Happily Ever After....

The other night I lovingly helped my little sister Elizabeth into her jammies and then tucked her into bed. Rather then read her a story, I snuggled up next to her and regaled her with a tale of my own creation featuring a princess, a prince and an evil witch (all the necessary characters to make any good blockbuster movie :)
There was rising action, conflict, self discovery, misunderstanding, and as the story came to a close, I finished it off with a flourish:

"And they All Lived Happily Ever After"

Elizabeth, who had sat quietly listening for the duration of the story, quickly sat up out of bed and declared:

"They can't get married yet! She still has to go on a mission!!!!"

This is very much what her face looked like at the time

Yep, we have officially brainwashed the six year old :) My work as an older sister is done! :) I am so proud!

In all seriousness though, if we really stopped to think about the impact our decision had on those around us, I believe we might be a little more careful of what we do and say. Reviewing this small experience in my head, one simple statement from a little 6 year old, has allowed me a great deal of self reflection. 

I have been incredibly blessed with wonderful older siblings who have set a good example for me and I know this has impacted me. Elizabeth has seen the example of her older siblings which has defined the way she views the world. Like it or not, we all are instrumental influences in the lives of those we know. Everyday interactions impact and impress more then we realize. That's a lot of pressure actually if you think about it! So, how do we ensure those impressions and those interactions are positive? 

In Alma 56, the 2000 stripling warriors have incredible faith which they attribute to the strength of their parents, saying "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." 

This statement actually kinda threw me for a loop for awhile because personal conversion is something emphasized a great deal in the church. We are told time and time again that we can't "lean on our parents testimony" and we have to get our own.

But these 2000 stripling warriors didn't say:

"We do not doubt, we had to figure it out all by ourselves and BOY it was a rough go for awhile!" 

Not only would such a statement probably irritate their mothers who worked hard to help them out of those rebellious teenage years, but it would also not be true. What these young men understood and what I just didn't get is that it is not bad at all to have support. It is not bad at all to be humble and acknowledge that support. 

Yes we should not lean on other people's testimonies, we should springboard off of them! Take advantage of the goodness that surrounds us and use it to shoot ourselves forward to our own personal conversion. Then, as we begin to grow and grasp basic truths, we can be that springboard for someone else. God does not put us on earth to be alone and flounder about helplessly, he gives us each other that we might uplift and inspire and edify one another.

There is a ripple effect: The people we influence for good will then go and influence others for good and then those people will go and influence other people for good. If just doesn't stop! So that being said, I believe we have a moral obligation to do what we know is right, not just for ourselves but for those around us. 

We are as the Army of Helamen, 

We have been taught in our youth 

And we will be the Lord's Missionaries 

To bring the world His truth. 

~Keep Smiling!~ :)