Rejoice In It

I've found that I really love talking about my testimony, my views of the gospel, questions that I have, concerns that I have, etc.

I find that I REJOICE in it all.

I love to have meaningful conversations and to get others' points of view.

I was talking to a friend last night.

He had recommended that I read a talk from 2003.

It was a very short talk, but so powerful.

It was about eternal marriage, but this particular paragraph has meaning in so many different ways.

If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently.

You shield it.

You protect it.

You NEVER abuse it.

You don't expose it to the elements.

You don't make it common or ordinary.

If it every becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new.

It becomes special because you made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as times goes by.

I have recently made a list of things that I am unwilling to compromise on.

Unwilling.

Won't do it.

I've always compromised, you know.

On things that I should have never even questioned.

I wanted validation.

I thought I could love people enough that they would want to change.

In reality, I wanted to take away their agency...

That is what addiction does, you see.

It takes away our agency, and encourages us to want to do the same to others.

Small list of things I will not compromise on:

Dishonoring the Priesthood

Pornography

Abuse (this may seem obvious, but it's me)

Drinking alcohol

Temple marriage (worthily)

These are just a few.

There's more.

I strongly suggest that making a list of those things you are unwilling to compromise on.

It holds us accountable to our choices!