God doesn’t want any of us to miss out.
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I have had a great Friday. We have a lot of activities going on in our home and it’s not always common to go into the “big city.”
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For one, I don’t like going into Salt Lake because it’s where I work, and I don’t feel like I’m “out on the town.” I feel like I’m at work when we go as a family. It can be tough to get your anxiety at an okay level and let your guard down as a police officer.
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My idea of a good evening is watching a movie from my own tv at home (I know, I am boring); however, my family deserves to be treated and enjoy places they’ve never been or don’t visit frequently.
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With that said, I want to ask you a question.
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What are we doing here on earth?
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There are several reasons we are here, but one we can turn our focus to for this post is ‘Joy.’
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“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” 2 Ne 2:25.
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As I spent the evening watching my children and my wife interact with them, I could feel peace. It was loud, there was laughter, and there were people all around. It didn’t matter, though. I took time trying my best to relax.
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As I watched them throughout the evening, that same peace kept coming back to me; however, I kept missing someone. It was my ten-year-old daughter, Emma—She chose to stay with a friend.
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We were have a lot of fun together, but I kept wondering if Emma was okay and how I knew she may be sad when she found out where we went for the evening. Even so, she was happy with her decision to stay and play with her friend.
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As I thought of her, I thought of my Heavenly Father. My mind turned to agency and how extraordinary life is.
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Indeed, we are to have Joy!
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Heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to explore and create. He has given us gifts and strengths to utilize our gifts. Most importantly, He has given the spirit to be our guide.
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As much as I missed my Emma tonight, I knew she was okay. She knows right from wrong and is brave when it comes to choosing the right. Why? Because her mother and I have taught her.
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Love your families and Hear Him!
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Art by David Bowman