Prayer

So... here's a story:

When I was 16 years old I wanted to go to one of my friend's weddings, who lived about a hour and a half from my house in St. George UT. It wasn't a planned trip and I had just gotten my driver's license and so my Dad was really hesitant on letting me go. He wanted me to take a friend but none of my friends were available, and I, being stubborn, persisted until my Dad finally gave in and consented.
I was excited to get out on my own and prove to myself and everyone else that I was a "grown up" now. I got to my friend's wedding safely and headed back home just as it started to get dark outside. As I was driving on an old road I heard some strange noise, over the radio, and decided to pull over to see what was wrong. When I got out of the car I noticed that my tire had popped! I was shocked and worried because I had no idea how to change a tire! I wasn't sure what to do because it was dark and there weren't any immediate towns close by to walk to.

I got back in my car and realized, with dismay, that my phone wasn't getting service. So I sat there, and waited. Waited for what? I'm still not quite sure. As I was waiting in the dark I started to feel really uneasy. I wasn't sure what to do, and as I played with my phone I found a musical segment that I had recorded a couple days previous. The song was a hymn called "Did you think to Pray?". As I sat in the dark and listened to the song, the words played in my head:

"Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ your Savior, did you sue for loving favor? As a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary. Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, don't forget to pray."

By this point, I was scared. So I prayed. I prayed and prayed. And a miracle happened, for one brief moment I got enough bars on my cell phone to call my Mom and tell her where I was and that I was stranded. The last thing I heard was her saying, "Dad is on his way". So I waited again. The whole time replaying that song over and over until, about a hour later, my knight in shining armor- my Dad- arrived.
I know that there are many blessings that come from praying to our Heavenly Father. When we pray He can help guide us in our everyday life, He helps us resist temptation, He helps us make good decisions, He forgives us of our sins, He can warn us of times of danger, He can give us feelings of peace and comfort, and we will be closer to Him when we pray. I know that just like my earthly Father was willing to drive out to the middle of nowhere to rescue his stranded daughter, our Heavenly Father will help rescue us, and give us joy, as we lean on Him and talk to Him through daily prayer.

Finding joy through hard times

Sometimes life isn't fair. "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11, pg. 57 Book of Mormon). I know that there is a God out there that provides a way for us to find happiness and joy, even through the sorrows that we go through.