Beauty and the Beast.

Tarzan and Jane.

Sleeping Beauty.

These animated movies were my favorite growing up. Through them, I learned the concept of a ‘Prince Charming’ and ‘Knight in Shining Armor’. Even at such a young age, I knew that I also wanted a ‘once upon a time’ and ‘they lived happily ever after’ kind of story. I would try on my mother’s flowy dresses and dance while imagining someone sweeping me off my feet.

It wasn’t long until I met someone who would be very close to my heart for eighteen years. Our relationship was the typical story of friends eventually falling in love. We saw each other grow and change through the years—cheering and being there for each other for every milestone and struggle of teenage, student, and career life. It was that kind of love that no matter how far apart you are or how long it’s been since you’ve seen each other, you just know that you belong together.

Because of our busy careers, we didn’t keep in touch as often as we wanted. We would call and exchange emails once in a while, but our focus was achieving our career goals. In my heart, I knew that when we saw each other again, we would be able to pick up where we left off. After all, it was a friendship, connection, and love that had been going strong for eighteen years.

He managed to fly to the Philippines to see me one summer. I thought that it was the perfect time to talk about where our relationship was headed. We’d devoted many years to building our careers, so it was time to give ourselves time to be together.

“I got married…for over a year now.”

I pinched my hand under the table to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, and to my horror, it wasn’t a dream. I held my tears back I almost choked. I never really knew what heartbreak was like until then. All my dreams and hopes of a happily ever after were shattered.

The following days were filled with questions, sadness, self-doubt, anger, regret, disappointment, self-pity, and other myriad emotions that laid my tender heart to waste. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. Moving on seemed impossible. It felt like that young love, that has grown for so long, was impossible to replace or replicate.

And yet I was repeatedly reminded of Spencer W. Kimball’s talk on marriage. He said, “…it is certain that almost any good man and any good woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price.” I knew that it was the Lord reminding me that my desire to build a family of my own didn’t have to end with my heartbreak.

Yes, it was painful, but the Lord knew my pain and how to comfort me through friends and family who listened to my endless rationales, trying to make sense of my reality and what I needed to do next. He increased my understanding of the principles of forgiveness, charity, and prayer as I searched for answers on how I could move forward. He provided opportunities for me to serve so I could lose myself in the service of others.

As I poured my heart out in prayer to Him every day, I found strength knowing that He knew the blessing that I desired the most—to raise a righteous family with a man after His own heart.

I met that man many months after and married him a year later. In the short period of our courtship, he showed me a love that’s “patient [and] kind, [a love that] does not envy, [nor] boast, [a love that] is not proud [and] does not dishonor others. [A love that] is not self-seeking, not easily angered, [and] keeps no record of wrongs. [A] love [that] does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [A love that] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

I once asked the Lord why He let me suffer such a painful heartbreak when I had been faithful all my life, doing my best to live up to my potential. But as I got to know my husband during our courtship, I realized that the answer to my question was because the Lord wanted me to find a love like His—ever considerate, selfless, forgiving, and merciful.

I don’t believe that my husband and I are destined to be together. But I know that we did not meet by chance either. Although our individual choices were a big part of it all, I know that the Lord was in the details of our love story through a series of personal revelations, the support of family and friends, and the seemingly impossible occurrences that, without a doubt, were only made possible because of Him.

We’ve been married for seven months now. Some may think that it’s too short to end this story with “they lived happily ever after” but we are both striving each day to be worthy of the Lord’s promise that “whatsoever [is bound] on earth shall be bound in heaven.”

When heartbreaks come, as they do in all of our lives, the Lord understands perfectly our pain and struggle, but He can also help us to move past it, hour by hour, and day by day. As we go forward in faith, doing our best to keep the Lord in our lives, serving others, living righteously, and seeking for His help, He will open doors that we didn’t even know were there. He can help us to heal, and guide us toward “happily-ever-after’s” that we can’t even see yet. Above everything, remember that He loves you, sees the end from the beginning, and truly desires your eternal happiness.

The post How I Found Love After A Heartbreak appeared first on morefaith.ph.

“Where did I go wrong?”

“Am I not worth loving?”

“Will I ever find someone who will love me?”

“What’s wrong with me?”

