The following is excerpted from LDS Living. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Whether it’s a person we know intimately or someone we follow on social media, many of us know people who have chosen to leave the Church and walk away from their covenants. This experience might cause us to reflect on our own covenants and ask, “Why am I staying?” or maybe even, “Why should I stay?”
In her October 2023 general conference talk, Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman addressed these types of personal queries and set an example for how we might best be able to answer them. She shared a beautifully personal “why” statement and then encouraged us to do the same.
President Freeman recently visited Israel and observed the Jews at the Western Wall. “Most wear their finest when they visit this sacred place,” she shared. “The plea for a temple in their midst consumes their every day, … I admire their devotion.” After having such a unique experience with the Jews who longed for such covenants, she was interested to hear the members of the Church around her asking questions like, “Why should I walk a covenant path? Do I need to enter a house for making covenants? Why do I wear the holy garment? Should I invest in a covenant relationship with the Lord?’”
Rather than provide general answers for everyone to follow, President Freeman said, “Each of us will have to discover our own response to those deeply personal questions.” In essence, she invited each of us to craft our own “why” statements.
I decided to accept her invitation but wondered where to begin. While she said we each need to “discover our own response,” President Freeman gave us her own “why” statement as an example. Her statement began, “I walk this path as a ‘beloved daughter of heavenly parents,’ divinely known and deeply trusted. As a child of the covenant, I am eligible to receive promised blessings. I have chosen to walk with the Lord.” Looking at the written version of her talk shows us that President Freeman’s “why” statement is jam-packed with citations, scripture references, and doctrine.
Initially, writing a “why” statement intimidated me. I think I felt this way because President Freeman’s is so thorough and eloquent and I didn’t feel like I could do something that would be as grand. Then I decided that my statement wasn’t about length or scripture references. It just needed to be a personal statement that I felt spoke to my deepest feelings.
Once I cut myself loose from all expectations or comparisons, I was able to find within myself the simple reason(s) why it is worth every sacrifice and any potential inconvenience to keep the covenants I’ve made with Jesus Christ.
This was such a powerful experience for me. I invite you to take up President Freeman’s invitation and not just ponder but actually write down your own “why” statement—not just think about it, but actually write it down.
Your “why” statement shouldn’t look like anyone else’s, and it shouldn’t follow a formula. Instead, I want to pose a series of questions to consider that helped me craft my own. Don’t feel pressure to answer all of these, maybe one or two will spark a thought that will help you articulate your faith.
1. How has my life been blessed because of my choice to be on the covenant path?
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
