In both the animated and live action versions of the movie Aladdin, Jasmine begins to recognize Prince Ali when he offers his hand and asks her for the second time, “Do you trust me?” I’ve been thinking of how the Lord repeatedly offers a similar invitation.

I’ve seen it through out the scriptures as we have studied Come Follow Me this year. One of my favorites has been Enoch’s story. In Moses 6, we learn how God called Enoch and asked him to be his mouthpiece. Enoch’s response speaks to me. “Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech… (verse 31).” Can’t you just feel this mind-blown moment. Have you ever felt that way? “You want me to do what?” In essence, the Lord is asking, “Do you trust me?”

This year so far has been a hurricane of challenge. The perfect storm of overwhelming has left me gasping for breath. I’ve sent so many questions like Enoch’s heavenward. “I am slow of mind, unqualified, the timing seems off…Are you sure you want me to do this?”

I found an answer in Enoch’s story. Near the end of verse 13 in Moses 7 we read, “[Enoch] spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled…so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.” This young man – slow of speech and unpopular – ended up having such power in his words that not only were mountains and rivers moved, but an entire group of people became so righteous that the Lord took them up to Him. Wow. Oh what God can do with a willing son or daughter!

Sister Camille N. Johnson reminded us of President Nelson’s invitation to trust God in her recent General Conference talk, “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life?…Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition?” As I listened to this talk this week, the Lord reminded me of a time when I did just that and the difference it has made in my life.

My second year of college had an interesting start. I could barely wait to return. I had thoroughly enjoyed my first year and looked forward to the next. Despite not having any roommates returning, I scheduled to live in the same complex just a few doors down from where I was the year before. New roommates, but same ward. I was excited about the combination of familiar and new, including a few foreign roommates.

About a week before move-in day, I got a call from the apartment manager. She explained that those foreign roommates, from Bulgaria, had a fourth in their group. The original arrangements were that the four were supposed to be in the same apartment. Somehow this one girl had been assigned not only a different apartment, but a totally different floor/ward. The manager called to see if I would be willing to change places with her. New roommates. New ward. Another year of totally unknown. I was shellshocked but felt the nudge to agree to change. At least until I got there.

I remember my discouragement when I drove up. The weight of that decision smashed against me as I saw the happy reunions of others. What had I done? I knew no one. Again. My saddness grew and I escaping to a quiet place to sob and call home. “I can’t do this! What was I thinking?!”, I cried to my mom. She patiently listened, then gently reminded me why I had said yes. She assured me the Lord knew the situation and would help. She basically asked, Do you trust Him?

Looking back on that choice, it shaped me. In so many ways. It turned out just fine and led me in directions that I might not have gone if I had stayed with what I had planned.

Sister Johnson says, “We can choose to write a comfortable narrative for ourselves. Or we can allow the Master Author and Finisher to write our story with us…Let Christ be the author and finisher of your story!” May we all be more trusting of Him this year. It is well worth the stretching.

**Sister Johnson’s talk: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/42johnson?lang=eng