Hours drag like days, and days can feel like years. You might lose interest in many other things in your life, And every time you wake up, you face another day without the person you love. It can feel like you’re trapped in that sadness.

So, how do you overcome that intense feeling of loneliness and worthlessness? How do you move forward? How do you forgive and let go?

Here are some truths that helped me overcome heartbreak.

I am not defined by a single relationship. More people truly love me. I may have lost that person I loved, but I must remember that I am more than that relationship. I am also a significant part of other people’s lives.

My family has been there through it all, loves me and also grieves at my heart break. My friends and the people who truly love me will be right beside me through thick or thin.

It may not feel like it when I’m in such pain, but they have my back because to them I am an amazing person worthy of all the happiness in the world.

My smile can brighten their day, and they look forward to seeing that again. To these people, I am more than enough, and there’s nothing in this world that will make them love me less.

There is someone who loves me without end, and I can forever count on that love. Aside from my family and friends, it brings peace to my heart knowing that God loves me more than I could ever comprehend.

I am His child, and He knows my potential. He knows my absolute worth. I may have gone through my own pain, but He also felt my pain and emptiness. It is comforting to remember that He’s preparing me for the right person and relationship that’s meant for me.

The world may leave me or turn its back on me, but He never will. He is the One that I know loves me no matter what. His love for me is incomparable, unparalleled, and that is the kind of love I rightfully deserve.

He knows me better than anyone in this world. I am one of His greatest treasures, and He has a glorious plan for my eternal happiness.

Despite the pain, I can feel at peace and hopeful knowing my great worth in the eyes of my Father in Heaven. Knowing that no matter what happens, I have Him to love me eternally and unconditionally.

I am worth the kind of love and happiness that will never end. I know this may sound crazy, but a heartbreak, no matter how painful it is, can be exciting, too. If you can be so happy with someone you are not meant for, just imagine how amazing it will be when you find the right one?

At one point, I lost faith in relationships and commitments, especially after going through heartbreak after heartbreak.

But the time will come when all of those heartbreaks will make sense, and you will meet the right person for you, the one with whom you can have the kind of love you truly deserve – an eternal love that only grows stronger over time. I hung on tight to that promise.

I am a strong person with superb talents and potential. I am exquisite. When I lost all confidence after my heartbreak, I reminded myself of the real me. I am a person with wonderful talents that Heavenly Father has given me. I reminded myself that I can be more than what I was, and that I am of great worth.

If someone doesn’t see my worth, it doesn’t mean that my worth is gone. It’s simply that – they just don’t see it. It is their issue, not mine. The kind of people that I want to be like and be around will recognize my worth as a child of God.

I know my worth, and I can get back up again after trials knock me down, because my Savior is there to help me. I’ve endured heartaches and misery before, and this one will not keep me from being happy.

Knowing our worth helps us forgive and move forward. With this truth, I also found it easier to forgive the person who broke my heart. I was reminded that he also has great worth in the eyes of the Lord, and that what happened to us is for the best. That made it less difficult for me to move forward, knowing that if I follow God’s plan for me, I will be in a better direction.

You should also remember these things, because they apply to you, too, no matter where you live or if you’re a man or a woman. You are also loved beyond imagination. You are an intricate and beautiful person. Your worth will never depend on someone else’s opinion. Your worth will always be there no matter what happens, and no matter how many people try to break you. You, as well as those you’ve parted from, deserve eternal love and happiness in Heavenly Father’s plan, forever and always.

The post How Knowing My Worth Helped Me Overcome A Heartbreak appeared first on morefaith.ph.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the myths that may be affecting your views about falling in love.

We need to be attracted first before we can fall in love. Attraction is important in a relationship but opportunities for two people to fall in love are wasted when people believe attraction is the motivating force and reason to pursue someone. Of course, there are real stories of couples who felt attraction at first sight, but there are also successful relationships out there that did not start with instant attraction.

 When you give someone a chance and get to know them, you might be surprised to find your feelings and desire grow with depth and meaning one step at a time. This attraction is not short and shallow nor is it fleeting and empty because the attraction is not based only on physical attributes, but is built upon kindness, understanding, and acceptance.

