“It’s time to move forward”

In March 2023, I attended a guided meditation call where my instructor invited us to view ourselves and our lives through God’s eyes. Intentionally watching your life unfold through His eyes and how He might see things with His eternal perspective. He then invited us to practice seeing ourselves as He would see us, with eyes of pure love, joy, compassion, adoration, understanding, and grace.

Through this practice I remember my thoughts being directed to the desires of my heart. The desires I have for my family, my coaching business, and future promised blessings. It was in that moment the spirit confirmed to me how much God cares about my desires, dreams and goals. I then received direct instructions to, “go to Rome, go to My Holy House there and feel of my presence with you, be open to hearing the promptings you will receive there. Follow your heart, your dreams, and your desires. I support you in them. Connect with the people there, see them through My eyes, as I see you. You are being guided.”

Phil and I decided to make this trip our 15-year anniversary celebration and started our trip through Switzerland before heading down to Rome. When we made it to Rome, we had our appointments to go to the Temple on Friday, so we spent the other days sightseeing around Rome, ventured down to the Amalfi Coast, then spent a day up in Tuscany. On our way back towards Rome from Tuscany, we stopped at a random town for some groceries, in Montepulciano. It was here that I received a strong impression that I was “home”. The spirit came over me so strongly, I couldn’t understand it and I didn’t know why I was feeling this way or what it meant.

The next morning, we arrived at the Temple early and were asked to sit in the waiting room. I felt confirmation that I was exactly where I needed to be, and I felt ready and open to hear what God wanted me to hear and know. While I was in the locker, after changing into my white clothes, I heard the words, “you belong here”. There was no one else but me and a couple ladies speaking Italian. Tears welled up in my eyes and my heart felt ready to burst…I needed to hear this but at the time I assumed it was the spirit confirming once again that I was where I needed to be, in His Holy House.

When Phil and I made it to the Celestial room, we found a place to sit, and both began a personal prayer in our hearts. I can’t think of any other time when the words of the spirit flowed so freely and clearly. By the end of my prayer, it was hard to keep my composure, I felt excited, relieved, grateful, overjoyed, apprehensive, sorrow and disbelief all at once. I had so many questions and a desire to learn and hear more, but I also received exactly what the Lord new I needed to hear at that time. When I opened my eyes, Phil reached his hand over and asked what I heard. I asked him to share first, to which he replied that he felt impressed to be open and supportive of the inspiration I was receiving. Relieved, I went on to explain to him that the Lord told me, “It’s time for you to move forward, to get your house ready to sell and to be open to receive guidance as we press forward”.

After discussing the various impressions I have felt throughout our stay, we concluded that we needed to move to Italy. We moved forward with this idea and as we continued to learn more about what this would look like and how we could do it, we received more impressions to be open to going other places, to World School our kids and learn about other countries, lands, and cultures.

While we’re trying to be inspired by each place to visit, we hold on to the promises we were given throughout the past year of preparation, that it doesn’t so much matter where we go, our family, our gifts and talents are needed. As this has all come together, I’ve seen, and the spirit confirmed that we are fulfilling the promised blessing stated in my patriarchal blessing of the privilege that I “would have the opportunity to travel amongst other cultures, lands, and people…”

This experience has already been a great test of faith on our part as we’ve been asked to sell everything we have, our home, all of our belongings, and it heartbreakingly included saying goodbye to our sweet dog, Trevor. We never imagined God would ask so much of us and our kids, and while it’s been hard it’s also been rewarding. We have felt so much peace, comfort, and strength throughout this process and are very excited to partake in this great opportunity to see the world together and connect with many of God’s children throughout the world! We have no idea of where this journey will take us or where we will end up, but we’re going by faith and trust that we are doing what God wants us to do. As it states in the words of Mormon in verse 7, “…And now I do not know all things, but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do His will.”