I will get back to point I was trying to make, which is that "There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do" my family and they have proven over and over again that there’s nothing in this world they wouldn’t do me. So if nothing else today I realized on my drive home that if nothing else I stand for my family and they help to give my life purpose. And I know there is more and I will continue to search out the answers, and would love to hear your feedback in the comments below. What do you stand for?

Timothy J Wolfe

Thawing my Frozen Heart by learning to Let it Go!

I have been a huge Disney fan for as long as I can remember, I love Disney movies as they have always been uplifting and motivational for me. I love being able to sit down and become a part of the world up on the screen, and let everything else go even if it is just a short reprieve from everything else going on. So when I heard all the reactions to and great reviews for Disney's "Frozen", I was excited for the opportunity to see it, and my high expectations for it were met. I absolutely enjoyed the story and the characters within the movie, but I was most drawn to the positive messages which it contained. Most of all the message contained within the popular song "Let it Go" which is what I would like to talk about in this post.

Letting it go, can mean so many things and I would imagine it means something different for each of us, but being this is my post I am going to be talking about what it has meant to me and the inspiration that it has provided me in my life. But I would love to hear how it has inspired you or your kids, so be sure and leave your experiences below in the comments section.

To start with I would like to pull out individual lines from the song and discuss how I related to it and or how it made me feel. The first line is "A Kingdom of Isolation" in the song Elsa is referring to being alone on the mountain as well as the separation from her friends and family. I quickly related to this particular line, because I like Elsa have become withdrawn and kept to myself as much as possible. Sure I have always tried to stay close to my family but even while with them I tend to withdraw and hold back. And because of the difficulties with my weight and my lack of success in school (I plan to discuss both of these further in a future post), I have felt ashamed of who I have and or have not become. So though it is by my own doing and design I have become very withdrawn and some may say anti-social over the years. So as I thought about Elsa's situation and how she was recognizing the effect her isolation has had on her and her loved ones, it gave me hope that I to could start breaking down some of the walls I have built up in my own kingdom of isolation. And Incase you have not guessed it this blog is one of my wrecking balls, that I have slaughtered out to help me tear down these walls.

The next lines that I related with was "The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside, 

Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried." For those who don't know me and probably for many who do know me, I am not a very open person with my feelings good or bad I tend to keep them locked up inside for as long as possible. So I truly related to this feeling, I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I have spent stirring in my bed, or how many lost moments I have had because I am unable to focus or concentrate on the task at hand. All because I tend to keep everything inside and to myself. Why do I keep it all bottled in? Well I still don't really know, but I suppose a lot of it is I don't want to upset or worry others with my problems or concerns. It definitely is not because I am lacking in supportive people in my life, because I have so many great friends and family. But I just don't like to be a burden, or feel that if I can carry another's burden to prevent any hardship to them, that I will. While I still believe at times it is okay to hold back and keep some things to yourself, I am trying to open up more and it has been a healthy step in my life.

This next line kind of follows along with the last one, but I will add to it anyhow "Don’t let them in, don’t let them see...Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know." A big part of withdrawing from others and the world you live in concealing your feelings, you always try to put on a happy face in front of others. Or in my case I learned that it was easier to make fun of myself before others, did it on their own. At least this way I could put up the appearance that my weight and other issues did not bother me. While I know this defensive approach, did at times make things easier on me, overall it probably played a big part in my becoming so critical of myself. From this I have learned the importance of trying to be more open, not only with others but with myself as well.

And the next line says"Well, now they know," and though this line in its self did not really inspire me, I can promise that once you open up and let others in you will find peace. I know for me the more I open up and the more people I let it in and the more I let go, the happier my life has become. And once you start to "let it go" you will see that the next line holds great power "Can’t hold it back anymore." Because once you start to "let it go" you'll see that not only can you not hold it back anymore but you will soon realize you no longer need or want to hold it back.

While I still struggle with this next one, I am still working on bettering myself with this, it says I don’t care, what they’re going to say." I have told myself time and time again that I don't care what others think and while this may have helped me feel better about myself thinking I did not care, I still avoided people because I knew I did care what they thought. Being a bigger person you almost have to harden yourself against the judgment of others at times, because you do often get judged on your outward appearance. And unfortunately a lot of people tend to react and or treat obese people differently, while some have cruel intent most do not, but unfortunately the truth can be hurtful no matter how it is found. So though cold thoughts and words do bother me I am trying to let that go as well.

The next two lines also hold a lot of truth to them the first is "It’s funny how some distance

makes everything seem small." With this I have found that it is so true that the further you get from any situation the easier it is to accept or digest. Often times when we are in the heat of the moment, it is hard to be as understanding, but as we cool down and begin thinking more rationally we can better understand not only our own perspective but that of the others involved. And I believe that when we better understand others we can learn to love them more fully which allows us to forgive them and let go of the past. Which plays a huge part in the line that follows which is "And the fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all." Which again speaks another absolute truth, at least from my experience. Because once you go through all the stages described in song and begin to "Let it go, you will be freed from your fears that have held you back for so long, and you be free to move forward in life.

And you will know that "It’s time to see what I can do," because the limits that you have placed on yourself for so many years will be gone and you'll be free to "To test the limits and break through," the barriers you once found security in, but now you can say "I’m free!"