Take it slow. Time is on your side. Some say that you really have to take it slow so you get to know each other, learn each other’s quirks, go through challenges and experience different things together. For some, dating for a long time means that they are really sure of each other once they decide to take the relationship to the next level.

 While there is truth to this, we must not delay commitment or marriage too long, because we want to conform to this norm. Years of dating the same person are not necessary, although we should spend enough time that we feel like we really know them. When we feel that we have found the person we want to spend eternity with, prayed about it and received confirmation from the Lord, we must choose and act according to our righteous desires. This can take a different amount of time for each couple, but there is no set timeline in dating and marriage.

Deep love comes naturally when you find the right person. We sometimes hear people saying that they loved one person the moment they set their eyes on them. While this is true in some instances—like parents seeing their newborn for the first time—in most cases, love is not something that we feel instantly. Love results from our choices, actions, and behaviors in our relationships. It is built upon service, investing in another person’s happiness, accepting flaws, and embracing differences. It also must be continuously nurtured.

God has prepared the right person for me already. If there’s one right person for each of us, then our free agency is in jeopardy. Marriage is one of the most important milestones in our mortal journey and we can be sure that God will not interfere when we make the choice of who to marry.

Although we recognize that there is divine intervention in many aspects of our lives, including guidance in finding a person to marry, it is ultimately our choice, our worthiness, and our actions that determine the person who becomes our eternal partner. 

God is surely preparing each of His children who are willing to be guided, to meet a potential future companion with whom they can build a family. However, there is no “one right person,” only right choices that we can make to find a person that God has helped prepare for one of His faithful children.

When you love, you accept and embrace everything. This is partly true, but there is another side to the coin as well. While love is about accepting and embracing someone fully and unconditionally, love is also about recognizing the improvements we need to make to have healthier and longer-lasting relationships. We don’t need to change who we are or lose ourselves in the process, but we need to put the necessary effort into becoming a better version of ourselves not only for us, but for the family we are trying build.

Love and acceptance should not come at the cost of common sense, however. While we all have character flaws, mistakes, and temptations specific to us, we should still be wise in choosing our eternal companion. Are they willing to work to improve with you and build the kind of eternal family you both want? Do you share the same goals in life? Love alone should not make us ignore red flags that might arise in a relationship that could signal serious trouble in the future. That being said, the power of repentance is real, and love goes hand in hand with forgiveness. You can each be a hand for the other to hold, to support, encourage, and help each other on your journey back to Father in Heaven.

Love comes in different types and forms. When we feel it, let’s not restrain ourselves because of myths that we grew up hearing from the media and other people. When it comes, let’s embrace it and let it grow, not only in our hearts but also in our choices and actions.

The post 5 Myths About Falling In Love That Might Be Holding Us Back appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Gospel Conversion

Latter-day Saints want to find spouses who have been converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why? Because deep and lasting conversion is required in order to raise a gospel-centered family. Raising a family is filled with challenges that either build or break one’s faith. When tackling these challenges, these young singles want a partner whose faith is firm and steadfast no matter the challenge.

Raising a family also requires teaching your children the principles of the gospel and guiding them towards their own conversion. A father can only fully teach the value of conversion when he has been converted himself.

It is also important to note that gospel conversion doesn’t equate to going on a mission.  Gospel conversion is having a continuous Christlike commitment to always follow the Father no matter where they are, no matter their circumstances. They want a partner whose service and commitment to the church is not driven merely by social expectations but is deeply rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Remember that you are standing on holy ground

Elder Bruce C. Hafen, in one of his talks, counseled, “When any of you—men or women—are given entrance to the heart of a trusting young friend, you stand on holy ground.” The secret to treating a date the way Heavenly Father would want them to be treated is to treat them with utmost respect and reverence.

Just like we prepare spiritually, emotionally, and mentally to enter the holy temple and make covenants with the Lord, we should also approach and build relationships with preparation, commitment, and devotion to each other, because both men and women are temples of the Lord.

Work is a spiritual necessity

Many people work to fill economic needs. But work is more than that. It is a spiritual necessity. The Lord has blessed us with gifts and talents that help us fulfill the commandment, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”. We are all expected to become self-reliant and to provide for our own needs and those of our family.

