Decisions Determine Destiny

Sister Christine Masters, Full Time Missionary

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Human beings are a species of dreamers.  We remember, for example, Martin Luther King saying, “I have a dream”, we see the American Indian “Dream Catchers”, or we look into our own hearts and visualize the dreams we work so hard to have come true.

From the famous to the not so famous, our choices in life have the power to make our righteous dreams come true! 

How is this possible?  Well, when we left Our Father’s presence and came to earth, we began a most precious experience, as Thomas S. Monson recently explained.  Our Father sent us here with one of the greatest gifts we could ever imagine.  This gift is the gift of being able to choose for ourselves. 

Cutting right to the core of this concept, we are not coerced, but have the freedom to choose between good and evil in this, our mortal journey.

As each of us left Our Father’s presence, we were  fortified, blessed, and protected by commands and instructions that, if followed, would lead us to our true destiny – coming back into His presence.

Where can we find these commands and instructions?  The commands and instructions can be found in Jesus Christ, our perfect Example for honoring and obeying Our Father. The admonitions of the Savior, “Come follow Me”, and “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light”, ring crystal clear in our hearts and minds. The Lord Jesus Christ guides us to fervent, earnest prayer, to frequent, daily pondering of the scriptures, to giving our all in serving others.

When we really study the life of Jesus Christ, we come to the realization that He encountered  similar life experiences very common to each of us. These experiences include challenges, such as disappointment, sorrow, rejection, pain, and temptation, but also joys, such as love, obedience, friendship, peace, service, and prayer.

As we follow The Lord Jesus Christ by making the choice to obey the two great commandments of loving God with all our might, heart, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, this correct decision will lead us to our fondest dream, that of returning and living eternally with Our Father in Heaven.

Our decisions DO determine our destiny!

Upper Country News Recorder   Cambridge, Idaho   October 2014