“The Party Problem,” Friend, January 2021
The Party Problem
The author lives in Corrientes, Argentina.
Part of Luz just wanted to go to the party. But she still felt uneasy.
“Study it out in your mind; then … ask me if it be right” (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8).This story takes place in Corrientes, Argentina.
Luz felt happy. The school year was ending, and so many exciting things were happening. Soon she would graduate from sixth grade. Next year, she’d be in secondary school!
It surprised her how much she had grown up. She was taller, and she wasn’t a little kid anymore. Those changes were exciting, but she also felt a little nervous.
She decided to talk about it with her parents.
“This is a wonderful time in your life, Luz,” Papá said. “It’s a time for you to learn, do your best, and reach goals that will help you become the person God knows you can be.”
“But life comes just one day at a time,” Mamá said. “You’ll grow and become that person with each small, good choice you make.”
That helped Luz feel better. She was glad that she didn’t have to grow up all at once.
One day at school, Luz’s friends told her they were going to have a graduation party. They were super excited. There would be dinner, music, lights, and even a dance!
But as Luz listened to her friends talk about the party, she started to feel uncomfortable. It didn’t sound like the kind of party where she’d be able to feel the Holy Ghost.
“You’re going to come, right, Luz?” one of her friends asked.
“You have to come!” another friend said. “I’ll tell my parents to talk to your parents. Then they’ll let you come.”
“Maybe.” Luz’s stomach was doing flip-flops. “I … I’ll let you know.”
Luz spent the rest of the weekend thinking about the party. She thought about it while she practiced the piano. She thought about it while she played with her baby brother. No matter what she did, it was on her mind.
Part of her just wanted to go to the party. But she still felt uneasy. The nervous feeling in her stomach wouldn’t go away.
“Are you OK, hija?” Mamá asked on Sunday afternoon. She combed her fingers through Luz’s long, dark hair.
“Well …,” Luz said.
“Are you still thinking about the party?”
“I don’t know what to do,” said Luz. “I want to go. But I know I won’t have a good feeling there.”
Mamá smiled. “I know you’ll make a good choice,” she said. “Think about it, make your choice, and tell Heavenly Father what you’ve decided. He’ll help you know if it’s right. You’ll feel it in your heart.”
Luz nodded. She took a deep breath and went to her room to pray.
“Heavenly Father,” Luz whispered. “My friends invited me to a party, but I don’t feel good about it. I’m going to tell them that I can’t come. Is this the right thing to do?”
A wave of warmth came over Luz. She didn’t feel confused anymore. She felt like she was full of light! She knew she was making the right choice.
When Luz walked out of her room, she gave Mamá a big hug.
“I decided not to go,” Luz told her.
“I’m proud of you,” said Mamá.
Papá gave Luz a hug too. “I have an idea,” he said. “Let’s have our own graduation party. We can have ice cream and celebrate as a family!”
Luz smiled. She loved ice cream! And she loved knowing that she could do the right thing, even when it was hard. With every small, good choice she made, she could grow up to be the person God knew she could become.
Illustrations by Tammie Lyon