Free to Change

Have you ever heard of a pivot point? It is a moment that occurs in your life that influences you to make a mighty change.
I had one of those moments when I was a very young, recently divorced, single mother. I was sitting in the church parking lot, after a night of partying, waiting for my best friend's mom to exit the building with my two year old Little C. He had been in her care overnight, which was an often weekend occurrence, and then had attended church with her the following morning. 
I remember watching my sweet, chubby cheeked toddler walk out the church doors, his hand in hers, being led to my car by this valiant caregiver. I was struck by the tremendous service and example she was providing my young son, but then another thought intruded upon my mind, "Why is this woman holding your son's hand as he walks out of church and not you?" A flood of emotion stormed my heart as I realized that if I continued on this path of choosing to worship "fun" instead of my Heavenly Father it would impact Little C's life so very negatively.  A wave of extreme grief and guilt flew over me - and then, in entered my pivot point. 
I had to make a choice.
At the end of my life I didn't want to utter any words similar to the ones found in 2 Nephi 9: 46:"... and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery." That consequence made me sick, for myself and my child. I did not want to invite Satan's influence in over my posterity due to my lackadaisical example of obedience.
President David O. McKay counseled:"The greatest battle of life is fought within the silent chambers of your own soul."
There was a quiet war waging in my heart for weeks afterward and I was afraid. I knew something great would occur if I allowed it, but change is hard work to embrace.
Paul said, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bare it."
So, I chose to change and escape.  I followed the counsel found in 2 Nephi 10:23, "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." 
I was free to choose. I was free to change. I was free to stop alienating myself from God and what He desired of me.
I was free to take advantage of the Atonement and bask in the glorious consequences that followed. 2 Nephi 9: 21 says, "And He cometh into the world that he may save all men (consequence) if they will hearken unto his voice (your choice); for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children..."
Choices can be hard and only we can determine which path we're going to take but I promise the Lord's route is much smoother and far more rewarding. 
Change is possible. The choice I made almost 11 years ago bares testimony of that. I plead with you as Nephi's younger brother Jacob does, if any change needs to occur in your life, please choose to "turn away from your sin; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation." 
This is the kind of change that welcomes in true happiness. 
I know it because I've lived it.