President Uchtdorf promises 'happily ever after' to young women
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Related articles:
Sister Dalton: 'Remember who you are'
In most languages there exists a phrase as magical and full of promise as perhaps any in the world — "Once upon a time," said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf during the General Young Women Meeting on March 27.
Those words "promise something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes," said the second counselor in the First Presidency. "It may include tales of courage, hope and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean, and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines, and we see the enchanting words 'and they lived happily ever after.' "
Speaking to a capacity congregation in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, President Uchtdorf told more than 20,000 young women, their mothers and leaders that everyone desires to be heroes and heroines in their own stories, to triumph over adversity, experience life in all its beauty, and live happily ever after.
In addition to President Uchtdorf, Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, and her counselors, Sister Mary N. Cook and Sister Ann M. Dibb, spoke. President Thomas S. Monson and President Henry B. Eyring, his first counselor in the First Presidency, also attended the meeting, which was translated and broadcast to meetinghouses across the globe.
President Uchtdorf asked the young women to think back to their favorite fairy tale.
"In that story, the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milk maid, a ruler or a servant," he said. "You will find one thing all have in common — they must overcome adversity."
Sandwiched between their "Once upon a time," and "Happily ever after," they experienced hard times, he said.
"Why must all experience sadness and tragedy?" he asked. "Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy and love? ...
"In stories as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."
President Uchtdorf shared a story from his own teenage experience, when the missionaries brought a beautiful girl named Harriet to Church. He fell in love with her "from the first moment I saw her." Unfortunately, she thought of him only as a friend. He tried to find ways to spend time with her.
"When we had special activities at Church, I rode my bike to Harriet's house and rang the doorbell. Harriet's mother usually answered. ... I would ask if Harriet would like a ride to Church on my bicycle. Harriet's mother would say, 'No, she will be coming later, but I will be happy to ride with you to Church.' This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but how could I decline?"
President Uchtdorf said as time passed he saw Harriet with other young men. "Was I disappointed? Yes. Was I defeated? Absolutely not!"
After he finished his training as a fighter pilot, President Uchtdorf said he experienced a "modern miracle" and won Harriet's heart. The couple married.
"The process hadn't been easy — there were moments of suffering and despair — but finally my happiness was full and it still is, even more so."
President Uchtdorf told the young women that they will experience their own adversity. "None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.
"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life's story will develop."
President Uchtdorf asked the members of the congregation to stay true to what they know is right.
"Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. Ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or who give in to base instincts."
In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, sometimes it is difficult to know the truth.
The truth, he said, is that God knows the way and He has a map. "He is your beloved Heavenly Father who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places. All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan."
In closing, President Uchtdorf promised that "happily ever after" is not something just found in fairy tales. "You can have it. It is available for you. But you must follow your Heavenly Father's map."
