I was in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) last week for a work trip. (Any of you from Canada?) I LOVED the city. It was so diverse and incredible. And I took a day off to just explore the city with my friends. Good times.

In the middle of the downtown, there is a little park in the middle of a major mall and a lot of office buildings. In the middle of the park is a labyrinth made in the cement with different colored stones. A labyrinth is kind of like a maze but it has no dead ends...just a beginning and an ending.

There was a sign that explained the labyrinth and the tale that if you think about a question or a problem you're having, and if you start at the beginning, by the time you get to the end, you will have figured out the answer. The sign tells you to walk at your own pace and just quietly think.

One of my friends didn't do anything. She just sat in the middle of the labyrinth.
My other friend started at the beginning but got bored before she reached the end.

I started somewhere in the middle and ended up walking out the entrance.

None of us  followed the instructions.

None of us got our answer.

Now, I don't personally believe in "the power of the labyrinth" or anything. But, I HAVE had some things on my mind and some answers I've been needing. And the labyrinth experiment really taught me something.

Sometimes I want to just sit and not do anything, just hoping the answer will come to me or the problem will solve itself.

Sometimes I start on a journey to get my answer but I get tired of trying to figure it out and I give up.

Sometimes I look for a short cut (like starting in the middle of the labyrinth) and then end up right back where I started.

But, when I follow the instructions, I get my answer. EVERY TIME. It might take more effort and time than I would like, but eventually, I get the answer.

I know YOU have questions and problems, because many of you have submitted things you are worried about...or questioning...or wondering. I'm SO glad you've joined me here. And, I want you to know that I am reading every one and I'll be posting a lot in the next few weeks.

And, in the meantime, I invite you to think about my "labyrinth experiment". What are  YOU doing to try and find your answers?

Are you sitting in the middle waiting? Are you giving up half way through? Are you trying to start in the middle?

OR are you willing to do the work to figure out what Heavenly Father wants for you? What He wants you to know?

Because one thing I know for sure...He has the answers and He'll give those answers to you. It might take some time. But even though you and I might not be able to  figure it out, He knows EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. And He'll help us. He'll answer us.

I KNOW that is true.

"You have supposed that I would give it [the answer] unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. BUT, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind, then you must ask me if it be right, and if it be right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." (Doctrine & Covenants 9:7-8)

It's easy for me to list favorites of things. Maybe you've read my "about page". I list a lot of favorites there. But one thing that's hard for me to nail down is my favorite scripture.

In fact, some of the girls give me a hard time because when I speak, I often say, "this is my favorite scripture" or "I just have to share this favorite scripture" or "I know I already told you my favorite scripture, but this one REALLY is".

And so, I won't say this is my FAVORITE, but it's definitely my favorite right now. The New Testament is full of real gems...and this is perhaps the gemmiest (yes, that is a word...at least it is now!)

"Him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." —Ephesians 3:20

WOW. Read that again.

I love that it's not talking about the Lord as "Him who is able to do just a little bit above all that we ask or think" and it doesn't even say "Him who is able to do a lot above". It says exceeding abundantly above. Do you know how much that is? That is more than a little...it's more than a lot...it's quite a lot more than a lot, in fact.

So, what does this mean for you?

Think of something that you really hope for...something you've asked for...something you really desire.

And I'm not talking about that cute boy in math class talking to you (though that can certainly be something you really hope for!).

And I'm not talking about getting a car for your 16th birthday (though that might be something you've really asked for).

And I'm not even talking about getting a scholarship to the college of your choice (though certainly that is a worthy thing to desire).

Though, if those things are important to you, they are important to HIM. You need to know that.

But, I'm talking about all the things that are in your heart...all the things you've prayed for, asked for, thought of. Now imagine being granted that thing you've prayed for, asked for, thought of. NOW imagine getting EVEN MORE than that.

He can do that.

He WILL do that.

It might not be given to you quite how you asked for it, or quite how you thought of it, but I can promise you that what he has waiting for you is better than what you can imagine. Yes, even EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above.

Doesn't that make you smile?
Doesn't that get you excited?

He doesn't just love you a little. He doesn't just love you a lot.

He loves you EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that you think.

And this is quite a lot more than just a little...

I've been getting lots of questions about boys...."how do I know if he likes me?" is a common question when it comes to members of the "other team".  And we'll definitely try and figure all that out. In fact, I'm getting together some of my favorite guys to share their "expertise".

But, before we go there, I thought I'd try something a little different on this one...

This time I have the question. And I want you to give the answer. Because once you know the answer to THIS question, the answers to the "boy questions" become a little less matter-of-life-or-death.

Ready?

How do you know your Father in Heaven loves you? And I don't mean just kind of cares about you. I mean really really loves you...so much that He probably has to stop Himself from showering you everyday with all the blessings He has waiting for you.

You repeat, every Sunday, these incredible words:
"We are daughters of a Heavenly Father who LOVES US and we love Him."

HE LOVES US.