The Lord has also declared that “fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” At the same time, mothers are commanded to become “primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” Work is necessary in fulfilling these divine responsibilities.

The secret to winning someone’s heart is not about having a high-paying corporate job. It is mostly about understanding the value of work and the blessings that it can provide, not only to one’s family, but also to building the kingdom of God here on Earth.

These are just three of the secrets to winning a Latter-day Saint’s heart. There are more but these are the most fundamental, as they are the foundation from which Christ-centered relationships are built. Please feel free to comment and share the relationship “secrets” that most touch your heart below.

The post The Secret to Winning a Latter-day Saint’s Heart appeared first on morefaith.ph.

It’s a Time for Growth

It’s safe to say that sometimes, when a righteous plea to the Lord for a much-awaited eternal companion isn’t automatically granted, it is natural to feel within ourselves, “But I just can’t wait to get married and have an eternal family of my own.” The desire to be married is a righteous one, and one that should be a priority. But, if the proposals and the dates don’t come when you want, you should not get too consumed by your lack of a romantic relationship to the point of losing joy in your other blessings.

In President Uchtdorf’s talk “Your Potential, Your Privilege,” he told a story about a  man who missed out on his dream cruise’s food and fun activities simply because he didn’t understand the privileges that were available to him.. Praying for your dream wedding to your dream companion shouldn’t mean you miss out on some of life’s most wonderful offerings. Your singlehood is a perfect time for growth and improvement. With guidance from the Lord, you’ll find opportunities that will hone your talents, and harness your skills. As a son or daughter of God, the Lord has prepared wonderful things for you – not just being married! – and being single is a time to discover these opportunities freely.

It’s a Great Time to Better Prepare for Marriage

During your single years, you can avoid discouragement and disappointments by learning to wait actively. Active waiting is “staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.” Actively waiting with patience doesn’t mean settling and losing hope – it’s about learning to prepare better for the blessings that are to come. The single years are a great time to learn how to become a better parent, and a better eternal companion. Your singlehood gives you chances to better prepare yourself for marriage and other future opportunities – don’t miss them, and don’t forget to take them.

You Can Start to Be Happy Now

In September 2011, Sister Kirsten Oaks, shared powerful stories from her 53 years of singleness. She also shared a powerful lesson:

“On one occasion, full of worry and frustration about my single situation and my advancing years, I went to a priesthood leader for a blessing to strengthen me. The words spoken in that blessing stay with me to this day and ring truer to me as time passes. I can still quote them: “If you cannot bear the difficulties and challenges of single life, you will never be able to bear the difficulties and challenges of married life.” I sat a bit stunned. Those words were a call to action for me to make my life wonderful regardless of any situation or difficulty I faced. If I made a happy single life for myself, it would determine the happiness I would have as a married woman, and I wanted a happy future. I realized I had the capacity not only to bear difficult things but to look for the best in every situation. My attitude became much more positive. Life is a challenge, but it will always be a challenge—single or married—and I wanted to be equal to that challenge. I testify from hard-earned experience that the Lord is always preparing us for greater happiness and blessings.”

Your single years offer chances for you to learn to be happy now. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said “Don’t wait for happiness to be thrust upon you. Seek it out in service and learning.” In your single years, look for sources of lasting happiness – serving others, extending a hand to those in need, volunteering, learning a new craft and sharing it with others – for it can help you disperse the negative feelings that can inevitably come from singlehood.

You Have More Opportunities to Serve

Yes, it’s true – the best antidote to negative feelings is service. President Ezra Taft Benson reminded the single adults, “Rather than turning inward, forget self and really serve others in your Church callings, in personal deeds of compassionate service, in unknown, unheralded personal acts of kindness. If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.” It is so easy to look at your single status with a sad heart and to be consumed by impatience and worry. However, your singlehood can mean so much more as you embark in service – you have more freedom to reach out to others, and be there when they need you most. Think of this time as a time to help more, reach out more, and love more.

It Can Draw You Closer to the Lord

Learning to be patient is a lifelong process – it’s especially hard to be patient when you’re talking about matters of the heart. In this time of questions and deep longing, always turn to the Lord for comfort. He knows you, He loves you, and because you are His child, He has great things in store for you, both in this life and the life to come. Draw near to Him, become a better disciple, and always sustain the goal of celestial marriage. When you are tempted to question His timetable, remember to be grateful – for “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.”

