Stories Gallery

Years ago, I had a cool experience while visiting my aunt and uncle during the early part of my college years. If I remember right, I was going into my second semester as a student and thus was still unfamiliar and inexperienced with registering for classes. I’d say, in classic fashion, that I was very distracted with the social scene and not really focused on my studies, nor the scheduling/managing of them. The last night before I flew back out, I remember lying on the futon and feeling restless. I just kept getting the feeling that I was missing something. I mentally ran through all the stuff that I had packed, and everything seemed alright. Then the thought came to “check your college schedule." Kind of begrudgingly, I sat up, pulled out my laptop, and checked. To my panic, I saw that that day was the last day to register for classes, and I only had an hour or so before midnight. I hastily checked for generals that I needed and registered for anything that was still open. I honestly don’t know what would have happened had I not gotten that feeling to check on things. I said a prayer of gratitude for sure. God was looking out for me, and I learned from then on to be more diligent and on top of things.

Over my adult years, my social anxiety has heightened, making it difficult for me to get to know new people or to get involved in social activities at my local church congregation. One of these occasions was especially difficult for me as I had been struggling to feel like I fit in with the congregation I was attending. Every Monday they met for a group activity, and the part of me that likes social activities and getting to know people wanted to force myself to attend. I got to the church parking lot—even through the front doors—before I stopped. My anxiety had been getting stronger with each step, and I was tired and exhausted from a long day at work. I wasn’t sure I had the energy to make the effort to be social, but I also knew that if I could get over my anxiety, I always enjoyed being around people. As I thought about turning around and leaving, I noticed a picture of Christ on the wall, and thought about how He is always there for us and the perfect friend. I prayed a simple prayer, asking if Christ could go with me. As I took a deep breath and walked into the gym where they were meeting, I felt as if the Savior walked beside me. I knew I wasn’t alone and that even if I didn’t meet anyone new, or if no one talked to me, I had a friend in Christ.

I had always felt the gentle guidance to stay close to my family. I care about them a lot, and want good things for them. I served a church mission and was told that it would bless my family. When I returned home, I felt like that wasn’t the case at the time. Not many of them were consistently attending church or wanted to attend. Illness and addictions had plagued my family. I felt they were worse off with me gone. I was off at college and sitting in church one day. I felt the need to think about them. A friend invited me to sit outside the temple as we both had similar problems we were going through with work and needed to figure out what to do. We arrived and I sat down and he asked me to watch after his scriptures. I immediately felt like I needed to use them. So I asked if I could use them, and he said I could while he walked away. I picked them up and expected to find some simple small answer and instead received a promise about my family. The scripture the book opened up to was D&C 31 and my eyes immediately started reading verse 2: “Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.“ I felt the Spirit confirm this promise to me. This experience has brought a lot of peace in my life over the years. I anxiously await for the day for Christ’s promised words to me to be fulfilled.

I was feeling anxious at a church meeting one day and decided to stand outside the door listening and pacing a bit. While doing so, a friend from the congregation passed by me and turns out we were doing the same thing! It honestly was kind of funny to find both of our socially anxious selves now in a conversation, but it felt honest. Like I knew the friend wasn’t judging me at all because we were in the same boat. Anyways, she shared this little tip of taking your shoes off and just feeling the ground with your feet. Like feeling the sensation of the floor and carpet would help me feel “grounded” and calm my anxieties. I had never heard of that life hack before, so I gave it a try and it actually helped! I’ve thought of that tool many times since and it’s been a blessing. I guess I’m sharing this story because it felt like God was helping me through this friend so that I now have a coping technique I can use anytime! I know God knows we have anxiety and depression and I believe with all my heart he wants to help us!

