The average human makes around 35,000 choices daily. I can only imagine that there are quite mundane decisions and really important ones we make constantly. I have been thinking about my choices this upcoming semester with a new pledge class, new classes, new professors, new campus activities, and more.

It has been said that the most important choices determine our destiny. It is so amazing to know the Lord trusts us enough to give us this gift of agency. We all chose to come to Earth and receive a body that would be tested and tried. We chose our families and friends that would help us through this hard journey called life. Agency allows us to discern for ourselves. We have the goal to return back to live with Heavenly Father. We have the goal to return an improved version of ourselves into our Makers' presence. The choices we make daily will determine if we reach that goal or not.

To me personally, this is something pretty daunting to think about. What little decisions I make here will eventually lead me into an eternity of happiness or misery.

When I was 4 I would run up to the front of my church building, grab the microphone before my parents could even stand up out of their seats and I would just say "I am going on a mission". At the age of 4 I had already made the hard decision of leaving everything behind to go serve the Lord for 18 months. Absolutely nothing and no one was going to stand in my way. I had prepared and made the correct choices to be worthy and live my way accordingly to serve.

Choosing can be difficult when it is not necessarily between right and wrong, but between good and better. I personally believe if the decision you need to make is between good and wrong it's a give-me or a cop out choice. We all know the consequences and know the reason why there is a good and why there is a wrong. The hardest choices we make are when both choices seem correct or align with what we want to do.

A story that illustrates this truth to me is the following,

"At the end of the 1980s, our young family was made up of my wife, Monica, two of our four children, and me. We lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I worked for a good company, I had finished my university studies, and I recently been released as a bishop of the ward where we had lived. Life was good, and everything seemed to be as it should be--until one day an old friend came to visit us.

At the conclusion of his visit, he made a comment and asked a question that unsettled my convictions. He said, "Carlos, everything seems to be going well for you, your family, your career, and your service in the Church, but--" and then came the question, "if you continue to live as you are living will the blessings promised you in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?"

I had never thought about my patriarchal blessing in this way. I read it from time to time but never with the intent of looking toward the blessings promised in the future and evaluating how I was living in the present.

After his visit, I turned my attention to my patriarchal blessing wondering, "if we continue to live as we are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?" After some pondering, I had the feeling that some changes were necessary, particularly in relation to my education and profession.

It was not a decision between what was right and wrong but between what was good and what was better, as Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught us when he said: "As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best" ("Good, Better, Best," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 104-5).

I love this story because it illustrated that we might make great decisions and choices that leave us happy, but are they helping us reach our full potential?

"Although it is imperative that we choose wisely, there are times when we will make foolish choices. The gift of repentance, provided by our Savior, enables us to correct our course settings, that we might return to the path which will lead us to that celestial glory we seek. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. As we contemplate the decisions we make in our lives each day--whether to make this choice or that choice--if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice" (Choices, Monson).

I reflected recently on my mission and realized how many choices I made daily while being a servant of the Lord. Choices I truly believe changed my life. I made a choice to attend USU and make friends, join a sisterhood, and further my education before I left.

Then, I made a choice to go to Mexico. I had many amazing choices there, but the hardest choice I had to make was to leave. Leave a place that captured my heart so immensely and people that I was so focused on, and possibly never have to opportunity to see again, to focus on myself. I made the choice to get better so I could return to the service. I made the choice to go to Salt Lake City, Utah and help those in need there. I made the choice once again to leave family, and friends. I made the choice to trust in the Lord, and my mission presidents. I made the choice to stay when it got tough.

I was definitely tearing up reflecting on how hard some of the choices I made were for me. I reflected on the people who have impacted me, the places, the culture, and the gospel. While reflecting I remembered some of the hardest things I have ever done were on the mission.

I strongly believe that we all have tough decisions as life goes on. We constantly believe that we are alone, and though we go to friends or family for advice, they have never truly felt the way you have. I believed that for 18 months. I also believe there is always someone who knows, understands, and supports while caring for us always, unconditionally. He loves us and wants us to reach out to Him. Life is not easy. Choices can be so hard. I have learned to believe in myself more and remember that He is there. I'll forever be thankful for the support from everyone through these hard choices.

Going hand in hand with choices is God's love. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants us to succeed and has given us many tools to do so. He has many blessings in store for us as we do that which is required and pleasing unto him.

I love the opportunities I have been given. I am thankful for the guidance from my family and friends with most choices. I am so thankful for the decision to gain a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father to ask what I should do to allow Him to mold me into the daughter He would have me be. I love every decision I have made up until now, and will continue to love the decisions I make in the future as I know their purposes.