Your single years are a time to develop love, appreciation, and gratitude towards the Lord. Immense yourself daily in the scriptures and develop a testimony that the Lord has your eternal perspective in mind.

Your single years can help you prepare for eternal marriage. In these times when the promised eternal companion’s arrival is taking longer than you expected, take comfort that in the Lord’s time, your righteous goals will be granted, whether in this life, or in the life to come. Don’t spend your days fretting because you are single. Set goals and achieve them, serve and find happiness, and learn to become a true disciple of the Lord.

The post Facing the New Year Single? Here’ are 5 Ways to Help You View the Single Years Positively appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Trust me, as much as this rule might give the bitter feels during Valentine season, there are some pretty good reasons why mormon teens are encouraged to follow it, and why you should, too.

1. BECAUSE TEENAGE YEARS ARE ALL ABOUT SELF-DISCOVERY

I’ve popularized this phrase myself, but have you ever heard of “dating yourself?” Yep, you heard right. Dates are defined as, “a planned activity that allows a young man and a young woman to get to know each other better.” As soon as I reached that age, my mom taught me that the next few years of my life would be about self-discovery, and there’d be no room to get caught up in the dating game until I turned 16.

Being the good daughter I was, I of course followed my mom’s counsel. However, it is only now that I realize that the most important person you will ever date is yourself. Because, how can you ever know the kind of person who fits in your life if you’ve never really taken time to know yourself?

Spend the years before you turn 16 as a time for self-discovery, to understand who you are as a child of our Heavenly Father, and you will be able to catch a vision for your future. Trust me, investing time in knowing yourself early on in life is something you will never regret doing.

2. BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL VULNERABLE TO HEARTBREAK, PAIN AND TEMPTATION

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The Lord has made us attractive one to another for a great purpose. But this very attraction becomes as a powder keg unless it is kept under control. It is beautiful when handled in the right way. It is deadly if it gets out of hand.”

I think almost all mormon teens, or even their non-member friends have wondered why we must wait to date until such a specific age. Sixteen is not a magical age when you are suddenly prepared to date. This counsel from our modern prophets against dating before you’re 16 is for our emotional, physical and spiritual safety.

The years before this are a very vulnerable time and a period when Satan is constantly trying to find ways to stump your development as a person. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet says, “Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet and can perhaps lead to immorality.”

President Hinckley reasoned, “this rule is not designed to hurt you in any way. It is designed to help you, and it will do so if you will observe it.”

3. BECAUSE TEENAGE LIFE IS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED

Alright, you might think, I’m completely against dating. (No, I’m surprisingly not) You might also think, “but dating is fun, too!” Dating is fun. It’s an opportunity for us to develop friendships and connections that will help us eventually choose the people we will spend our eternities with. But now is not the time for that.

Don’t wish this precious time to go by fast! Teenage life is meant to be enjoyed! It is a time when we develop bonds and friendships with other people, a time when we ultimately recognize our worth and identity as Heavenly Father’s children. Develop your strengths and know your weakness. Most importantly, have fun!

The post Mormon Teens: 3 Reasons Why They Don’t Date Until 16 appeared first on morefaith.ph.

As we contemplate our dating efforts, let us keep in mind small and simple steps Heavenly Father would have us take in order to achieve the ultimate goal of having a family.

Here is a list of things you can do to improve for this year:

