No Struggle No Learning

Things have been on my mind for the past few weeks. I have so many good friends who grew up in the Church. As soon as their adulthood freedom comes rolling along, and they are able to decide life more for themselves they turn against everything that they had previously believed. It baffles me, and hurts me. When someone falls they seem to fall so hard. I understand that no one can serve two masters, but why fall so hard? How can someone completely leave the teachings of their parents after their whole lives of learning? My Dad drew a picture of the iron rod. It shows the rod straight up and down, almost as if they were rock climbing. If you for one moment completely let go, you WILL fall down. The gospel isn't a straight shot. And in this day and age it's even harder. We can't afford to let go.

If my friends new decisions made their lives better then I would accept their choices. Each one who has fallen from gospel principles have become someone else. Their light is diminished. It's obvious in their eyes that they are unhappy. No matter what lies they tell themselves I am sure they know that their happiest moments were those when they were immersed in the gospel. Loving others, praying to Heavenly Father, studying the gospel, and being optimistic of others and the future.

It must be that there were doubts. That things didn't seem to make full sense. They may have sat on the fence peering around on both sides. Or even that hard things came into their lives and they felt completely lost. It's hard to know.

 In my 23 years of life, I've had my own doubts and my own trials even though on the outside it seems I have always been solid. Times when I felt unworthy of the gospel. Times where I knelt down in prayer with tears stinging in my eyes when I felt I had no right to pray to Heavenly Father. Times when I asked myself do I really believe these things? Those moments didn't stop me from truly believing. Why? Because I prayed regardless. I studying the scriptures daily even when I didn't want to. I desperately tried to surround myself with good. Some days it was hard, but I can promise you it was worth it. I walked out of the temple doors hand in hand with my husband a few short months ago. As I starred at the crowd of people who I loved so much, I was overcome with emotion. It took a lot of preparation to come here, and it was worth every tear, and trial. How much more meaningful it was to struggle to at last stand with my husband inside the temple truly appreciating it, rather than gliding through with no learning, and no hardship. I knew that I wanted to be there. I knew it was right because I had fought to be there.

To my friends who struggle in anyway I promise you that happiness and fulfillment will come if you just try. Blessings are waiting to be poured out to you. Start out with taking your weaknesses and slowly bettering them. The smallest step forward is still forward. Just because you let go of the gospel doesn't mean you can't climb back up to where you were and then some! You and I both know the happiness that you once tasted. Come back. I know that you are so good regardless of your current choices.
Who cares what others think of you. The only people whose opinions matters are yours and your Heavenly Fathers.

The Church is true! Find it out for yourself!

-Chelsey