How can I be sure that I’m choosing the right girl to marry as promised in my patriarchal blessing?

Question

Dear Gramps,

I have a question concerning a particular part of my patriarchal blessing that has been bugging me since the day I received it. First, let me tell you a little of what it says. My patriarchal blessing tells me that in the pre-existence I chose the person that I would marry. I am at that stage in life where I am beginning to look for that girl whom I have chosen to marry, but I avoid getting too close to girls I take interest in, simply because I fear I will make the wrong decision or end up second guessing myself my whole life, and leave that girl out there by herself making a futile attempt to find me. Or what if she does the same and I am the one waiting and searching for her? I know that my patriarchal blessing states that I need to listen for inspiration, but it just isn’t very clear to me. My question is this: How will I know when I have found her? and will I automatically recognize her, or will it take time for me to recognize her when we do meet? I will be grateful for any help. Thank you.

Lucas

Answer

Dear Lucas,

All you need is a little faith. To have faith is to act as if you had knowledge. In other words, faith breeds confidence. You must know that God is in charge, and if you are living in such a way that you would be perceptive to the Lord’s inspiration, it will come, without any question. It appears that one of your concerns is whether or not you will recognize the inspiration when it does come. The way to recognize such inspiration is clearly marked out in the scriptures. Here is how the Lord instructed Oliver Cowdery to recognize such inspiration—

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 

Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. (D&C 8:2-3)

I will tell you in your mind– you will get an idea. and in your heart–.you will feel good about it. Now you must act with the same confidence that Moses did when he marched into the Red Sea and the waters parted as he did so–not BEFORE he did so. Now, leave the rest up to the Lord. If the one that you think and feel good about does not happen to be the one that the Lord has chosen, do you think that He would leave you alone and let you go ahead and make commitments that were not approved by Him? The counsel given in Proverbs 3:5 is instructive in this regard– you will get an idea. –.you will feel good about it. Now you must act with the same confidence that Moses did when he marched into the Red Sea and the waters parted as he did so–not BEFORE he did so. Now, leave the rest up to the Lord. If the one that you think and feel good about does not happen to be the one that the Lord has chosen, do you think that He would leave you alone and let you go ahead and make commitments that were not approved by Him? The counsel given in Proverbs 3:5 is instructive in this regard–

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding

Gramps