1. Pray for guidance. This will help us see the direction God has prepared.
2. Join Institute activities. This is a way to meet people from other stakes.
3. Find simple ways to be together. Sit together during activities, or walk her home.
4. Repent. Our spirituality is reflected in our appearance.
5. Present our goals to God. This shows Heavenly Father that we are sincere with our desires.
6. Don’t use titles. Titles such as “Ate” and “Kuya” can block a dating opportunity.
7. Find ways to be in his or her presence. Sometimes, a little effort is needed.
8. Move on. We can’t find “the one” with only one person.
9. Ask for referrals. Our friends might have someone in mind who is perfect for us.
10. Do meaningful things together. This brings happiness in a relationship and not regret.
11. Remember the true purpose of dating. Inspiration comes with real intent.
12. Become spiritually mature. This is attractive for people who plans to marry in the temple.
13. Don’t use cellphones so often. Using cellphones create a barrier for communication in person.
14. Don’t just chat online. We can never truly know a person by only chatting online.
15. Accept date invitations. First dates are meant to build friendship and not commitments.
16. Stop hoping and start doing. Just like faith, nothing will happen without work.
17. Hold activities with other wards. There are many unfamiliar single adults within the stake.
18. Smile at him or her. Smiling at someone shows that you’re happy to see that person.
19. Brothers, act like a proper Priesthood holder. Be humble and full of virtue.
20. Sisters, become an elect lady. Modesty is attractive.
21. Be of good cheer. People would more likely spend time with you when you’re happy.
22. Be engaged in a good cause. Idleness is unattractive.
23. Learn new skills together. This is a great opportunity to build a relationship.
24. Make new friends. The person we’re looking for might not be in our circle of friends.
25. Set activities outside the church. This will help you get to know people in a different environment.

Dating could be exhausting and emotionally draining but whether we achieve our hopes for this year or not, these things will surely improve our overall capacity to do good.

God loves us and he wants us to find our eternal companion. As we make consistent efforts in fulfilling His commandment, our actions will become consecrated. Our divine purpose here on earth is to build our own family and achieve exaltation. Though these efforts may seem small and insignificant, this is God’s way for accomplishing great things(Alma 37:6).

The post 25 Ideas To Make Dating In 2018 Better appeared first on morefaith.ph.

“Malamig ang pasko ko,” is what we hear from people who are single this Christmas. We cannot deny that spending Christmas with a special someone is something that most people look forward to. Pero sa iba, dahil walang special someone, they sulk away and do not gleefully celebrate the season. Pero kailangan ba talagang maging malamig ang pasko? Ang nobyo o nobya ba ang dahilan ng pagdiriwang natin ng nakapaespesyal  na araw na ito?

We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth and life of Jesus Christ. During this season, we are reminded that He walked this Earth to show us the perfect example to follow.  We remember that because He came, all men will rise from the dead, can be forgiven of their sins, and have the opportunity to return to Heavenly Father. When we embrace that He is the reason for the season, we will be reminded that His birth and life are enough reasons for us to be joyful, grateful and feel loved. His love alone is enough para mapawi ang kalamigan ng mga puso ng mga taong malalamig ang pasko. At ang pagmamahal na ito ay ipinaparamdam niya sa pamamagitan ng ating pamilya at mga kailbigan. His love is always available to us not just during the season but in every season of our lives.

Some may say na hindi ganoon kadali maging masaya ngayong pasko kung sobrang nasasaktan ka. That’s true. Hindi nga talaga madaling maging masaya but the Lord counseled us through Gordon B. Hinckley, “The best medicine for despair is service.” There are many ways that we can serve this Christmas and every service that we do is valuable to Him. Giving service will increase our love towards Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and as we are filled with their love, our capacity to love others will grow.

May the perfect love of the Savior fill and warm the hearts of those who are in despair. At sana mapawi ng pagmamahal na iyon ang lahat ng kalamigan ng pasko sa bawat puso ng mga tao sa mundo.

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What She Did Not Have

Because of the wickedness of the people of Zidon, the Lord caused a famine to come to the land. The Widow of Zarephath was one of those affected by the famine. She did not have enough, in fact, she was down to her last meal. But the Lord chose her to serve Prophet Elijah.

In dating, we may sometimes feel like the Widow of Zarephath. There will be moments that we may think our resources are not enough for us to qualify to go on dates. Because of our inadequacies, we may feel that the dating scene is not for us.

What She Had

As I was reading her story, I paused for a moment and really thought of possible reasons why she was chosen to be the one to “sustain” the Prophet. The first thought that came to me was that she had faith. The Lord must have seen her heart and knew she was willing to sacrifice. I also thought that it could be because of her testimony of the Prophet. But one thing stood out in her story. Aside from her faith, and her testimony, she also had something very essential: “a meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse.” I do not know the conditions during their time but perhaps she was chosen because even though she only had little, she still had something to offer. She was ready because she had something to offer. She was sure to act on her faith because she had something to offer.