I had a wonderful "follow-up" experience to one that I had already shared here a while back (Story #4). It happened again while playing VR actually, and at the time, I had been feeling a mixture of being alone in my faith and in my goals. I knew I wasn’t, but the feeling was nonetheless there. I had hoped that exercising would help me get some energy out and feel better.   While playing, a scenario came into my mind about being asked why I believe and what I would say in response. As I imagined myself bearing my testimony, I felt an embracing feeling of peace and companionship. It was so uplifting, joyful, and powerful that it felt like my heart would burst. The feeling so clearly carried the message that Jesus Christ was walking this path with me, that I was not alone in my faith, and that together we would accomplish the righteous goals of my heart. Together, we would accomplish the impossible.   In contrast to my last experience, where I relied on anger to give me strength and learned to rely on Christ, here I felt this was the next step, which was to be filled with love and unity with Him. The strength and confidence from it were in a league of their own, and I’ll never forget that feeling. Jesus’s love will always be stronger than the hate and anger in our lives.

Some 35 years ago a young man in our neighborhood had been struck by a car while walking home from school. Because the accident left him with some special needs, both mentally and physically, his mother chose to leave the family. His father tried his best to take care of him, but had to work during the day—leaving him alone at home. He would on occasion come to our house and ask for food which we would happily give. We eventually moved to a different part of town and I lost track of him. A few weeks ago I saw him hitchhiking by the side of the road, so I pulled over and called him by name. I introduced myself and the first thing he said was, “I remember you….you and your family were nice to me and gave me food when I was hungry”. Once we got on the road, I was astonished when he then asked, by name, how our children were doing! After complimenting him on his memory, I asked him how things were. He said his father had moved away and left him with his grandparents. Then I said something like, “you have sure had a pretty tough life”. He then said, “no….there was a time when I wanted to kill myself, but I then realized that God wanted me to be happy….I now look forward to each day and just try to be happy.” Driving home, I thought to myself, he has been abandoned by both parents, struggles mentally and physically, and probably doesn’t have many friends but here he is: looking forward to each day and what it can bring; grateful for small acts of kindness. I was reminded of the power to see the hand of God in our lives each day.

Once I needed to make a significant purchase, but it was really hard to find. The purchase was in order to help someone else, and I was worried because the longer it took to find the more my dear friend would struggle. I prayed for guidance on what to do. One day in the morning, while getting ready, I got the random feeling to just drive all the way over to the place that sometimes carries them, not knowing if they’d have any, and just ask. It was a long drive so I was surprised by the feeling, yet, it just felt so clearly like what I needed to do. So, chuckling to myself that I was actually doing this, I headed out—the whole way having really no idea what was going to happen. When I got to the place I walked in and asked an employee if they had any and, of course, they said no. I pleasantly thanked them and, not knowing what else to do, stood there and looked around at whatever was nearby. Only a few seconds later, the employee stopped me and, in surprise, shared that a truck had literally just arrived and they were checking in new items. He refreshed the stock on his computer, and one had arrived. I was floored. I made the purchase and was able to help my dear friend that very weekend. If I had more time to write, I would love to share the other miracles of timing that happened that day—all in order to get my friend what they needed. But this experience itself was such a testimony to me that God knows exactly how to answer our prayers, even down to the seconds.

I get socially anxious sometimes and church is honestly a place where it happens frequently. I think it’s just sitting all close together. I sometimes feel trapped and my thoughts loop on what others are thinking of me. One day I decided to walk around in the hallways to ease the anxiety. While walking I passed a young man, sitting alone, who looked down. In my thought process, I did as I usually do and simply kept walking, not looking around or making eye contact. When I rounded the corner, I got the feeling to go back and ask him if he was alright. I got really nervous at the thought, but I felt peace too. I knew I needed to follow that prompting. I turned around and walked up to the young man and asked, respectively, if he was alright. He looked up and began to express that he was not. I surprised myself by sitting down next to him and he talked. He told me of the worries and troubles that he was feeling and I found my own feelings begin to change. A genuine love and care for this young man replaced my anxious feelings, and I no longer was worried. I was just wanting to help Him. When he was done he thanked me for asking—it meant a lot to him. We have become friends and I feel grateful every time we see each other. If you feel socially anxious, don’t worry. I understand it, and I don’t think the Lord wants us to do anything we can’t handle. On that day though, I believe the Lord knew someone was in need, and He knew I could help, even if nervous. 🙂

