What I Believe to Be True

By Claire Enos

I think I've learned more about myself in the last year than I did in the previous 21 years. That's not to say that I didn't learn a lot in my first 21 years, just that I feel like I've learned so much in the past year. I used to see my world in black and white. Good and bad. There was never any in-between. In the years since high school I've discovered so much I never considered before. I've come into my skin and begun to realize what's important to me. I've discovered what I believe, with all my heart, to be true. So, here is the number one item on my list:

1. When considering whether a religion is right or wrong for you, the people should not be a judge of whether or not it's true. The values and beliefs found within the doctrine are the true test of the religion. People are human, they make mistakes, they have emotions. The values, beliefs, and doctrine are the true tests. If they ring true for you, you've found what you're looking for. With that being said, most people don't realize this, and so it is important to stick with what you believe. Don't just say you believe it, act on it! Be those values and beliefs. Make them you. So that when a friend or a relative looks at you, they can tell immediately what you believe. What's the point in believing something if you don't live it?

I am human, I make so many mistakes. We all do. But, we get up, we dust ourselves off, and we get right back into the fight. The fight for what's right and good in this world. We fight every day. Even with all that is being said about us (as a religion) in the news, I still hold true to my faith and my beliefs, because they mean everything to me. We are fighting the good fight. And I will not give up, I will endure to the end!

<3Claire