Go to the Right, Stay to the Right

Last week, my lovely and wonderful sister-in-law informed me that she had been given tickets to the General Relief Society Meeting at the Conference Center and invited me to attend! This was the first time I've been able to attend, so I was super happy! (Every other time, I've watched it in a church building or on TV.) As I neared the Conference Center, I was thinking, "Where on earth should I park?", because I didn't have a parking pass. So, I prayed to know where I should park. :)

I received my answer, "Go to the right, stay to the right." I thought, "Hmm, did I just make that up?" But the Holy Ghost whispered to me again, "Go to the right, stay to the right." So I did! :)

I turned right at the very next street, 200 North, and continued to look for parking spaces on the right side of the street. I began to worry when I saw that every parking space was taken, but I finally found one right before the stop sign at 200 West. Like, I literally had a foot-and-a-half before the No Parking red curb began. What a relief it was to find a parking spot that wasn't a mile away! :) I walked toward the Conference Center and made it with plenty of time to spare. Yay!

The Relief Society meeting was so delightful - every speaker was inspiring! For me, the highlight of the night was singing the song, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go". It spoke to my soul and made me think of all the places I've lived...all of the callings I've served in...all of the service I've given to my family and friends. It made my soul want to continue doing whatever our Heavenly Father and Savior desire of me. :)

Over the course of the evening, I also had an uplifting discussion with my sister-in-law. I love my extended family so much! :)

I have to say that I felt so sad for President Monson when he spoke his wife's full name at the end of his talk. Here are his beautiful paragraphs leading up to that moment:

"My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there. 

"As we seek our Heavenly Father through fervent, sincere prayer and earnest, dedicated scripture study, our testimonies will become strong and deeply rooted. We will know of God’s love for us. We will understand that we do not ever walk alone. I promise you that you will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you. I know this to be true in the passing of my eternal companion—Frances Beverly Johnson Monson."

His words made me teary because I think I know why he said his wife's full name publicly. You see, when my youngest sister, Mackenzie, passed away, we said her name all the time. But as time passed, we said her name less and less. I missed saying her name so much, and still do. It was bad enough that we weren't saying her name in conversation very much anymore, but it was even worse to realize that I would never be able to call Mackenzie's name and get a response from her ever again - at least not in this world. Yes, I have no doubt that President Monson dearly misses speaking his lovely wife's name aloud. I will be praying for him...

After the meeting ended, my sister-in-law, her friend, and I started to head up the stairs with the rest of the ladies. When we realized our line was taking forever to move, we decided to head down the stairs instead - which I didn't know was an option! Our little adventure saved us a lot of time by taking us out the back door of the bottom level of the Conference Center - which just so happened to be a four minute walk away from where my car was parked! (I mapped it.) I asked my sister-in-law where she was parked, and she said she was parked clear on the other side of the Conference Center, which would have been a 15 minute walk. (I mapped it.) Thus, I gave my sister-in-law (and her friend) a ride back to her car, and we continued our great conversation. :)

During my drive home, I thought about my experience of going to the right and staying to the right. Because I followed the inspiration I received from the Holy Ghost and continually chose to stay to the right, I was able to have a much shorter walk than I would have if I hadn't listened - both to and from the Conference Center! I mean, who knows where I would have found a parking spot, and how l o n g my walk would have been? Also, because I listened, I was able to help out my sister-in-law and her friend. I saved them 11 minutes of unnecessary walking! :)

I further pondered that my experience is a great little life analogy. When we follow what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches (from the Scriptures, etc.), and listen to the Holy Ghost and the Prophets, we are absolutely blessed. There are also times when our righteous choices bless other people's lives - which makes us feel so good! I love that my little "go to the right, stay to the right" experience fully resembles one of the happiest songs ever written, "Choose the Right". It's absolutely true!

1. Choose the right when a choice is placed before you.
In the right the Holy Spirit guides;
And its light is forever shining o'er you,
When in the right your heart confides. 

(Chorus)
Choose the right! Choose the right!
Let wisdom mark the way before.
In its light, choose the right!
And God will bless you evermore. 

2. Choose the right! Let no spirit of digression
Overcome you in the evil hour.
There's the right and the wrong to ev'ry question;
Be safe thru inspiration's pow'r. 

3. Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.
Choose the right! There's safety for the soul.
Choose the right in all labors you're pursuing;
Let God and heaven be your goal.