As you "Let it go" you will see the inspiration behind this next line as well "I am one with the wind and sky." Which again I am sure we will all pull different meaning from this line, based our own individual beliefs and experiences. But for me learning to let go, has helped to become one with not only myself and my family, but also with Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ. Because as I have learned to open up with my self and others and began to repair my relationship with them and though it is still a work in progress I am starting to feel at one with them once again. 

“I’m never going back, the past is in the past.” Is another key point in the song, because after you start to progress forward in life it is almost inevitable that something or someone is going to try and bring you back down. And all to often in life (at least for me) when we take one step forward we falter and end up join back two or three steps. So it is absolutely crucial that as your progressing forward in life that you find a solid foundation to build upon so that you have the proper support all around you to keep you up. And while the past is in the past, and most often we should keep it there, but while we are looking and moving forward. We need to not forget where we came from and the experiences that have made us who we are so that we can learn from them and use that to rise from our past like the break of dawn.

Enjoying the Journey on the way to Our Eternal Happily Ever After

"Once upon a time" is a phrase that has brought joy and hope to many of us, what is it about this phrase that provides us with such joy and hope? For me and I would assume many of you would agree, it is that we know that "Once Upon a Time" leads into the one thing that we all strive for each day with our fullest hopes and dreams and that is the magical phrase "and They All Lived Happily Ever After." What more can we ask for in life than our own "Happily Ever After?" Knowing that from this point forward in life, everything is going be great and we will face no more suffering or tribulation. What a peaceful feeling that would be to free from the worry of loss or the fear of failure; how wonderfully fantastic would that be?

Can we as individuals in a world full of loss and failure ever know this peace? Or is "Happily Ever After" just a fairy tale or a dream that, though we hope for it, can never be attained? Well, though I have yet to reach my own personal "Happily Ever After,” I have faith that it is possible for each of us to find that peace that comes from knowing that we will live happily ever after. However I think we need to realize it won't come easily and it is not something we can achieve on our own. Saying this, I believe the key to us all finding our happily ever after is through the Atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ. He has made it possible for each of us to overcome our own weaknesses and failures, to return with Him to our Heavenly Father, which means not only will we live happily ever after now but we will gain an eternal happily ever after. So though it will not be easy and is not something we will obtain right away, it is available for each and every one of us.

Often, as we think of fairy tales we often jump from the "Once Upon a Time" right into the "Happily Ever After.” In doing so, we forget that even in these tales of happiness and success, these characters face much suffering and tribulation before reaching their "Happily Ever After.” Forgetting these characters’ struggles, we often expect to be able to do the same in our lives and jump straight into our own "Happily Ever After.” Thus, when we don't achieve this, it only causes more pain and suffering as we begin to doubt ourselves and own self-worth. This is the work of the adversary. He wants us to become weak and broken so that he can tempt us away from our Heavenly Father. He does this in many ways, including trying to lure us into a feeling of entitlement so we become frustrated when things don't go as planned, which just drives us further from our goal of an eternal happily ever after.

As we move forward in our lives we all tend to set goals. With these goals, we often will say once I achieve this goal I will be happy or at least one step closer to being happy. But when we achieve, then we decide, “Well, actually to really be happy I must do this.” Or even worse, if we fail to achieve said goal, we become depressed and frustrated with ourselves, and we are even further from an eternal happily ever after. So how do we find our eternal happily ever after? Well, first, we need to learn to be happy regardless of our current circumstances, and learn to be grateful for what we have been given and achieved thus far in the journey of life. If can’t learn to enjoy the little things now, we still won’t be happy when we obtain our bigger goals. Sure, we are still going to face sorrow and loss—that is part of this life—but we can’t let it overcome us.

This is much easier said than done. I am still struggling in my personal pursuit of an eternal happily ever after. But in my life I have struggled with finding happiness in my life despite the many blessings and great support I have always had. And every time I failed to reach a goal I had set or faced a loss in my life, I moved further and further from the happiness I longed for. It got to the point where I had given up on my search for happiness, as I had become content with my failure and felt no further desire to obtain an eternal happily ever after. This was because not only I had lost my faith in myself, but I no longer felt I deserved to be happy. Nevertheless, I am coming to see that we all deserve happiness and joy. We just have to learn to recognize it throughout the different times in our lives.

I had allowed myself to be overcome by the feelings of failure and loss and I allowed the adversary to creep in and convince me I did not deserve happiness or peace in my life. I saw many of my failings as proof that I had no value in the eyes of my Heavenly Father. But despite the fact that I had given up on myself, I began to see glimmers of hope through great people in my life who continued to have faith in me, and have continued to reach out and give me hope that perhaps an eternal happily ever after was still a possibility. And though these glimmers of hope began to shine a light on what was possible, I still struggled to accept them fully. But, luckily, these shining examples in my life continued to reach out and helped build a bridge for me back from the darkness into the light of the Lord.

My friends and family helped me to see that despite my failings and loss, I still had much to be grateful for and to look forward to. It was through their love and understanding that I found the strength to overcome my sorrows and move forward in life. And though I still have a long ways to go in this life until I find my eternal happily ever after, I look forward to filling the pages between my “Once Upon a Time” and my “Eternal Happily Ever After” with many more pages of exciting adventures with my family and friends.

And I hope to share some of those pages with all of you in hopes of inspiring those in need of inspiration as well as learning from others willing to share from the pages of their journey. I do this hoping that we can all help each other along the way until we reach our “Eternal Happily Ever After.”

Timothy Jackson Wolfe