Digital Only: Young Adults
5 Talks to Help You Understand God’s Plan for You
I realized that Heavenly Father did have a plan for my life, but He also expected me to put in the work necessary to make my goals happen.
“Decisions determine destiny.”
I remember pausing the BYU Speech I was listening to with a healthy amount of surprise. Destiny? That seemed pretty set in stone to me. Storybooks and fairy tales had made that abundantly clear.
But based on what I was hearing, I did have a choice in my destiny! So how did God still have a plan for me?
With as many questions as I had, I began to study, pray, and ponder on them. I realized then that Heavenly Father did have a plan for my life, but He also expected me to put in some of the work necessary to make my goals happen.
If you have questions about God’s role in your life, reading these five talks is a good place to start.
“Joy and Spiritual Survival”—President Russell M. Nelson
Sometimes life is hard. We can feel unsure if God is really there, and that can make it difficult to find happiness. But Heavenly Father’s path for us includes joy.
As President Nelson famously put it: “When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.”
“Where Will This Lead?”—President Dallin H. Oaks
I once heard someone say that as young adults, we are in the decade of decision. This can seem contrary to the idea that God has a plan for us. But Heavenly Father wants us to exercise our agency and make inspired choices.
As President Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “Our present and our future will be happier if we are always conscious of the future. As we make current decisions, we should always be asking, ‘Where will this lead?’”
“Holiness and the Plan of Happiness” —President Henry B. Eyring
At one point in my life, I remember asking myself why I was missing out on some blessings that others around me were receiving. It wasn’t until I looked at my recent lifestyle choices that I realized the Lord was requiring more of me. Heavenly Father’s plan for us includes living the gospel standards—“at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9).
President Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, once said:
“You have observed in your own life and in the lives of others the miracle of happiness coming from growing holiness, becoming more like the Savior. …
“Greater holiness will not come simply by asking for it. It will come by doing what is needed for God to change us.”
“Waiting on the Lord”—President Jeffrey R. Holland
It can be hard to be optimistic about God’s plan when you feel like He isn’t delivering on promises you’ve received in the past—whether it involves eternal marriage, children, a career, or even just a break from your current difficulties. But Heavenly Father’s plan includes waiting.
President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught:
“I speak of the yearning of many who would like to be married and aren’t or who are married and wish the relationship were a little more celestial. I speak of those who have to deal with the unwanted appearance of a serious medical condition—perhaps an incurable one—or who face a lifelong battle with a genetic defect that has no remedy. I speak of the continuing struggle with emotional and mental health challenges that weigh heavily on the souls of so many who suffer with them, and on the hearts of those who love and suffer with them. …
“… The point is that faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf.”
“God Will Do Something Unimaginable”—Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Regardless of your personal circumstances, you may have at one point or another felt forgotten by the Lord. You may have wondered, “How does God have a plan for me when I don’t even feel like He is there?”
I’ve been there. Heavenly Father’s plan will have miracles beyond what you can imagine.
As Elder Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles put it:
“God will watch over and shepherd you during these times of uncertainty and fear. He knows you. He hears your pleas. He is faithful and dependable. He will fulfill His promises.
“God has something unimaginable in mind for you personally and the Church collectively—a marvelous work and a wonder.
The Perfect Path to Peace and Happiness
“From the depths of my soul and in all humility,” President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) declared, “I testify of the great gift which is our Father’s plan for us. It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.”
Heavenly Father knows you. He is aware of you. He has a plan for you and your life. And believe me, it is beyond anything you can imagine.