Labelled as Innocent. I love it.

I remember being at a friend's house where an acquaintance was about to tell a story, but then paused, concluding, "Never mind, I wouldn't want to shock your innocent self with my worldly tales." 
I smothered my burst of laughter and replied, "Thank you." I couldn't believe it. He had labelled me as innocent. And in that moment I thought it was freaking fantastic.
It was far better than some of the other labels I'd been given in the past, but just as fictional. A title quickly given to a story never read. Never known.
A few months back I had the honor of attending a temple sealing. I can still hear the sealer's wise advice, "Don't hold on to the records of the past." 
Forgive one another. 
Forgive yourself.  
The second one is hard for me. 
The consequences of leaving the path are unpredictable.  And for me, it was drama mama. No thank you. 
But, the consequences of returning to the path and staying on the path are extraordinary.
I see people I love contemplating leaving the church. I had one friend ask me why I had changed, why had I come back? Was it because it was familiar? And the only answer inside of me was, "No, it's because it's true." 
I was born with a testimony that I cannot deny. Heavenly Father is very aware of me, of you, but so is Satan.
Please don't give him the time of day. He's lame.
In the words of President Thomas S. Monson, "My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven's help in our lives." I love the Book of Mormon. It is home to me. In my patriarchal blessing it talks about how reading the scriptures will become a choice time in my life, where I can set aside the things of the world and grow spiritually. That studying the scriptures will be a time I look forward to... and I thought, yeah, maybe when I'm eighty. How naive I was. I cannot express to you how much I love this book. How the spirit enlightens me as I read its verses and what gratitude I have for the men who kept this record safe and for the man who translated it. 
Sometimes it's hard to be peculiar. To some the gospel may feel like more of a burden than a blessing. 
But, to me, it is a blessing. And I know that to you, it can become one. I know this not because I'm the stereotypical stay at home Mormon mom with six kids whose life may appear perfect, but because I follow the One who is perfect.