Can you feel how true that is? Do you know that to your core?

I'll get us started:

•       When I say my prayers in the morning, my day goes better.
•       When I mess up, He lights the path back.
•       When I need to feel loved, He has a friend call.
•       When I ask Him to help me, He prompts my parents to talk to me.

So, share your answer...How do you know He loves YOU?

It started out as as just a chip in my windshield window. It was a mark caused by the smallest of rocks. The chip really was small enough that it could have been easily repaired without replacing the whole windshield. If you catch it in time, they can put in a little subtance that seals the chip so it doesn't spread any further. You really can't even see the chip after the repair.

But, I've been so busy and it seemed like such a little thing. I knew I could let it go for just a little while longer.

But, I waited too long.

What started out as a little chip, almost overnight spread to become a 3-foot long crack across the middle of the window.

UGH! How did it get to that? If I had taken care of it when it was just a little chip, it would have cost me $20 and maybe 10 minutes.

Now, I'm looking at $200 and an hour. Where am I going to find either?

I was driving with some young women in my ward on a recent activity night. One of them noticed the crack (well, of course she did! It's THREE FEET LONG!!) and asked how it happened. But it wasn't me that answered her; it was the Spirit.

And here is what the Spirit taught me and the girls in my car...

We all sin. Some of these sins are "small" or "private" and can be taken care of between us and the Lord. Some of them are bigger and might involve another person. We might need to apologize or make amends to them (like when you hurt someone's feelings or "help" spread a rumor about another girl at school). But, some sins are serious enough that we can't make things right without some additional help. For times like that, the Lord has given us good Bishops to talk to so they can help us make things right...repair the chip.

When you've done something serious enough to talk to the Bishop, you usually know it. Have you had the nagging feeling and the uneasiness that just won't leave? That feeling comes from the Spirit and helps you be unsettled enough that you'll take action. Be grateful for that feeling and don't ignore it.

That nagging unsettling feeling is like that little chip. If you humbly go to your Father in Heaven in prayer and ask Him to help you have the courage to talk to your Bishop, you can STOP further damage. You can "repair" the chip. You can even repair it so it can't be seen!

But, if you delay taking care of the sin, what was a little chip can become a much bigger crack (and, like my windshield, it seems to happen overnight). Sure, the windshield can still be repaired (or replaced), but it will end up costing you more...more pain, more time, more unsettled moments without the peace of the Spirit.

Is there a "chip" in your life? It might have been caused by the smallest of rocks (or mistakes). Have you talked to Heavenly Father about it? If you are still feeling that nagging...if it still feels like the chip hasn't quite been repaired, talk to your Bishop. Tell him your concerns. Let him help you fix that chip in your windshield before it becomes a much bigger crack.

I promise you won't even see that chip anymore...once it gets repaired.

Saturday morning of this past General Conference, when Sister Elaine Dalton was called to be the new Young Women General President, I was so happy. I love Sister Dalton. I’ve only met her once but as soon as she shook my hand, I just knew she was someone I’d like to be friends with. You’d feel that way about her if you met her too. I’m sure of it.

You probably remember her, like my Laurel’s do, as the “marathon runner”. She has talked about her marathon experiences a few times when she’s spoken to us. And, in the recent YW General Broadcast, she shared the story of running up “Heartbreak Hill”. Do you remember that? She was feeling so alone in the Boston Marathon but there were people all along the way cheering her on. 

She talked about the importance of standing as a witness. And I started thinking of my friend Pam.

Sometimes it’s easier to “stand as a witness” when you don’t think you’re standing totally alone…when you know you have someone cheering you on.

I remember being at a friend’s house with a bunch of girls from school when I lived in Kentucky. One of the girls found a movie on tv and I knew immediately that this wasn’t a movie I should be watching. But, I sat there (my first mistake) and  kind of buried my head in a pillow, feeling sick to my stomach but not knowing what to do.

I finally got up to use the restroom. Well, really, I got up so I could go find a place to say a prayer. I knelt right there at the toilet and told Heavenly Father about the situation. I told Him I knew I shouldn’t be there but I didn’t know what to do…these girls were my friends and I didn’t want to be alone.

I got up and went back into the room (my second mistake). As soon as I sat down, my friend Pam (a girl who was very active in her Baptist church) turned to me and said, “do you want to go play checkers or something?” (Yeah, we used to play checkers!) I have NEVER felt such relief. Together we got up and left the room. And in time, a few other girls came in and joined us.

I think about that experience a lot. I assumed I was all alone in my desire to not watch that movie. Little did I know Pam didn’t want to watch it either.  But, I needed her encouragement to stand as a witness that night. She stood first and then I stood with her. And after that, I wanted to be a Pam for someone else.

Next time you need some courage to stand as a witness, be a Pam. You might think you are alone on Heartbreak Hill, but, there are others cheering you on, and more importantly, there are other witnesses waiting to stand up with you.  You just might need to be brave and stand up first.