Stand Up for What Right…Even if you Stand Alone

My daughter came home from church today, I asked her how young women's was and she replied with tears in her eyes, "that was exactly what I needed"! She then began to tell me they had a young adult come to speak to the laurels and the priests today. He told of his experience in high school and my daughter said it felt as if he were speaking right to her.

As we talked about what she was taught, the spirt filled the room and I couldn't help but think of her time spent in the temple yesterday doing our family names and the prayers I offered in her behalf while she was gone. I knew that this lesson was just another answer to the plea for help and blessing for her sacrifice in the temple yesterday!

Not only were the prayers answered through this lesson but I saw a huge relief upon her shoulders as she knew, she was doing what her Father in Heaven wanted her to, no matter how hard it seemed.

For the past several months, she has watched many of her friends make choices that involved word of wisdom problems including drugs, drinking, and smoking. She has tried to help them by setting a good example, asking them not to do it, and even getting angry and calling them out. Nothing has seemed to help her friends and she has been so torn up inside knowing what they were doing and worrying that something bad could possibly happen to her friends  that she really cared about.

But after going to the temple yesterday, the many prayers offered in her behalf, the answers came flooding to her as what she has been going through was exactly what this young man taught in church. She knew the Lord was speaking directly to her and she felt so much peace and joy as he spoke of his experience of having good friends who made bad choices and having to spend many times alone because he didn't want to make those same mistakes. He told of how his life turned out versus the friends who did not stay on the right path. He went on a mission, married in the temple, has a baby, and is a very successful marathon runner.

It has been hard for Niah these past few months, as she has stayed away from the things her friends were doing but in the process has felt very alone . Many nights she would be sitting home with her family while her friends were all out doing things she did not want to be a part of. I think she felt a bit trouble and wondered why she felt so alone when she was making the right choice.   I told her that It is okay to stand up for what is right even if that means you have to stand alone. But it is much harder than it sounds for a teenager that just wants to enjoy life with her friends.

Although she told me  she was getting used to going it alone I knew it was still hard for her. After the lesson today she knew she was doing the right thing and looked at where she wanted her life to be in 5 years and if she kept doing what she needed to do than it would get her where she wanted to be then.

I told her that no ones opinion of you matters except the Lord and He is so extremely proud of the woman she is becoming and knows she is in a great position to make a difference in the lives of her friends by continuing to love them, set a good example, and be there for them, when they decide they need someone to help them get back on the right track.

I am so amazed at her spiritual strength and always having the determination to stand up for what right even if that mean she has to stand alone!  I am so thankful for the prayer, temple, and family history work that has blessed her to see that what she is doing is exactly what the Lord wants her to and gave her the strength and determination to not give up on what matters most. I love her and am so grateful for her example to me and the wisdom she has at such a very young age.