I am much delighted and grateful for this amazing opportunity to share an experience that I hope will be beneficial to us all.
After returning from mission, I had two main goals: get married and go back to school, or vice versa. Deciding which one to prioritize was a bit easy, as my Church leaders were encouraging all returned missionaries to get married. I soon learned well enough that deciding on marriage will help me with deciding my education and career goals. I testify that as we continue exercising faith through obedience to our priesthood leaders, even when their words seem contrary to our thoughts, we will be blessed—maybe not in that moment, but it will always be in the broader picture.
Desiring to obey, I took up every good opportunity that came my way; I went on dates and worked on getting back to school. I desired to be a pilot, so I started application for a pilot school. Nearing the completion of my application, I visited the temple to express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for the opportunity placed before me. While praying, I felt a strong impression that I was pursuing this path at a wrong time. I was prompted that my desire to have a family and be home with them would not happen if I remained on my current path, because becoming a pilot meant more time away from my family than I preferred. So, I stopped processing my application, and instead started exploring careers that would give me more time with my family. I sought the Lord’s help, through prayer, in finding a university that would give me the privilege of attending the temple frequently and eventually lead me to a career that would help me be home often with my family.
Not long after, I was advised by a close friend from my mission, who was enrolled in the Pathway program, to consider Pathway as an option. It took me awhile, but after feeling impressed to, I enrolled in it. I came to realize how interesting learning could be when based upon gospel principles, so I decided to continue to the online program. While in Pathway, I met a girl whom I dated for a year, and we decided to marry. Around this time, I also decided on a career in web development, a degree I saw could give me more opportunities to be home with my future family. I informed my immediate family of my decision to marry the girl, and my father advised that we prayed to have everything come together, as everyone was excited.
Well, the excitement did not last for long, as this girl surprised me with her desire to serve a mission before our marriage. At this point, I realized that I had to decide whether to let her leave on a mission or not, as if that was my choice. We had many plans, with things heading in the right direction; thus, I could not understand why she had made that decision. I tried convincing her to stay, but to no avail. Therefore, I sought the Lord’s guidance in making a final decision. For a moment, I doubted the answer I received, because I felt justified in wanting her to stay, as I was only trying to be obedient by getting married. Instead, the Lord helped me understand that everyone has their agency, and that I should not try to take that power away, no matter what. I finally felt at peace with the answer and understood that I needed to let her go on the mission, and after some time we finally ended the relationship.
Feeling lost and not knowing how to move on with the change of plans, I sought for direction through regular temple attendance and prayer. Each time I prayed, the Lord helped me understand that He had a plan for me, and that He was going to take me to a place I had never thought of. One of my dad’s favorite scriptures, which he loves sharing with my family, says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” [1] I trusted that the Lord would guide me as I sought to choose the right.
During this time, I was again encouraged by my mission friend to try applying to BYU-Idaho. Again I prayed to know the Lord’s will, and being here today is an answer to that prayer, and with it the greater blessing of finding my eternal companion, with whom I find true happiness.
I testify that the Lord is leading us to true happiness. He will sometimes use people like my mission friend, and others, to help guide us to it. We just need to know and trust that He has a plan for us, and we can do so by constantly communicating with Him. This I say in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] Matthew 6:33.