Long ago, when our family was young and our schedule was very full, I remember a particular day feeling very overwhelmed. I let my family know that I was going to a quiet place in our backyard. My heart was heavy, and I wanted to pray privately and pour my heart out to my Father in Heaven. So I went out and did just that.   In that private moment, while I was praying, I heard voices in the distance. I looked around, and I saw my "visiting teachers" in my driveway. My heart was lifted just seeing them. I started to walk over to them, and then I saw it. Dishes and bowls with food. They had decided to bring over some dinner. They just felt to do so.   In our sweet exchange, I realized they brought much more than dinner: they brought their love and sensitivity by seeing me where I was and lifting me. My overwhelmed heart felt loved. They were ministering to me—heart to heart, sister to sister.   I have never forgotten that day when my heart was healed through the kind act of two sisters in my congregation. How I needed that. How could something so simple feel so healing? They were on the Lord’s errand, and they brought healing through Him.

I get anxious fairly often, and for the longest time I believed that the anxiety I was feeling was the Holy Ghost sending me impressions to do (or not do) certain things. One experience that helped me begin to move past that idea was when I changed housing as a college student. The place I was moving to I didn’t know much about and hadn’t even met all the roommates (which was a big deal for me since I was coming from a very toxic roommate situation). Yet, I felt peaceful about it. When I prayed I felt that it was what I should do. However, when the time came to sign, I felt an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and dread. It was more than I had ever felt before, and, honestly, any other day I would have completely backed away, believing God was telling me it was a terrible decision. Thing was, He had already told me it was good; so before me was the dilemma: do I trust the answer I had been given in peace, calm, and joy, or was this new feeling of anxiety and fear the “new” answer? Surprising myself (considering how I responded to anxiety at the time) I decided to trust the peace I had once felt, ignoring the anxiety, and signed the contract. In the end, living there was a life-changing experience. The roommates I had and the people I met became lifelong friends, and I’ve felt multiple times that the Lord guided me to those wonderful people. From that experience, I believe, will all my heart, the scripture in Galatians 5:22 describing the fruits of the spirit as love, joy, peace, and other amazing feelings—not anxiety, fear, and dread.

I had an experience that was super simple, but I think the message, at least what it meant to me, was huge. I was playing a game with some friends and, while we all care about each other, sometimes competitive spirits give way to some genuine frustrations and intensity, ya know? Anyway, it was my turn, and I needed to avoid getting one number for my token's movement or I would land on a spot that would make me lose. With the movement counter spinning, something in me just said “You are going to get that number you don’t want”. For a split second I brushed it aside, but I knew that feeling. Even though I didn’t want to give into it or admit it, I just knew it was going to happen. I stopped the counter, and, lo and behold, there shone the number for my eventual loss. Why this all mattered to me was because I genuinely believe that God gave me a little warning so I would react well. When I saw the number, instead of being shocked and upset, I was calm and expecting. It helped me not be mad about it. In fact, it helped me laugh! Like I couldn’t believe, of all the possibilities, I’d actually get it. In that moment we all couldn’t believe it actually, and instead of being caught up in trying to win, the moment dispelled frustrations and we all laughed at the sheer ridiculousness. I walked away from that really feeling humbled. Not that playing or trying to win is bad, but it was more important for me and my friends to just be together and share the moment, win or lose. I’m gonna remember that lesson forever.

I’d been out of work for about 8 months. I had a couple prospects that looked ok, but nothing was finalized. Financially, I had enough savings for another couple months, but that was it. Because of the conditions at my last job, I was too emotionally exhausted to freak out about the money running out soon, so I kind of just turned off and stopped caring/trying. One morning I was doing my hair and I had the distinct impression that I’d get paid again before the container of hair stuff ran out. I didn’t put a lot of stock in that feeling, but it gave me something to hold on to. About a month later I did accept a job offer. What I didn’t realize was the company didn’t process payroll bi-weekly—only once per month. And they run 1 pay cycle behind. So I ended up waiting a month and a half before I got my first paycheck. And the next day—the very next day—my hair stuff ran out. The lesson I took away was that The Lord knows our lives down to the ultimate level of detail, and He told us not to be afraid. I’ve gone through several containers of hair stuff since then, but I kept that particular empty thing of hair stuff. So now when I worry about my career or the future in general, I just open the drawer and look at the empty hair stuff container and I keep moving forward, knowing that He’ll help.