"For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character must overcome adversity. … You will experience your own adversity. … It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop. …Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your ' once upon a time ' is now."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Once Upon a Time ' aren't those wonderful words to begin a story? They promise something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words ' And they lived happily ever after.'
Isn't that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and in the end, to live happily ever after?"
Isn't that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and in the end, to live happily ever after?"
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave this fabulous talk called Your Happily Ever After in a Young Women's Conference April of 2010. If you have not heard or read this talk I strongly encourage you to read it, because even if we are 1, 4, or 50 years out of Young Women's we still need these little reminders of our divine destiny and the future that we can have. We need to be reminded that our lives started with a "Once Upon a Time," and if we work hard enough they will end with a "Happily Ever After."
One of my favorite fairy tales is Cinderella. I love how she makes a wish and it comes true! I love how she is so grateful for the blessings that are given her and that she never forgets who helped her get to her happily ever after. And you know what? My life can be JUST LIKE HER'S!!!!!! And so can yours! You may be thinking really? But it's exactly true, just think about it! Let's take my life for example- I am not a servant in my own house, but I am a hard working student trying to make it by, my life is not glamorous, I am not rich nor do I dress fancy and attract a lot of attention- Just like Cinderella. Cinderella had a fairy godmother who granted her wishes but gave her rules that she had to follow to be able to keep those blessings. I have a Father in Heaven who has given me commandments and guidelines in life to follow, telling me that if I follow his rules he will pour out his blessing into my life., and it is through him that I too can have a "Happily Ever After." Now lets flip this around to you women and mothers. As wives and mothers you have made certain promises to love and serve your husbands in their needs, as mother's you have a solemn responsibility to "rear [your] children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live." (Taken from The Family: A Proclamation to the World) If we make sure to follow these guidelines as well as the commandments; if we pray to God for daily guidance and abide by his teachings then we will receive blessings beyond what we can imagine, we will inherit his kingdom, and we can be together with our families for time and all eternity.
"He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own ' happily ever after. ' But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift......
Sisters, young sister, beloved young sisters (yes he is talking to YOU) stay true to what you know is right. Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo, or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or give in to base instincts. Often these same people are portrayed as models of success and accomplishment. In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, sometimes it is difficult to know the truth. In some ways it is almost like Little Red Riding Hood’s dilemma: when you are not quite sure what you are seeing, is it a beloved grandmother or is it a dangerous wolf?"
Please, do not become mezmorized with the glamours and sparkles of the world- do not forget about your Happily Ever After. Are you willing to risk your own Happily Ever After for a slim fitting dress that shapes your body nicely, or will you raise your temper at your children over spilled milk, or when you have had a stressful day and your husband comes home after a hard day at work and is angry and all you want is some time to yourself will you blow up in his face about how you have been home with the kids all day and it's his turn? I hope you would choose not to give what God has given you up, I hope that you can realize that you can have the strength to carry through the hardships of life, to triumph the adversity and major bumps in the road and overcome evil with good.
"We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.” All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.
My dear young sisters—you who stand for truth and righteousness, you who seek goodness, you who have entered the waters of baptism and walk in the ways of the Lord—our Father in Heaven has promised that you will 'mount up with wings as eagles; [you] shall run, and not be weary; and [you] shall walk, and not faint.” You “shall not be deceived.' God will bless and prosper you. 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.'
Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens.
Your own wondrous story has already begun.
Your 'once upon a time' is now. "
One of my favorite fairy tales is Cinderella. I love how she makes a wish and it comes true! I love how she is so grateful for the blessings that are given her and that she never forgets who helped her get to her happily ever after. And you know what? My life can be JUST LIKE HER'S!!!!!! And so can yours! You may be thinking really? But it's exactly true, just think about it! Let's take my life for example- I am not a servant in my own house, but I am a hard working student trying to make it by, my life is not glamorous, I am not rich nor do I dress fancy and attract a lot of attention- Just like Cinderella. Cinderella had a fairy godmother who granted her wishes but gave her rules that she had to follow to be able to keep those blessings. I have a Father in Heaven who has given me commandments and guidelines in life to follow, telling me that if I follow his rules he will pour out his blessing into my life., and it is through him that I too can have a "Happily Ever After." Now lets flip this around to you women and mothers. As wives and mothers you have made certain promises to love and serve your husbands in their needs, as mother's you have a solemn responsibility to "rear [your] children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live." (Taken from The Family: A Proclamation to the World) If we make sure to follow these guidelines as well as the commandments; if we pray to God for daily guidance and abide by his teachings then we will receive blessings beyond what we can imagine, we will inherit his kingdom, and we can be together with our families for time and all eternity.
"He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own ' happily ever after. ' But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift......
Sisters, young sister, beloved young sisters (yes he is talking to YOU) stay true to what you know is right. Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo, or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or give in to base instincts. Often these same people are portrayed as models of success and accomplishment. In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, sometimes it is difficult to know the truth. In some ways it is almost like Little Red Riding Hood’s dilemma: when you are not quite sure what you are seeing, is it a beloved grandmother or is it a dangerous wolf?"
Please, do not become mezmorized with the glamours and sparkles of the world- do not forget about your Happily Ever After. Are you willing to risk your own Happily Ever After for a slim fitting dress that shapes your body nicely, or will you raise your temper at your children over spilled milk, or when you have had a stressful day and your husband comes home after a hard day at work and is angry and all you want is some time to yourself will you blow up in his face about how you have been home with the kids all day and it's his turn? I hope you would choose not to give what God has given you up, I hope that you can realize that you can have the strength to carry through the hardships of life, to triumph the adversity and major bumps in the road and overcome evil with good.
"We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.” All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.
My dear young sisters—you who stand for truth and righteousness, you who seek goodness, you who have entered the waters of baptism and walk in the ways of the Lord—our Father in Heaven has promised that you will 'mount up with wings as eagles; [you] shall run, and not be weary; and [you] shall walk, and not faint.” You “shall not be deceived.' God will bless and prosper you. 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.'
Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens.
Your own wondrous story has already begun.
Your 'once upon a time' is now. "