Many of us have the faith and the testimony that the Lord will give us wonderful eternal companions according to His timetable. Without a doubt, the Lord hears our righteous desires and is willing to bless us just as how he blessed the widow’s household with the presence of a Prophet. However, do we have “a meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse” ready? Are we self-reliant enough to faithfully “sustain” the possible eternal companion that may one day come our way?

The Lord Multiplies What Little We Have

Perhaps all of us has an experience where we tend to feel we aren’t ready because we only have a little to offer. At times, we may feel that preparedness means having an established career or a stable bank account. But that is not the case. Like the story of the widow, no matter how little it is, as long as we have something to offer, the Lord– through our faith, testimony and actions– can multiply it for us.

What you offer now may be simple: goals needed to be achieved, strong work ethic, education that is yet to be finished, or your dedication to the Lord’s work. But if you are obedient to the Lord and give dating and marriage a go, the little you may offer for now “shall not waste,” and “shall not fail.”

Be Like The Widow Of Zarephath

If you are still in the journey of finding an eternal companion, do all you can to prepare yourself to be ready to “sustain” dating and marriage. Get all the education you can, learn new skills, go out and mingle with people, be self-reliant in all aspects. It can bless your life. When a possible eternal companion enters the scene, you will be confident to say “I may have a little, but I have something I can offer.” With faith, testimony, and hard work,it will be enough.

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Through the years, I have come to realize that one of the reasons why we sometimes miss seeing our other half’s true worth is because we forget to compliment them. As husband and wife, you don’t just complement each other, you need to give compliments too. Here are the top 5 encouraging phrases your sweetheart needs to hear.

“I am proud of you!”

In the 2015 General Conference of the LDS church, Sister Linda K. Burton gave this powerful statement: “When we choose to complete rather than compete, it is so much easier to cheer each other on.” Because of the different roles of men and women, husbands and wives often make different contributions to the home. Don’t forget to acknowledge the efforts of your spouse. You are your other half’s best friend. Make sure that they know how proud you are of them. By doing so, you will also begin to see your spouse’s amazing traits.

“You inspire me.”

If you were asked to identify one inspiring thing about your spouse, what would it be? Do they know how much you appreciate what they do? Because of the responsibilities that come with building a home and a family, stress is inevitable. Take the time to silently observe your spouse. What kind of service does he or she give to others? What qualities do you learn from them? Let your spouse know that you see their simple acts and tell them how much they inspire you.

“You put so much heart in everything you do.”

In Tracy Lyn Cutler’s book “An 8 Cow Woman Deserves An 8 Cow Man,” she indicated that one of the things we need to develop in marriage is Passion. Everyone has a passion for something. For my husband, that would be building something out of nothing. For me, that would be writing. Oh, how easy it would be for me to complain about his weird project, or for him to get irritated by the mess I make while writing. Is the scenario familiar? Despite the mess I make, though, my husband still takes the time to compliment my writing because he knows my passion. Know your spouse better by knowing what sets their spirit on fire, and encourage them with compliments sometimes. It lets them know their efforts don’t go unnoticed.

“You’re beautiful/ handsome!”

Who doesn’t need this phrase? Being praised for our traits is great, but being told we’re beautiful does a lot for our confidence, too. Remember the story of Mahana and Johnny Lingo? Mahana was a village girl who everyone thought was ugly. When she married Johnny Lingo, who traded 8 cows for her hand in marriage, she surprised everyone when she transformed into a beautiful woman. When asked what happened, Johnny Lingo said “she has always been beautiful to me.” There is no doubt Johnny Lingo made sure his wife knew that and it influenced her for the better. Imagine how such encouragement could build and help your other half!.

“I love you.”

Elder Richard G. Scott said once “Do you tell your [spouse] often how much you love [him/her]? It will bring [them] great happiness.” Don’t withhold from your spouse expressions of love, either in words or in deeds.

Indeed, marriage is the most special relationship here on earth and the life after. Therefore, we must do all that we can to strengthen our marriages and our families. It won’t take a lot of money to make your spouse happy. Your daily, sincere expressions of love delivered through compliments can bless your marriage in ways no amount of money could ever do.

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