Eternal Choices

I have been thinking a lot about how some of our choices in life have a greater impact than others. I guess that goes without saying. The choice of what you eat in the morning doesn't matter near as much as the choice of who you marry. Anyway, the thing that I have been really thinking about lately is the fact that there are only a few choices that a person makes that truly have ETERNAL consequences.
In my humble opinion the first eternal choice would be about membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was born to a part member family. My mom was a member as were my maternal grandparents. My dad on the other hand was baptised but not active. My mom took me to church but never forced me to go. I was one of those teenagers that went to church, but I don't think I ever really had a testimony of my own. I made some choices in high school that I am sure didn't help my efforts to gain a testimony and I struggled a bit. When I made the choice to become an exchange student and was sent to Australia for a year, I looked at it as an opportunity to find out some answers for myself. I was away from family and friends so the only real influence I had was what I would seek out. I made the choice to read the Book of Mormon and actually think about what I read. To look up , study and ponder things. This was the first time I had really put some effort into finding a testimony for myself. When I got to Tasmania, I made the effort to find a Branch so that I could try and get to church. I couldn't go every week, but I made sure that I would study and read every Sunday. Guess what, by the time I finished reading the Book of Mormon, I had truly gained the testimony I had been seeking. I made the Choice then and there that when I got home I would not waver and that was the best Choice I could have made. I have gained such strength and comfort over the years knowing what can be ahead of me.
The next choice I made that I know has eternal consequences for me, was choosing someone to marry. I knew that I wanted to be married in the temple, I wanted that eternal marriage so that I could be assured that I could have my family together forever. I tried to make sure that I dated guys that could make that wish come true. It is funny how Heavenly Father will put us in the right situation to make things happen if we will just listen. The summer job I thought I had in Fallon was given to someone else and I was able to get a job out of the blue in Wells, Nevada. That was were I needed to be to meet the person I was supposed to marry. The decision to say Yes to the marriage proposal from Cortney Dahl was pretty easy. Heavenly Father had put me there so I actually didn't argue with him this time.
The third eternal decision that I have faced was to have children. This choice was a no brain er, of course I wanted a family. I am so grateful that I was able to have children. I know that sometimes a husband and wife don't have children in their home, but I am sure that for the most part this isn't a choice they make, and that they will be blessed with an eternal family of choice spirits that need great moms and dads. Anyway, I have come to realize that the choice to have children is a great responsibility. As a parent you always feel responsible for your children's eternal welfare. I know that they have their free agency, but it is my job to make sure that they have the tools and knowledge that will help them make the choices that will get them back with me in the end. Each day, I worry and weigh my efforts, so that I can be an example to them, so that they can make the eternal choices they need to make in their lives. This is definitely one of the on going choices in a persons life. I know that my mom worried about me until the day she passed away. I hope that the choices I make in my life are up to the task of being a good influence in my children and now my grandchildren's lives.
My son, has made great choice lately. He has made the choice to be of service to the Lord by accepting a call to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will be serving in the Maryland Baltimore U.S. Mission. I am so pleased that he made this choice. He will be a great missionary, because he is a great person and has a testimony of the gospel. I will miss him, but I am making the choice to be supportive and excited right along with him.