Sunday, February 6, 2011
Best Dreams or Worst Nightmares
Do you remember any of the dreams from your childhood? Or perhaps more recently you've had a dream that stands out as extra weird, spooky, or awesome? Have you ever had a dream change your life? Tell us about it. And if you can't think of anything from your past, pay attention to your dreams tonight!
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I've had a kazillion crazy dreams, but I had one dream that completely changed my life. This is a really sacred experience for me that I don't share a lot, but I feel like I can share it with my family.
ReplyDeleteI was going through a rebellious phase. I had stopped going to seminary and church half of the time. I was hanging out with the wrong kinds of friends and making a lot of stupid choices. I justified all of this by telling myself that God didn't exist and the church wasn't true. I felt like most of the Mormons I knew were hypocrites, and to me, at the time, that meant the church couldn't be true. (I have since realized the gospel is very separate from the members of the church.) Anyway, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I was in deep denial.
Then one night I had a dream that seemed very real. I dreamed I was walking down John Adams Parkway. It was a sunny day, but suddenly a dark mist moved toward me. It rolled over me and soon I couldn't see anything. I could hear people screaming and crying all around me, but I couldn't see anything. I stumbled around, frightened, and then I stopped. I felt a presence in front of me that made me feel cold and sick. It was the most evil feeling I have ever felt. I knew Satan was standing in front of me. I could feel him laughing and enjoying the terror of all of the people around him. I knew I had to do something to try to stop him. I tried to think of a scripture. I wanted to quote, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," but I couldn't think of it. The only scripture I had memorized was "If ye love me, keep my commandments." So I screamed that out at the top of my lungs. Nothing happened. Satan just laughed. It felt like it only made him stronger. I felt desperate. What could I do? It seemed he was going to overcome me. In that moment of complete desperation, I heard a voice--a voice that was gentle and loving, yet strong and more powerful than anything. I know what it means when the Book of Mormon describes that voice as a voice that pierces the heart. The voice said, "Holly, you need to decide whose side you're on." I cried out with all my might, "I love Jesus Christ! I love my Savior!"
I woke up and was still trembling with fear. I hit the floor next to my bed and knelt and prayed. I asked my Heavenly Father for forgiveness, and I knew in that moment I was going to change my life. I got rid of everything that was bringing darkness into my life. I had friends come into my bedroom after that, and they would say, "Did you paint in here? It seems really bright." I hadn't changed anything other than ridding my life of the bad influences in it, and committing myself to following Jesus Christ. I sometimes feel like Heavenly Father had to hit me over the head to help me gain a testimony, but I am so grateful that he did. In some ways, I feel like I was saved twice by my Savior. I know He loves all of us so much, and that He and our Father in Heaven will do all they can to bring us back into the fold if we stray.
Wow, Holly. What a neat story. It brought tears to my eyes. That dream changed your life, but it's crazy to imagine all of the other lives it changed as well. Your example to your siblings helped shape who they've become. And your testimony for your children and family is priceless. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy dream was not quite so lifechanging. In fact, it feels rather shallow after reading Holly's story. But I'll share it anyway, because this is the best dream I've ever had and I've remembered it my entire life...
When I was probably 5 or 6 years old, I dreamed my whole bedroom turned into CANDY!!! My bed was a cake, the curtains were taffee, and the walls were chocolate. It was amazing! I've tried redreaming this dream several times in my life. I try falling asleep thinking about chocolate, candy and rainbow sherbet, but nope... that dream was a one time deal. I'll never forget it though. And when I'm a millionare, I may just turn that dream into one BIG FAT reality.
Invite me over when you do. I want the walls.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I once had a dream bees were stinging my face. I ran into the downstairs bathroom and looked in the mirror and Instead of a face I had a swollen smooth surface. Dad removed my head and started hacking away at it with a steak knife. When he returned it to me I looked in the mirror and it looked pretty good except it was about 1/2 the size as it was before. I was so happy to wake up and find out it was just a dream.
ReplyDeleteMarie here... After visiting Disneyland as a child and watching Captain Neo, I had a reapeated nightmare about Michael Jackson. MJ would break into my house and kill everyone in my family while I hid under the bed. I could hear all of my family screaming and I could see shadows running around. I probably had this same dream a dozen times. I guess as a child I just knew Michael Jackson was a creapy guy.
ReplyDeleteThis is Nate. two weeks ago I had a dream about christmas. My mom got my a longboard but she had cut in half with a saw and said," Now you get to put it together." After she said this a knock sounded on the door and when I opened the door carolers began to sing. A tall black caroler proceeded to walk into my house. As he stepped through the door he patted my head and said with a relaxed tone," Sup, I'm Bob Dylan." That's my dream ended. I had know clue who Bob Dylan was, but it sounded familiar. Later that day I search on Bing who is Bob Dylan. To my surprise Bob Dylan was neither black nor tall, but he was a singer.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a mean mom! :)
ReplyDeletePaisley wanted to do this but chickened out, so I'm doing it for her:
ReplyDeleteHappy Black Awareness Month!
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Best Dreams:
ReplyDeleteI hope to be debt-free.
I want my children to grow up healthy and happy.
I would like to be a good wife and mother.
Someday Thomas will graduate and get a good job.
Worst Nightmares:
I don't want to be abandoned by the people I love.
I would rather die than "live" in a coma.
My worst nightmare would be to live in a world where there is no God.
Wow! Dreams can be so life-changing, so creepy, and even so much fun! Once when I had a fever, I dreamed I was so hot that my contacts melted on my eyes. How is that for scary?
ReplyDelete